The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-12-14
CHRISTIAN living AT ITS BEST

LESSON TEXT-Galatians 500 6:lo.
GOLDEN TEXT-If we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit.-Galatians
Life and profession must be in ac-
cord. To follow Christ means more
than embracing a creed, or following
ritual; it calls for daily living of
the highest type.
Herein Christianity differs from
all other religions. 1t is a living
faith in a living Lord-which pro-
duces living testimony. Such a life
is:
l. Spiritual (Gal 5;22-26).
The Christian receives his new life
through the ministering of the Holy
Spirit, Since that is true, ''let us
also walk by the Spirit" ". 25). Ev-
cry child of God (not just q few, as
some suppose) is to live this kind of
spiritually fruitful life.
The works of the flesh, horrible in
their Wickedness and lust, are listed
in verses 1921, and then by striking
contrast we have the fruit of the
Spirit in the life of the Christian.
Note the distinction: work is some
thing we produce; fruit is something
that grows.
Walking in the Spirit the Christian
finds in his life the inward graces
of love, joy, and peace. These then
express themselves outwardly in
long suffering. kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, meekness, and self-con-
troll. The Spirit-flled man is not
only a good man, he lives a good
life.
ii. Gentle (Gal 6:D.
Christianity is not harsh and I'M
forgiting toward one who has
sinned, Certainly there can be moth
ing but stern condemnation of con-
tinued, fragrant, impenitent shining.
But toward the one who has failed,
the Winsome attitude of loving res
toration should be the first reaction.
There is good reason for this, for
God is kind, and Christ would not
quench the smoking flax (Matt
1920. Then who are we, weak and
fallible human beings, to treat an
erring brother with hardness?
III. Kind. (Gal. 6:2-5).
We are to help the brother in need,
lift his burden and bear it for him
". q. At the same time Go not go
around expecting anyone to bear
your burden ". 81. Ask God for
grace and bear it yourself If your
brother helps you-good If not, do
not be offended Too many Chris
tians expect others to help.
Then there is the need for kind
ness in thinking of oneself, and ones
neighbor. Pride is self-deception ".
81. 1t puts God against us DANES
4:6). We will have no time or occa-
sion to judge our neighbor if we
honestly appraise our own life ".
a..
". Honorable ". g..
While the Christian will not be
seeking any glory or reward for
himself, he will always be honorable
in caring for those who serve him
in the gospel Salvation is free, and
no true preacher or teacher of the
gospel would set price on it. But
the necessities of life must be pro-
vided, and it is the obligation of the
one who is, served to "communi-
cate" of that which he has to his
teaching brother.
1t need hardly be said that if the
church had obeyed this and similar
admonitions found in many places
in Scripture, we should not have the
disgrace of an underpaid ministry,
of an understaffed church, and of
missionaries waiting to go with no
money to send them Let us be hon
orable about this matter.
v. Consistent (Gal. 81, 81.
There is an memorable law which
brings only the harvest which is
planted. Too many Christians are
trying to reap the fruit of spiritual
ity when they have soWn only the
seed of Indifference and Worldliness.
1t can't be done
Self will is always struggling
against Gods will in the life of the
Christian. Sowing to the flesh means
yielding to self. And the result? Cor
ruption. Yes, even in the life of a
Christian. How much there is of
that, and how it hinders Gods work!
There is here the important truth
that the one who sows to the Spirit
reaps eternal life That speaks of
salvation itself, but it also speaks
of spiritual development.
vi. Ditigent (Gal. 60, 10Y.
1t has been said that we have
three classes in the church-work-
ers, jerkers and shirkers. The shirk-
err does nothing. One wonders wheth-
Ell he is really saved, since there is
no sign of life. The worker is the
one upon whom one can always de-
pend. The jerker is the one who
takes hold nightly, and then is gone
when you most need him.
Christian living at it's best calls
for consistent, persistent, diligent
application to the work of God-not
only today, but tomorrow, and the
next day, and the next!
Note the suggestion of special
thoughtfulness toward our fellow
Christians ". 10). Some folk oper-
ate on the opposite principle. They
treat their fellow believers with a
little extra coldness-a special de-
gree of suspicion and criticism. That
surely is not Christian living at its
best.