Since this is the one primary pre-requisite to a person's being saved, the question is very relevant. And there are several things involved in a faith that is genuine, living and active.
    To believe in Jesus means that I accept, as true, the record that God has given of His Son -- of His incarnation, His perfect life, His death for MY sin, His resurrection for justification, and His ultimate Second Coming for my eternal redemption.
    To believe in Jesus means that I recognize His provision for my sin as adequate; that I recognize both His ability and willingness to save me -- if I will yield my heart to Him.
    To believe in Jesus means that I definitely and fully commit the destiny of my soul into His hands -- that I surrender every selfish claim, in the abandonment of my whole life and being into His benevolent will; and that I definitely RECEIVE HIM, by faith, as my own personal Saviour.
    To believe in Jesus means that I allow Him to live His life in me -thereby making me a channel of blessing to others.
    "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and THOU SHALT BE SAVED".

    According to the Scriptures, man was created in the "image and likeness" of God. David says that he is fearfully and wonderfully made. Of more intricate design than any human invention, God has made us to function in a certain way. And until we learn to yield ourselves to that perfect order there will be friction, fret, trouble and failure in our lives.
    Specific instructions have been given for the proper functioning of our lives; it is always wise to read the instruction manual before attempting the operation of any creation. Our lives will run properly ONLY as we consciously keep God at the control center. We are His workmanship, and He alone is able to get the best out of HIS creation.
    How often are defective lives worsened by human pride. We feverishly strive to effect in our own character those changes that will make us "Christlike". Such struggling always ends in failure. We are sensible enough to return a defective watch to the manufacturer -- to the "watchmaker". But how hesitant we sometimes seem to take our wretched and malfunctioning live to God.
    God alone is able to take our

    It is a blessed fact that Christ has sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower His church on earth. The Spirit has come; His aid is always at our disposal. But there is another terrible possibility. We may "quench the Spirit." And this is a thought that ought to make us sober and diligent.
    When Jesus was on earth He pitied the outcast, bent over the harlots, welcomed the prodigals, and prayed for His murderers. But for some people he had only words of stern and hopeless condemnation; and they were religious folk --- very religious indeed. They were religious all day long, and in everything. They would not eat a meal without some religious show. It was obvious in their washing, in their dressing and in their looks. Yet Jesus Christ greeted them as a generation of vipers; He wondered how they expected to escape the damnation of hell.
    Earlier God had spoken in this same manner to a people who were

meticulous about their prayers, sacrifices and offerings. Through Isaiah, the prophet, He spoke to them in words of stern reproof: "When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eves; when ye make many prayers, I will not hear".
    Does all this suggest that it would be better to be a drunkard, a harlot, or a murderer than to be a Christian? It surely suggests that it is a serious thing to claim that one is a Christian unless there has been a transformation in his life whereby he has been made Christlike. The most tremendous responsibility in all this world is that of knowing Christ. And there is no condemnation so terrible as that resting on the person who has enjoyed all the privileges, promises and opportunities of Christianity at his disposal and has not abandoned himself to the Christ-life.
    Still worthy of our consideration are the words Paul wrote to the Ephesians: "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you," (4:30-32).
    Instead of stifling the Spirit's voice within, or grieving Him by actions rooted in self-love, let us grant to Him the absolute control over our lives. Only under His direction may we be certain of following the path that leads to genuine "Christ likeness" --- fulfilling the grand design of God's glorious purpose.
    Let us not quench the Spirit!!

    "Formerly thy soul was great, ardent, vast; the entire circle of the universe found place in thy heart. 0 Charles, that thou hast become small, that thou hast become miserable, since thou lovest no one but thyself!" -- Schiller
    "Sordid selfishness doth contract and narrow our benevolence, and cause us, like serpents, to infold ourselves within ourselves, and to turn out our stings to all the world besides." -- Walter Scott
    "As frost to the bud, and blight to the blossom, even is self-interest to friendship; for confidence cannot dwell where selfishness is porter at the gate." -- Tupper

    "He surely is no fool who exchanges that which is transient for values that will endure -- who surrenders what he cannot keep to gain something that he cannot lose." ARE YOU A WISE MAN? or a fool? Are YOU living for self? or others?

Pictured above is Brother Jose Mario de Souza Ereio and Family. He is one who responded to the Word of truth in the early days of our Brazilian mission endeavors. At an early age, his life was surrendered to the service of Jesus, and he is preparing for a life of ministering to his own people.
    At present, Bro. Jose is living in Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo. He led in the work there for some months after Bro. Montgomery's return to the States. Since relinquishing the leadership of that work to Bro. Celso Barbosa, some months ago, he has been working with Bro. Felix Racy in the small church at Ubirajara.
    In a beautiful letter recently received from this young brother, he confessed: "I am an unimportant man to be used by the Lord, but I want to do His will in my life."

Saturday night, April 4, is the time for our Quarterly Business meeting. Let us ALL be present ON TIME; and come with our hearts united. The business of the church IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

    All things do not please God. He knows what is going to take place, but much of what goes on is, in a direct sense, contrary to His way of life. However, He guarantees that whatever goes on in this world will work together for good to those who love God.
    We always think of good fortune as being something that pleases us. Really, the best things that can come to the children of God are those things, which wean us from earth and promote heavenly - mindedness. God never intends for His children to be satisfied here in this world. Hence, he breaks up those arrangements of life which would hold us here, and we become disappointed in this world. By this method, He destroys the love of a sinful world and sets our affections on heavenly things.
    If God permitted only that which pleases us in this world, we might never want to be with Him in a better world. We should accept whatever is, as God permits, and recognize that He, in His goodness, has allowed it for our good. It may take grace to bear it, but He has plenty of that.