The Republican., 1944-10-26


are aboEe.-Colossian 81.
Disciplined living should be the
goal OF each of US. Life is not to be
lived carelessly, influenced bv
chance events or passing impulses.
Such discipline of life would keep
men from the temptations which
lead them into intemperance and
sin.
A life can be properly disciplined,
only as it is controlled by Christian
motives Such life has
|. Spiritual Gladness Cps. 4:5-8).
The psalmist had faced the dis
tressing questioning of men who
derided him for his faith. They were
unbelievers who demanded of him
what good his religion did ". 6).
He has an answer, and it is the
testimony of his own experience.
Those around him sought glad
ness in the harvest of grain and in
the wine which was supposed to
give lift to their spirits. This was
their Joy. Well, the man of God had
something infinitely superior. He
had gladness in his heart. 1t was
not dependent on outward circum-
stances-it was within.
Then note, too, that it did not rest
on something that happened, or on
some fellow man. Thou (God)
hast put gladness in my heart"
That means real JOY and satisfaction.
II. Spiritual Food (Luke IA; John
$3.50.
1t is delightful to have true glad
ness, but man needs food if he is
to grow and to work. That is true
spiritually, for he must have the
needed nourishment of life here
also.
Jesus when tempted Nuke 4:4)
because He was hungry saw beyond
the temporal need, and declared
that life should be controlled by
higher principle. The spiritual has
a place of supremacy over the
physical in the life of the Christian
man or woman. The body with its
desires is to be subject to the def
mite control of the spirit, which
takes its orders from God.
The explanation of the awful alco-
holic debauchery of our day is found
right here. Men have given their
bodies the supreme authority and
they are driven by the lusts of their
flesh. What they need more than
legal reform or restriction of sale.
of liquor (and we believe in both)
is the regeneration Of their souls by
the grace of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us bring them the gospel.
John 6:35 makes known the fact
that Jesus, the bread of life, salts
fes every need of men. Every nor
nal hunger and thirst finds full sat
isfaction in Him. Have you tried
Him as the One to meet the need Of
your hungry heart?
III. Spiritual Service (Rom. 12:1,
q.
Reasonable service" says the
Authorized Version; spiritual serv-
ice, )" says the Revised Version. Both
are right. The man who is really
reasonable will be spiritual and will
render to God a sacrificial service.
Note that it is a Giving sacri-
fee" that is said to be ''holy, ac-
ceptable to God" This is not a case
of a single act of deep devotion
(great as that may be), but going
on in the daily walk to live for
Christ. That calls for grace and
power, and He is ready and willing
to give both to each of His chill
dren.
That experience with God means
a non-conformity to the world,
which is too little spoken of and
less practiced in the church to-
day. The one who processes to fol-
low Christ is simply not to be con-
formed to the ways of this wicked
world. There is to be a completely
Transforming experience of the
grace Of God, that takes you out Of
this world while you are still in it.
~. Spiritual Walk (Rom. 1912
l4).
Christians are the children of the
morning, They walk in the light Il
John IT'D. This world walks in
darkness. No one needs any argu-
ment to prove that point-just look
about you.
The deeds of darkness are evil
deeds, and men dwell in darkness
because they love evil (John 3:19).
That means that the children of
light must walk circumspectly and
"becomingly" Chats good WordD
in this world. Thus we may attract
others out of the darkness into the
light, so that they too may put aside
"reVeling and drunkenness" yes,
and also strife and jealousy" Those
60 together.
The way to victory is to be
clothed with the Lord Jesus and His
righteousness ". 14). That is real
armor of light" with which we may
be protected
Note also that we are studiously
to avoid making any provision for
the desires of the flesh. Put such
things away, and with them will go
the temptation to use them. Some
protesting Christians need to heed
this word by destroying some
beverages which they may have on
hand-just to give one example.
-V--