Christianity is not a set of right beliefs and correct doctrines about Christ and His
work. It is a living, daily experience that affects every activity of our lives, molds our
minds and our values and determines our behavior. We may hold correct Biblical
doctrines, be quite knowledgeable of Scripture, be found in the "right place" on Sunday
mornings, and yet our most outstanding characteristic may be our deadness.
Christianity is the way we treat our nosy neighbors, what we do when our children are
falsely accused, how we react to our irritable spouses, what we do with our company’s
little items which it will never miss, what time we return from lunch when the boss
isn’t there. As we grow in our knowledge of and acquaintance with Jesus Christ, our
lives should be constantly changing if we are really a-live Christians and not just dead
doctrine-believers.

We need to ask ourselves the question:Do I really believe what God says? Do I
verbally and intellectually assent to what God says and go on living as those without
Christ, or do I allow my life to be changed and shaped because I know God’s words
and promises cannot fail? At the beginning of our experience with Jesus Christ we trust
our most important possession_our very soul_and our eternal fate to Him. If we can
believe Him as to such an important matter, why cannot we trust Him for the decisions
we must make, our material needs to be met, our personal health and safety, the
solution to our school and business problems, our personal difficulties and trials?

Do we really believe God? The Word of God says that believing, we shall receive all
things that we ask in prayer (Matt. 21:22; 1 John 5:14,15). Do we really believe that
we shall receive, that God will powerfully act and do, or do we pray in such general
terms that we really have no way of knowing if God has answered our prayer? Or do
we use that phrase, "If it be Thy will," as an easy "out," since we never believed God
would do anything anyway? Do we pray, "God, please save Mr. Smith at the gospel
meeting this Sunday," or something so general as "God, save people wherever Thy
Word goes out"? A child does not ask his father, "Please help me with something
sometime." Rather, he says, "Dad, help me with my three math problems after supper
tonight," and thus he isn’t left wondering whether his father ever helped him or not.
God can and will help us in every aspect of our daily lives_nothing is too small or too
large_and how our faith and trust in Him, our love for Him, and our gratitude to Him
grow as we pray specifically and as we receive specific clear-cut answers that reveal
God’s power and concern for us.

Again, God exhorts us to entertain strangers (Heb. 13:1,2). How do we behave toward
the drunkard who approaches us for food, or the strange looking individual who needs
directions? Are our minds so filled with the gore of the newspapers, which we so
avidly soak up, that we cannot trust God to care for us as we try to do as He asked? Or
perhaps we really believe what the intellectual world loves to tell us:"That does not
apply today. It was written for another time, another age. Perhaps when nomads
wandered in the desert and the world was not so wicked." Brethren, if only one

principle of Scripture no longer applies to us, then the entire Word of God is not living,
and Jesus Christ is not the same yesterday, today, and forever.

God’s Word tells us to cast all our cares or anxieties upon Him for He cares for us (1
Peter 5:7). Oh yes, we believe that God is powerful and that He cares for us, but we
keep our loaded gun hidden in our house, and we carry a sharp penknife in our purse
when we go to the city and we are practicing judo just in case_and those things are
what really make us feel safe, not our confidence in God’s care for us. We read that
when Peter tried to defend Jesus Christ Himself with the sword, his violent act was
reversed. Paul was assailed and endangered often (1 Cor. 4:9-13), but we never read of
his violently assaulting anyone in self-defense. His only weapon was prayer. We read
the Scriptures, but we have been so indoctrinated by the world’s ideas that we know
that any man who does not defend himself and his family is nothing but a coward. So
we have a perfect plan for assaulting the possible robber who arrives in the night, and
our confidence really lies in ourselves, our own strength, our cleverness.

Yes, Christianity is the way we live our daily lives, an ongoing relationship with a
living Being, the Lord Jesus Christ. Can we say, "I can do all things through Christ
which strengthened! me" (Phil. 4:13), or are we relying on our paid-up insurance, our
union leaders, our college educations, our psychology handbooks? If Jesus Christ can
give us a new, eternal life, He can certainly guide us through this present one and
conform us to Himself_if we let Him.

FRAGMENT. You say you are in Christ. If you are in Christ, Christ is in you:then let
me see Christ and nothing else.

"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering,
charity, patience" (2 Timothy 3:10).

