By DR. LLOYD T. ANDERSON
In a day and age when apostasy in the church is so rampant, one of our vital obligations is to call peo ple to the truth of God as it has been originally given (Isaiah 58:12). There is a very real place for a constructive "contending for the faith." The church as an organiza tion has degenerated sadly since the day of Pentecost. We have an important part to play in the re vival of this important unit. Above all else, however, our ministry should be to glorify the Lord (Isaiah 49:3). This should be our supreme aim each day. If we conscientiously follow all of these deep concerns we shall experience divine upholding and the supply of our every needed resource. What an encouragement to know that we have heaven's protection and can enjoy complete success in the power of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual goals of discipleship can be attainable ideals through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible does not allow us to escape the demands of Christian service
with the excuse that the standards of that calling are really too high (Philippians 3:12). Such thinking is negative rather than an experience in the reality of all the Lord has in mind for us. In expressing this Paul first ac knowledges that he was appre hended or called by Jesus Christ. He stressed the purpose as well as the obligation that became incum bent upon him. These principles must be a part of our own daily experience. Discipleship always begins with God's call. This must be first and foremost. It would be foolish for a man to enter a fun eral home encouraging the corpses to live an upright life. Those bodies are dead to all activity of the world. To give them any purpose at all they would have to be made alive. What a picture this is of our being dead in trespasses and sins. We must be born again before spiritual growth is possible. Only then can the standards of our calling be sig nificant. A person can be alive physically and even intellectually Page 43
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