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It is a present, working and transforming power. It is grand, deep, broad, unfathomable, inexhaustible, immutable and uncomprehendible just like Christ himself. The love resides in the apostles and in the first Christians and it compelled them to love Christ. It complelled them to reject ungodly existence and worldly desires, to live rigtheously and god-blessedly in thie world. Love compelled them not only to acknowledge the Lord but to also work for him, to suffer and when necessary to die for him. This compulsion to love was mighty and irresistable. Judaism and heathenism opposed it and wanted to cunningly and forcibly negate it with all legal means. The entire might of hell rose up against it, but did so in vain. The love of Christ prevailed. III. To this day this love inspires all true Christians; it shoul also fill you and me. We should all be holy, active, joyous, courageous, firm and true apprentices of the great master. Thus we may attain the love of Christ. First it must be instilled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Then it becomes in us a driving and prevailing power and then

dead, indifferent and baggage-laden Christianity must disappear from us. Then for the first time we will lead a life in the love of Christ and be true, powerful and humble Christians. But to become instilled in our hearts with the Holy Spirit we must look for him. This is achieved not only trhough consistent, serious of faithful prayer but by fulling surrendering of the heart, the complete deliverance of the will and our entire existence to the Lord. With the Holy Spirit Christ's love enters our hearts and takes us in his power. "Thus the love of Christ compels us." _____ 19. Be As Good As You Can _____ Now so far as it within him lies, every follower of Christ should strive to be just as good moment by moment, as he would wish to be when he is to die. He who is properly concerned with his daily life, that it be right in the sight of God, need have no concern about "dying right." Everybody can be just as good as he wants to be. Everybody is just

as good as he really wants to be, because God never fails to gratify and satisfy the holy desires and longings of His children when they fulfill the conditions. Men do not always really mean it when they say, that they want to be good, such, as really mean it, will always promptly comply with the conditions as they understand them. Then and there God meets them, completes the work and satisfies their longings. It cannot be said of a man, that he really wants to be good so long as he is not willing, and not ardently desirous that God should have his way with him. Though a man all his life-time constantly says, that he wants to be a Christian; except he really means it, he never will be more Christlike than he would, if he had said: "I do not want to be a Christian." It is the will of God that we be obedient children, not merely that we may "die the death of the righteous," but that we may be pure in heart, and live a clean and blameless life in the present world.

20. Hope For The Despondent _____ The goodness of God should lead men to repentance. No sinner need despair of mercy if he sincerely repents of his sins and flees to God. You cannot believe too much in God's mercy. You cannot expect too much from His hands. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. No sinner is so great that the love of God may not be lavished upon him. David's repentance and restoration should lead others on to David's hope. Pardoning grace will not fail any one who repents, believes and forsakes sin. Let no sin, however dark, and great, drive the guilty one to despair. Jesus is able and willing to save all who come unto God by Him. _____ 21. The Praying Nanny _____ A girl named Maria, who found the Lord Jesus in Sunday school, came to a respected family as a nanny. Her employers were fully opposed to religion and

desired that their servants not visit any house of God. When the employers discovered that the nanny went to church, the lady of the house called the girl to her and clarified that they would abide no one in the house who went to church. Thus the girl had to give up her position unless she promised to stop going to church. The good maiden remained steadfast and resigned her good and respected position rather than abandon her savior. Maria went to her room, threw herself to her knees and prayed fervently to the Lord for her employers, for the children in her care and for herself. The lady of the house crept by her door and heard the prayer. She went to her husband and told him what Maria had prayed. That evening when Maria returned to her room the master of the house crept to her door and heard and also understood how fervently the true maiden prayed for her master, mistress and their children. He went back to his wife and said: "We better keep Maria; I believe we will never find a better girl." They bade Maria come and told her of their decision and stated that from now on they would go to church every Sunday

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Text provided by Lockwood Library, State University of New York at Buffalo, BX8080.B65

Susan Kriegbaum-Hanks