If you were asked what is Paul’s doctrine, what answer would you give? He speaks of
something special, something peculiar_"my doctrine." What was it? Let me tell you in
as few words as I can. Paul’s doctrine started with this_ the total and complete setting
aside and non-recognition of man as man; the utter denial of the first man before God;
and the putting of everything in connection with the second Man, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who in His death closed the history of the first man, and in His resurrection became the
last Adam, the second Man, the beginning of God’s creation.

That is what Paul’s doctrine especially rests on; that is the basis of it. Of course I do
not mean to say that he does not include here the Church, the Body of Christ_ what he
calls elsewhere, "the mystery." But, mark this, even the truth of the Church, the
mystery (that is, taking Jews and Gentiles out of their respective nationalities and
uniting them in one new man to the Lord Jesus Christ, as we have it in Eph. 2), has for
its basis the redemptive work of Christ. And that redemptive work was itself the
complete setting aside of man in the flesh and placing everything in connection with the
second Man. The whole truth of the Church flows from that. And therefore Paul’s
doctrine may be described as especially that which brought out the complete setting
aside of man as a child of Adam before God, and the union of Jew and Gentile into one
body, united by the Holy Spirit to the Head in heaven, and equally to one another on
earth. Paul says to Timothy, "Thou hast fully known my doctrine." And at this
moment, not a single one of our readers is safe from the hostile wiles and imitations of
Satan unless he knows Paul’s doctrine. You are not, be assured, safe without this.

Now looking at the latter part of the tenth verse, we notice that Paul connects his
"manner of Me" with his doctrine. Here is the terrible lack with us all, that is, as to the
"manner of life" which is suited to "my doctrine." What is the "manner of life," as he
expresses it, which he connects with his doctrine? I have no hesitation in saying that it
was a practical maintenance of heavenly citizenship in an earthly scene. I believe his
"manner of life" was that complete, total, thorough strangership_heavenly
strangership_in the midst of a scene that is preeminently earthly, and in the midst of a
world characterized by those who profess Christ, and yet mind earthly things.

It is this which makes it solemn to every one of us. A man may say, "I know what
Paul’s doctrine is." But let us challenge our hearts whether there is the "manner of
life." Are there the circumstances, habits, ways, appearance, suited to that doctrine?
And mark how he lays as much stress upon one as the other. It is not simply, "You
have fully known my doctrine," but "doctrine, manner of life." And then he tells the
features of this life:"purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience." All these are to
be combined with the maintenance of a distinct, isolated heavenly citizenship, and
narrow path in a hostile world.

The subject of my fellow Christian young people has been frequently on my mind of
late. I feel strongly that the young people today are falling increasingly into the subtlest
of the three characteristics of the world mentioned in 1 John 2:16_the "pride of life."
The increasing number of Christian youths who are able to attend college has increased
the opportunity for this pride to be manifested, I believe.

The colleges, stressing as they do sophistication, and constantly bombarding students
with statements of their (the youths’) importance, seem to be too great an influence for
many Christian youths who are not spiritually prepared for such self-glorifying
enticement of the devil.

Once the saints (and I think here especially of the young saints) have been drawn away
from full obedience to the Lord by pride and carelessness in feeding on His Word, they
are easy prey to the two other characteristics, of the world_the lust of the eyes and the
lust of the flesh.

Personally, I have nothing against a college education (I am a college student myself).
But it seems that the special temptations encountered while obtaining a higher education
are a major contributing factor to the apparent present low spiritual state among the
young in the Assembly.

I pray often that the attraction of this world will diminish in the eyes of all of us, His
precious redeemed ones, to be replaced by a fuller knowledge of Him and a greater
appreciation of His work and His Person.

"A time to love, and a time to hate" (Eccles. 3:8).

"He that loveth his life e shall lose it; and he that hateth his lie in this world shall keep
it unto life eternal" (John 12:25).

COMPROMISE here has ruined the testimony of many. They once made a fair start,
but the fear of man or the love of ease or of social standing or of the approval of
relatives or acquaintances has come between them and the Lord. It is a poor exchange
but many a one has made it and adhered to it to the end. It should break our hearts as
we think of it, and make us hate the thought of compromise.

