God's deepest truths make their appeal directly to the spirit of man. Without any sort of external credentials, they carry deep conviction within themselves. It is NOT to the superior intellect that God makes Himself known. It is to the renewed spirit that awaits the slightest whisper of the Master's voice. Yet, in the search after truth, every faculty and power of one's mind ought to be fully exercised.
    The honest searcher after truth will want to understand everything JUST AS IT IS. An open and honest spirit is ever willing to cross over to the side of truth the very moment it is found to dwell elsewhere than with one's self. It is a most commendable spirit that commits one's self to the truth - following it without regard to consequences; never fearing that truth is in any danger, but that he only is endangered who clings to his own opinions with an unsubmissive and unteachable spirit. It is abandonment to the truth, whether it proves or disproves one's personal creed, that gives inspiration and a true uplift to the soul. It is

    No one can rise to the highest potential of manhood or womanhood who does not manifest the "spirit [or disposition] of Christ". No one who lacks the kind of LOVE exhibited in Jesus Christ - whose life, therefore creates no warmth or sunshine in the home or in society - can TRULY be called A CHIUSTIAN! In fact, that person falls far short of true manhood or womanhood. The highest, noblest type of humankind is manifested in a serving, helpful, glorious, love-lit disposition - whatever one's station in life.
    What a tremendous testimony; what a revolution would be launched if the chief end of every New Testament church and churchman should become that of manifesting the true "spirit of Christ" at all times and in every situation! And, is not this what we are supposed to be doing?
    "If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is NONE OF HIS", (Rom 8:9). "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts", (Gal. 5:24). "If ye be Christ's, THEN are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise", (Gal. 3:29).

O for the resurgence of such a spirit, and of a living, life- transforming faith among the Lord's churches IN OUR TIMES! E.G.

TRUTH-SEEKING ... CONTINUED

also the crucial test of one's loyalty to God and the faculties of his own personality. Jesus said: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall MAKE YOU FREE!" (Jn. 8:32)
    For most people, one of the most difficult and humiliating things in life is to feel the necessity of giving up long-cherished opinions. Yet, without a teachable spirit there can be no real growth in the grace and knowledge of God and of His purpose in the world He has made. Thus, Jesus told His disciples that if they would be 'great", they must first become as little children. Nor was the more assertive Martha (who assumed that she knew what Jesus would expect without asking) half so pleasing to the Master as was Mary

who, with a teachable spirit, sat at His feet.
    How often have people who considered themselves sincere Christians LOST THEIR WAY, simply because they did not yearn, wait and watch for truth in a teachable attitude of heart and mind! But, it is so easy, so tempting, to immediately contradict, repudiate & dismiss any objectionable or uncomfortable concept without patiently and prayerfully considering it in the context wherein it has been set forth.
    Our Lord has committed Himself to the spiritual enlightenment of any who approach His word with a right spirit. He said: "If ANY man WILL [willeth, or desires to] do His will, he shall know of the doctrine", (John 7:17). It is the faithful, persistent, honest, unprejudiced, actual seeking that FINDS. May God grant such a spirit to all those who love Him sincerely in these crisis times! E.G.


    On Sunday, December 17, the Lord added two new members to Landmark Missionary Baptist Church. Sister Helen Flowers came by statement. Bro. Paul Bratland, who had publicly professed his faith in Christ some weeks earlier, came for baptism - which was administered the following Sunday morning.
    We joyfully welcome both of these to membership in our body and pray that it will be to the mutual spiritual enrichment of all.
In the name of the Lord we conquer!

