Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

world."
place"
yesterday,"
Lesson Helps for the Week of June 5, 1955
C.Y.P.U. TOPIC
May 22, 1955
"FORWARD WITH CHRIST"
Phil. 3:1-14
Comments By Rev. J. Paul McCracken
There is something very entertaining
about a squirrel in a cage, running on
the inside of a whirling
wheel. People
will stand for hours and watch a sight
like that, and they
wonder if the poor
squirrel will ever realize that he isn't
getting anywhere. A lot of exercise, but
no progress! Pity the poor animal that
runs itself tired, but goes nowhere!
But let us leave the zoo, and get to
human beings. Better yet, let us pick out
a certain group
of human beings. Better
yet, let us pick out a certain group of
human beings that we are interested in,
and concentrate on them. Let us enter a
church, and without stopping go straight
into one of the back rooms where the
young people are meeting Sabbath eve
ning. There is young Bill Jones leading
the ...
meeting a nice Christian fellow,
neat, friendly, and lots of fun.
Two years ago Bill was a high school
sophomore, and he decided then that he
should start improving his spiritual life.
So his life soon included the following:
Bible reading 5 minutes a day; prayer
3 minutes; S.S. and church (morning)
regular; C.Y.P.U. fairly regular;
Prayer Meeting No. (Busy school
night); Witnessing for Jesus None.
(Didn't feel qualified).
A year ago Bill was a High School
Junior. And he was still "improving" his
spiritual life. Bible reading 5 Minutes;
Prayer still 3 minutes; S.S. and Church
(morning) very regular; C.Y.P.U.
fairly regular; Prayer Meeting No.
(Very busy school night) ; Witnessing
none. (Didn't quite feel qualified yet).
Now, Bill is a Senior in High School
(of course). And what about his spirit
ual progress Yes, he's still reading the
Bible five minutes a day. He doesn't
exceed his three minutes prayer time as
yet. We are glad to see that he is still
faithful at morning services, but he still
misses C.Y.P.U. occasionally. Wednes
day night is so busy for him, now with
the added burdens, responsibilities, and
functions of Senior life. And doesn't he
ever mention anything to anybody about
his Lord Jesus Christ, who saved him
Bill may be a nice fellow, all right, but,
as a Christian, he's in a rut! . . . he's
going around and around ... in a way
it reminds you of . . .
yes, a squirrel run
ning inside a wheel. Lots and lots of ex
ercise, but NO PROGRESS!
And what about John and Shirley and
Eddie and Carol and Margie and Nick
and Isabel who are also in the C.Y.P.U.
What about their spiritual progress Is
the leader typical of the rest And in
another year, will there be anybody else
in the C.Y.P.U. besides Bill and John and
Shirley
and the others
In 1950, the theme of the Grinnell
Conference in Iowa was this subject,
"Forward With Christ," and, if memory
serves correctly, it was taken from the
passage which is our study this evening.
Especially the phrases apply in Phil. 3:
13, 14, ". . . this one thing I do ... I
press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
What progress have you made with
Christ since 1950, or '52, or '54 And is
the C.Y.P.U. going "Forward with
Christ," or is it running in one spot
Paul the Apostle seems determined in
this part of his letter to Philippi to show
Christians that the normal life is going
forward, progressing, always moving
ahead toward a distant goal. Paul was a
man of action, just like his Lord when
He was on the earth. Paul set goals
(I Thess. 3:11-13), and made plans (I
Cor. 16:5) subject always to the Lord's
changes, and then he worked and trav
eled and prayed to see them carried out.
Every day was a day of pressing toward
a goal.
Our first and basic goal as Christians
is an individual one, and that is Paul's
emphasis here. As societies, we like to
set goals regarding number of members
stewardship, financial stability, service,
and yet striving for the individual goal
will help in attaining these other ends.
So then, in order to make Progress in
Christ, to go Forward with Him, let
us. . .
I. Beware.
The Philippians were first warned
about other people, and then about
themselves. Evil companions are danger
ous to spiritual progress, and even the
ordinary associations of every day pre
sent a challenge to us, for we must rub
elbows with many worldly people. Keep
world,"
clean and separate. Be "in the
but never "of the
Mostly
we are warned against our
flesh."
selves, "taking confidence in the
Pride, we call it; "thinking
more highly
of ourselves
than we ought to
think,"
and thereby tending to depend on our
selves in the matter of salvation. But
look at what Paul had done, and had
been! And he knew that all of that was
worthless except Christ should save him
by His grace and power.
II. Value only Christ.
It saddens us to say it, and yet we
certainly must admit, that much of our
public school teaching today is
done
purely from the idea of how much it
will help the student to make money
when he grows up. Of course,
moneymaking
is essential, but training with
emphasis only on the value of the ma
terial, and not the spiritual, is sadly
lacking. As a result, it is often the case
to see young married couples who feel
that all of their time must be spent in
amassing these material goods, while
God and Christ are neglected. Notice
verse 7, "But what things were gain to
me, those I counted loss for Christ."
Only Christ is truly valuable, and if we
had a choice to make between things
which were gain just to us, and Christ
(which choice we do have) He alone
would be the wise choice, for life or
death carries no real blessing without
Him.
III. Look Forward.
What does he mean, "forgetting those
things which are behind" Are we to
forget sins of the past which are for
given Very definitely. The only cause
for their remembrance is to guard us
lest we again fall. There are other
things to forget also: the old sins
and inconsistencies in others which
may not exist today; past
bitterwhich
may
not exist today; past bitter
nesses and "hurts." But here"the Apostle
speaks chiefly of past accomplishments.
"Forget the triumphs of
he
says, "do not dwell on them. Look ahead.
There is far more to be accomplished
ahead than has been done behind. Look
always ahead. Reach out for goals be
yond, even as "I press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God
in Christ Jesus."
Questions :
1. What kind of goals should a society
set for itself
2. What are some ways for us to keep
from "running
itual life
in one
in our spir
3. Why did Paul value Christ so
much Is your testimony anything like
Paul's, in verses 7-10 Why not
C.Y.P.U. TOPIC
For June 5, 1955
'OUGHT' "
"Big Words:
Acts 5: 29; Matthew 23:23;
II Peter 3:11-14
Topic used by
permission of Christian
Endeavor.
Psalms :
119:1-3, page 287 313
May 18, 1955