The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-12-24
DYNAMIC CHRISTIAN LIVING

LESSON TEXT-Romans 12:l-3, 9.21.
GOLDEN TEXT-Be not overcome of evil
but overcome evil with good.-Romans 1921
Dynamic-there is a word with
an attraction for both young and
old. 1t speaks of power, but not
just brute force. There is personal
ity with its winsomeness, challenge,
accomplishment, all around attrac-
tiVeness and usefulness as the essen
tial element of this kind of power.
1t may surprise some of us to
hear that this is the kind of life
every Christian may, and ought, to
live, by the grace of God. Not that
each one will have the gifts of lead
ership, or the personal qualifications
which mark some for places of pub
lie service, but that each may have
divine power working in and through
his life.
Such a life can be lived only as
Gods power is able to flow through
surrendered life. This must begin
in the individual, and in the depth
of his own heart Then it will APP
pear in his relationship to his breth-
rem in the church, and ultimately
in his life in the world.
l. In the Heart wv. 1-3).
1t is only the believer who is
ready to serve God. The unrcgen-
crate man needs cleansing, not con-
secration. Having that, he is ready
for the transforming work of God
which will bring him out into a
place of freedom and spiritual
strength. Notice that this is brought
about by an act of the will We
are to present ourselves as living
sacrifice. That is our part, God
will respond in blessing
Conformity to this world ". q
is the blight on the church and on
the individual believer which so
hampers the work of Christ in the
world today. The worldly Christian
IS an anomaly.
The call then is for non-conformity
to the world and surrender to the
Transforming grace of God. Then
there will be both true humility
". 81 and full confidence in God
power.
ii. In the Church wv. 9-16)
The dynamic living of the Chris
tan is not something to be paraded
before the world, a thing of which
we may be proud. 1t begins, as we
have seen, in the heart, and then
gives itself in gracious, affectionate,
earnest living within other believers.
Here we note that being dynamic
does not mean only being a live
wire" 1t may express itself in quiet
ness which is graciously powerful
in goodness which oVercomeS evil ;
in love which Weeps with the sor-
rowing; or in humility which is will
ing to touch the loWly.
These verses are full to overflow
ing with the kind of instruction
which, if needed, would make the
fellowship of the church well nigh
heavenly. For example, ''in honor
preferring one another" would put
an end to church fights blessed
thought If all were 'fervent in
spirit serving the Lord" there
would be no problem about getting
the work of the church and Sunday
school done, and done well.
If Christians were "patient in trib-
ulation," would continue instant in
prayer" and rejoice Gin hope" we
would at once be free from COM
planners, and weak or unhappy
church members.
We could 60 on, but the teaching
of the Word is SO plain that what we
need to do is to practice it.
III. In the World wv. 17-2D.
"Take thought" that is, plan to
have "things honest in the sight of
all men" Bishop Moule's comment
is particularly acute He says the
Christian "is to be nobly Indifferent
to the worlds thought and word
when he is sure that God and the
world antagonize. But he is to be
seriously attentive to the worlds OBJ
servation, were the world more or
less acquainted with the Christian
preCept or principle, and more or
less conscious of its truth and right,
is watching, maliciously, or it may
be Wistfully, to see if it governs the
Christian practice. "
How then does the Christian be-
have toward the world? He does not
return evil for evil How often
Christians have failed at that point,
becoming involved in a elbow for
blow conflict with some worldly
man or institution. How much bet
ter to live peaceably with all men,
as far as it is possible to do so.
The Christian is not to seek re-
venge. The injustice suffered may
be confidently left in the hand OF
God. He will make it right in Cue
season and in His own way. He
will judge righteously, where we
might be prejudiced. We might be
too severe; He will be fair. The
way to deal with such situations is
by the "coals of fire" method w.
20), 1t really works. We ought tc
use it more frequently.
Verse q sums up the whole mat.
ter. Instead of letting the evil Of
this world get the best of him, the
Christian will overcome evil with
good" 1t seems just now that such
a plan does not work, that evil has
taken the upper hand, but let us
wait bit The final accounting has
not yet been made.
-V------
Americans loaned their government
hnrn than 10 hillinn thic month II