    Growth in godliness, or the development of Christ-like character, is essential if a person is ever to reach the goal, or potential, set before him at the time of his experience of God's saving grace. Most of the Christian world, however, has awaken to only a fraction of its spiritual privilege and duty.
    What costly folly to assume that, in trusting Jesus Christ as Deliverer from the guilt and penalty of sin, one has assured for himself the full benefits of the Redeemer's death - including an abundant entrance into His Kingdom and joint-heirship to His glorious fulness! Yet, such foolish presumption is often encouraged by the lopsided emphasis placed on evangelistic effort, while totally ignoring the necessity (much less providing adequate instruction, counsel and guidance) of such spiritual growth and development as are essential before one could possibly appreciate such an inheritance.
    A person's place and condition in the age to come is determined by that for which he is prepared through the decisions and experiences of life during this age. When SAVED "by grace through faith" (involving "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ"), one is only a "babe" - in the sense of spiritual life and experience. The apostle Peter urged that "as newborn babes" those who have passed through this initial experience of God's saving grace, must "desire the sincere

milk of the Word" - to the end that they "may grow thereby", (I Pet. 2:2). Nor do "babes" grow to maturity instantaneously, or in isolation. Their well-being depends on the loving assistance of more mature hands, minds and lives. The same is true of newborn Christians. No one can become a mature Christian ALONE!
    It is only within a loving, self-forgetting, cooperative and functioning relationship with others (likened unto the functioning of a human body) that ANYONE can reach his highest potential and full development of Christian character. The Lord Himself has established such an "order" in the church that He established and left on earth. Within the fellowship of a properly functioning New Testament church [designed to show forth "the fulness of him that filleth all in all" - Christlikeness] young Christians are taught the principles of godliness - both by precept and example. Here they may learn the folly of self-centeredness, and the JOY that comes through such self-forgetting and loyal devotion to Christ as enables them to know, experientially, both the "fellowship of His suffering" and the "power of His resurrection" - being made conformable unto His death. Here they may learn the principle of "the exchanged life" - "Not I ... but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME!" (Gal. 2:20). Our Lord is never profited by OUR ABILITY, but always awaits our AVAILABILITY - whereby, with our consent, He manifests His

own life and attributes IN and THROUGH our mortal flesh.
    Such a spirit of INDEPENDENCE as deliberately ignores divine principles, established to safeguard the spiritual well-being and develop the character of God's lit- tie children, risks such a forfeiture of the inheritance laid up for the faithful as will end in their suffering the loss of all reward and "being saved, yet so as by fire!" A self-centered, emotional, feelings-oriented rebellion against the "order" that our Lord established, for the common good and assured maturing of His people, can only lead to heartache, regret and eternal loss!
    Christian character is not developed in the midst of "pity-parties", "fun-and-games", "ecstatic experiences" or religious programs designed to give comfort, assurance and license to the flesh in its rebellion against true godliness. Those who are truly wise will acknowledge the truthfulness of this warning.
    May the young people in our churches awaken to the realization that the enthusiastic leadership to which they are so often drawn, may be but a camouflage of "wolves in sheep's clothing". Though defending their "integrity", while admitting that they do not believe what their fathers taught them, they attempt to "make merchandise" of precious souls that have been won through the "faith of their fathers" in an effort to gain an

easy following for themselves. Thus, churches and families are being divided - their unity sacrificed on the altar of carnal pride! It is only as our young people exercise such spiritual discernment as recognizes such blatant bigotry, and find courage to repudiate it, that there will be preserved for the next generation such leadership as has anything, by way of Christian principle and character, that is WORTH FOLLOWING! May our Dear Lord be pleased to HALT THE SABOTAGE of His blood-bought churches - WHATEVER THE COST! E.G.


    A "pursuit of happiness", which most people seem to consider the American way of life, is the surest way NEVER to be happy - at least in full measure. Happiness, as an end of living, is an UNWORTHY OBJECT because it involves an ignoble SELFISHNESS. The farther self is left behind, the greater one's potential for worthwhile SERVICE. And it is essential that each of choose between: 1) living for SELF, or 2) living to serve God and one's fellow men. On this choice hinges both our character and destiny; also, true happiness. True SERVICE may often lead, temporarily, to SELF-SACRIFICE and personal discomfort. Where personal happiness must be consulted at every step of the way, there can be no NOBLE DARING for truth and right! But, the person who endeavors to render some noble service may find true joy and happiness - even in self-sacrifice.