Let us trace the way of departure. Family influence is in opposition. Simplicity and
faithfulness to Christ are derided; a name of reproach is given to true Christians; and
the soul, because not abiding in Christ, is caught in the snare. Fearful of reproach or
discomfort, the soul gives way and steers a middle course henceforth. Men call it
moderation and wisdom, but the soul has been damaged and is adrift. God is merciful,
but the Word and communion with God and with His people are less and less enjoyed,
and trials and chastenings are too much for the heart. The peaceable fruits of
righteousness do not follow. A sad witness for Christ! Such bear witness in their family
and in the world that godliness is but a name, not a reality.

The fear of man is, however, closely connected with our love of the world in some
form. We are clinging to the world in some way when the fear of God is displaced by
the fear of man, and Satan has power with us. The pride of life_how weak our hearts
that it should ever ensnare us! Ought not a glance at the life of the Lord make us
ashamed? What pure joy is lost by love of social standing; how withering to the soul is
such a preference and such an atmosphere! Self-love and idolatry are thrusting Christ
from the heart. The soul has made an evil choice, and has turned from the narrow way.
Jesus is still knocking at the door, standing there, but He has been left outside.
Friendship with the world is enmity with God.

Commonly in the Church today members of a family who are Christians are so in
accord with the world that their witness gives little or no trouble to those of the same
house who make no profession of faith. Indeed, these Christians would themselves
oppose a plain witness for God as the men of Judah opposed Samson for fear of the
Philistines:"Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us?" (Judges 15:11).
A shameful admission, but a fact.

But this peace with the world is not Christianity. "Think not that I am come to send
peace on earth:I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34). The trouble
Samson made was of the same kind the Lord Himself made in this world, and that
every faithful Christian makes. "For I am come to set a man at variance against his
father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother

in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or
mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he that loveth son or daughter more
than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me,
is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for
My sake shall find it" (Matt. 10:35-39).

Christian, let no one come between your soul and Christ, and let nothing turn you aside
from the cross. Christ has redeemed you by His blood, and has given you the Holy
Spirit. By this great redemption you are separated to God from all worldly friendships
and alliances and purposes. Christ has joined you to His people; for we are members of
His body and members one of another. His sheep can never perish (John 10:27,28). Let
that encourage the heart to rise up and follow Him. He loves His own and loves them
to the end (John 13:1). Hence He washes their feet, cleanses away defilements; for if
He washes us not we have no part with Him. So He restores our souls, never forsaking
us.

Let us flee then from half-heartedness and world-bordering and compromise, in the
family, in business, in the inward exercises of the soul. As Christ has died for us, let us
live for Him (2 Cor. 5:15), and we shall realize the word, "If God be for us, who can
be against us? . . . Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans
8:31,35, 37). In all these things, in the midst of our fiery trials, Christian, we may be
"more than conquerors" through Him who loves us. With such a word, may we let go
all carnal seeking and carnal shrinking, and go forth upon the water unto Him, go forth
to Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. "For I reckon that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
in us" (Romans 8:18).

Matthew 11:28 is usually a verse from which the gospel is preached, but should we, as
God’s people, apply it only to the unsaved? No, there is much in verses 28, 29, and 30
for us to meditate upon and by faith lay hold on and apply to our own hearts that we
might receive a blessing.

This is a day when God’s dear people are laboring, troubled, and heavy laden over
many things. In these verses a blessed invitation goes forth from the lips of our blessed
Lord:"Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden." We must confess we are
included in the "ALL YE." This being true, what are we to do? Are we to say, "Lord,
we are not troubled"? "We do not need help"? "We can get by on our own strength"?
No, I am sure not one of us can answer Him thus. Then let us just heed His invitation
and come with our cares, our trials, our burdens, and then see His promise fulfilled to
us:"I WILL GIVE YOU REST." Have we faith to believe this? Certainly you will
agree He is able. He has given us rest from our burden of sin. Now we can trust Him
to soothe our troubled, cumbered minds; then we can better worship at His feet, and
adore Him, the One who has done all to bring us into happiness.

"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:AND
YE SHALL FIND REST unto your souls." Oh, what a promise! Oh, what healing to
the burdened, troubled mind. What balm to the soul of those who by faith lay hold and
act upon this precious verse. No doctor can dispense such medicine. Only the Great
Physician can give relief in these days. May we not be stubborn. May we come and
find rest unto our souls. Truly we can say He is a very present help in time of need.
We need to just cast all our cares upon Him, for He careth for us.

