Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-10-08
LOYALTY TO CHRIST

LIZ Il ALA ~ CIlhkSI
LESSON TEXT-Mark 2:14-17: John g.:
$3.50; Philippians 3:7-11.
GOLDEN TEXT-What things were
gain to me, those counted loss for
christ.-Philippians 3:7.
Loyalty is undoubtedly one of the
finest traits of mankind. Because
OF its strength, its fidelity to duty,
etc., shrewd men have learned to
play upon mans loyalty, making 1t
serve evil and ignoble ends. I'm
worthy causes, having thus gained
the interest of man by fair means
or foul, have demanded blind loyal
ty. Even in the carrying out of
crime there has been the suggestion
that there is some kind of code
of honor, loyalty among thieves.
All this does not change the fact
that there is high and holy i'm
pulse in man to stand true to the
right; and in the Christian, to be
found ever loyal to the Christ, whose
we are and whom we serve. Faith
in Christ Jour lesson of last week.
is rightly followed by loyalty to Him.
1t manifests itself in three ways.
1. Following Christ mark 2:l4-
I'D.
Without obedience there is no use
talking about loyalty. When Jesus
said: Follow me-" Matthew GevD
arose and followed. He was sim
ner ". I'D, a man of the despised
calling of tax-gatherer ". 14), but
he was ready for the call of Jesus.
Notice also that following Christ
carries with it the privilege and OBJ
legation cit is both) of making Him
known to our friends. Matthew did
not wait until he had made a new
circle of friends and then invite
them to feast. He celebrated his
entrance upon the new life of faith
by friendly and effective testimony
before his friends who were publi-
cans and sinners.
Notice the words Of Jesus in verse
IT, 1t is not good people, satisfied
in their own self-righteousness, who
get to heaven. It is sinners, saved
by grace, who will there magnify
the Saviour's name.
ii. Faithfulness to Christ (John
6:66-69).
1t is one thing to begin, but quite
another to persevere in well doing.
Jesus had been doing many miracles
and a host of followers had fiocked
to Him. He had not only done great
deeds, but had spoken beautiful
words about the Fatherhood of
God, the power of the Holy Spirit,
etc. He had fed the five thousand.
and they liked that too.
But now He had talked about a
broken body, about partaking of
His flesh and His blood, and they
did not like it. This reached too
deeply into the necessity for a per-
sonal spiritual experience, and one
that spoke of sacrifice, and many of
him" ". 66).
How perfect picture of the RE-
igious experience" of multitudes of
men and women in our day.
The true disciple, however, stands
truest in just such an hour. I'VE
believe" said Peter, and he spoke
better than ever before in his life.
I'VE don't understand everything
Chats the thought back of ITO
whom shall we go?D, but we be-
ieve. and we will stand fast"
Blessed word of loyalty!
Observe that Peter and his breth-
rem recognized Christ as the Holy
One of God" that is, Gods Son in
unique and intimate sense. One
close to and participating in the
holiness of God. Loyalty will not
hold on any lesser concept of Christ.
There is no incentive to real service
and sacrifice in the watered-out re-
ligious faith of the modernistic lib.
eral!
III. Forsaking All for Christ
(Phil. 3:7-lD.
There were a number of things in
the life of Paul as a natural man
of which he was justifiably proud,
but which in the light of his relation.
ship to Christ paled into insignia.
canoe. The best this world can of.
fer looks like rubbish ". 8)-which
1t really is-when one catches a
glimpse Of Jesus Christ.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things Of earth will grow strange
| ly dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
However, that experience Of
Paul's was only the beginning of a
life Of devotion to the Lord, which
is expressed in words the depth Of
which we cannot fully plumb. What
does it mean to know "the power Of
his resurrection, and the Fellowship
Of his sufferings, being made com.
Portable unto his DEATH? We dc
not fully know, but certain we are
that it speaks Of a fellowship with
Christ that is very deep and init
mate; life of power, because He
lives in and works through the be-
lever; a sharing with Him of the
hatred and bitterness Of the world
yes, Of death, if need be, for Him
in the assurance of resurrection.
This is an 'all out" Christian ex