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THE KING’S BUSINESS
2. What would happen if it could be blotted out? IV . Let us close with using the text. . 1. The result would be happiness. 2. Greater - appreciation o f God’s mer- , cies. 3. Lead to a deeper surrender. A Psalm for the New Year T e xt : “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge o f our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. T o him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” , i ' - H I ntroduction : The necessity o f growth in grace. I. A divine injunction with a special direc tion. 1. The meaning o f “grow in grace.” 2. The meaning of1 “the knowledge o f our Lord Jesus Christ.” II. A grateful thanksgiving with the most suggestive termination : “ To him be glory both now and fo r ever. Amen." 1. The duty o f praise. 2. The substance o f praise. 3. The duration o f it. 4. The benefit o f it—it affirms our faith and gives joy o f the heart. Theme: I Am What I Am. T ext : “But by the grace o f God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace o f God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). I ntroduction : The nëcessity o f man understanding himself as well as God. A true knowledge o f self is the basal fact o f life. Text deals with introspection which is more difficult than outrespection. Such a task natural as the old year passes out and the new enters. I. I am just what I am. Just that, nothing more nor less. All men not honest enough to admit even that, Many believe they are what they are not. In turning the X-rays in upon our selves, we need to be careful o f two things :
1. O f thinking too little o f ourselves. Many fail through depreciation. Discour aged because hopeless. Conscience makes cowards o f us. Because we cannot do as much as others, we must not despise our selves and our gifts. 2. O f thinking too much o f ourselves. Over-estimation is as dangerous as depre ciation. Some men think o f themselves “more highly” than they ought to think. An examination and analysis o f one’s train o f thought and action throughout the day will serve to neutralize overestimation. W e may exaggerate our abilities and extenuate our faults. This over-estimation comes from comparison with men rather than God and Christ. II. Am I what I was? Has there been change, growth or decay? Man is more or less than h? was. 'Tw o things are to be noted here: 1. Deterioration. Let memory run back over life and child hood. Recall the prayer, faith and religion o f childhood days. Am I what I was then? Recall the years o f Christian life. Am I living the Christian life I used to live? 2. Growth, I f I have grown, there is - cause for rejoicing. Recall the low levels o f former life with higher purposes o f the present. “ I was not ever thus.” I am more Christ- like; love the Bible and prayer more today than ever before. There has been growth in the knowledge o f the Bible, obedience, prayer, Christian work. III. Am I what I might be?, Am I deter mined to develop? Today the seed o f the future groans and travails within us. What will it bring forth in coming years? The danger o f becoming stereotyped in life. The interrogation mark o f today should displace the period o f yes- terday. 1. The appeal to the sinner. Are you going to be what you have been? Think o f what it will cost you. Will you yield to the spiritual invitations and long ings ? Will you pledge and surrender your self to God? 2. The appeal to the Christian.
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