We can only learn of Him by reading and studying His Word. A child at school, in
order to make progress, not only reads but must study and enter into the subject in its
fullest sense. We grow in grace and in the further knowledge of Him by studying the
subject, and what a subject_ "the love of God for us."

In Job 14:1 we read, "Man that is born of a woman is of a few days, and full of
trouble." Christ knowing all this, and knowing that we are unable to better that
condition, comes on the scene with help and invites troubled ones to come to Him for
rest. Will we pass it by? Help He can give. Help He will give. It is all for the taking of
it by faith.

When we act on our own desires, without even looking to Him to seek His guidance,
we labor in vain. Peter, in John 21, says, "I go a fishing," and he goes. He toils all
night but his labor brings no results except a worn-out condition after a very toilsome
night. But the Lord is watching and at an opportune time comes in (what a Deliverer!)
and Peter receives a blessing. Truly, when He comes in, all is well. It is now morning,
the Light has dispelled the darkness, the net is cast, and a hundred fifty-three fish are
brought in. Truly, He "daily loadeth us with benefits" (Psalm 68:19). We do not read

of Peter being burdened now. It seems as if Peter is just enjoying that perfect rest from
labor as he sits and dines with our Lord. Oh, what peace and rest He gives us as He
feeds us with His words. MAY WE LEARN OF HIM.

Jesus said to Martha in Luke 10:41, "Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many
things." Notice verse 42:"Mary hath chosen that good part." And in verse 39 we read,
"And she [Martha] had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and HEARD
HIS WORD." Here is the secret. Mary had chosen that good part, and for how long?
ETERNITY. "Which shall not be taken away from her." She heard His words. She was
a learner. "Take My yoke upon you, and LEARN OF ME, . . . and ye shall find REST
unto your souls." May God give us, as never before, to heed the invitation and find
sweetness as did the Psalmist in Psalm 23.

"BEHOLD HOW HE LOVED HIM" (John 11:36)

WHO
He loved me, the Father’s only Son;
He gave Himself, the precious spotless One;
He shed His blood, and thus the work was done.

LOVED
He loved_not merely pitied, here I REST;
Sorrow may come, I to His heart am pressed;
What shall I fear while sheltered on His breast.

ME
Wonder of wonders, Jesus loves me;
A wretch, lost, ruined, sunk in misery;
He sought me, found me, raised me, set me free.

All of us are familiar with the account of David’s victory over Goliath. It is a favorite
Sunday School lesson and appeals to people of all ages. It is a very satisfying story
because the big boastful bully (Goliath),with all of his weapons and military know-how,
is done in by a simple, unassuming shepherd boy with a stone and a sling. All of us
identify with David and wish we could as easily overcome those who threaten or annoy
us.

But David’s victory was not a matter of chance or a result only of Goliath’s over-
confidence. God helped David, and He helped David because of his faith. David’s faith
had been tested while he was keeping the sheep and it had passed the test. David had
looked to God for help in overcoming the wild animals and He gave David the wisdom
and strength to kill them. David gave God the glory for these victories and trusted Him
to help him in meeting any new enemies. Saul offered David weapons to fight with, but
David refused them. They would only be a hindrance to one who was armed by God.

How much God values faith in His human creatures. "Without faith it is impossible to
please Him:for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). Do we desire wonderful
blessing in our lives and the lives of our loved ones? Most of the miracles of the New
Testament and many in the Old were performed as rewards of faith. God is still
performing miracles today. For example, new birth is a miracle; God’s care for our
physical welfare (often in ways unknown to us) is a miracle; one secular writer has
claimed that a marriage which lasts for many years and which remains truly happy all
that time is a miracle. We need faith to obtain these blessings and to appreciate them.

Do we desire victory over our spiritual enemies? We are given a list of God’s
provisions for Christian warfare in Ephesians 6. One verse has always stood out for
me. "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked" (Eph. 6:16). The Lord said to Peter, "Satan hath desired to
have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail
not" (Luke 22:31). Faith, then, is our most important weapon in dealing with Satan and
all of his devices. Like David, let us reject human solutions and fleshly weapons; and,
armed with faith and the other weapons God has provided, go forth to meet the
adversary. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you" (James 4:7).