    Real happiness awaits those who lose themselves in unselfish devotion to the welfare of others. The highest happiness never comes through seeking it; but gently, indirectly and incidentally - as we devote ourselves to a walk of true HOLINESS, in the spirit of Christ.
    Marriage partners have often found the bonds of wedlock GRIEVOUS because, in marrying, each expected to be MADE HAPPY by the other. If, however, a man marries with the desire of bringing happiness to the woman he loves by his unselfish devotion; he is likely not only to succeed, but to receive happiness UNSOUGHT! And the woman who marries to get happiness will be disappointed, because her love is selfish, downward, covetous.
    If one will carefully consider the "Beatitudes", spoken by our Lord in Matthew 5, he will find that the truly "BLESSED" (happy) person is the one ho despises and renounces "self"; hungers and thirsts after righteousness; and, in meekness, devotes himself to a walk of holiness and loyal service to the Christ. THEN, even in the face of persecution "for righteousness' sake", he will know the blessedness of God's "present help" (Psa. 46:1) - while anticipating the glory of possessing the promise kingdom! E.G.
"Praise the Lord!
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for
    He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of
    the LORD?
Who can declare all His praise?"

    With the ominous prospect of imminent warfare in the Middle East the media has been laying much emphasis on an increasing number of young men declaring themselves "not ready to die". One may view this as anarchy, a lack of patriotism, cowardice or mere political dissent; in any case, it suggests an unwillingness to SUBMIT to the authority of the same civil government from which they expect, or even demand, innumerable BENEFITS! (Rom. 13:1-5).
    The stark reality of the situation is that SO VERY FEW of our young men are "ready to die" in the sense of being PREPARED TO MEET GOD! Having been reared in a humanistic society, or having come in contact only with such churches as proclaim a humanistic gospel, they have never been brought to such a consciousness of their sin- guiltiness before God as leads to a despising and loathing of their sinful wretchedness. Thus, they have not been brought to REPENTANCE toward God and FAITH in Jesus Christ through the power of the Gospel, (Rom. 1:16-17).
    As Paul's brethren persuaded him against going to Jerusalem, for fear of what awaited him there, he declared himself "ready also to die" (Acts 20:24; 21:13) if he might but fulfil the ministry that had been committed to him.
    Let us earnestly pray for all our service men - that they may, in the hour of danger, repudiate

    In addressing his letter to Titus, Paul, the willing bondservant of God, identifies himself as "an apostle of Jesus Christ" - one specifically chosen and sent by Him. He wanted it clearly understood that HIS apostleship had not come through the choice, selection or laying on of men's hands. His was definitely a DIVINE appointment and commission.
    Paul's response to his divine commission is described as being according to "The faith of God's elect". This involves far more than legalistic conformity to a set of rules and regulations, or simply the upholding of certain carefully defined biblical doctrines. His life and ministry, as a Christian, were patterned after the FAITHFULNESS of GOD'S ELECT SON (Isa. 42:1; I Pet. 2:4-6) - Who never walked according to His own will, or

sought His own glory; He always endeavored to please and honor His Heavenly Father! He LOVED His Father and knew that the Father would NEVER fail Him!
    Here was a man who viewed FAITH as a WAY OF LIFE. He knew that God was far more concerned with the development of Christlike character than with doctrinal correctness or human pedigree, (Matt. 3:9). Not that he viewed doctrinal purity as being UNIMPORTANT; but that without Christlikeness it PROFITS NOTHING AT ALL! (Gal. 5:6). Thus, Paul purposed ALWAYS to be faithful to the faith placed IN HIM, though so unworthy, by the One Whom he first acknowledged as "LORD" on the Road to Damascus. He would "Magnify" the office to which he was divinely appointed!
    I fear that, far too often, our interpretation of biblical concepts has leaned more heavily toward the pampering of religious pride and high-mindedness (be it personal, denominational or cliquish) than it has toward the encouraging of a fuller conformity to the image of God's dear Son! And that reveals a shameful corruption of biblical truth as well as a misrepresentation of genuine Christian character -- Eugene L. Garner

their sin and so entrust themselves into the hands of God as to know the victory "that overcomes the world" - and the fear of death, (I John 5:4). E.G.