DISCIPLE

continued from Christian Devotedness by Anthony Norris Groves (1795-1853)   WE SHOULD SHARE WITH OTHERS WHATEVER WE RECEIVE IN EXCESS OF OUR PRESENT NEEDS.       Such conduct does not necessarily involve the institution of some common fund. Rather it can be brought about by each individual blending himself with the whole household of faith, feeling their wants, and rejoicing in their welfare, as his own.  This sympathy of the members of the holy family toward each other is strongly enforced and beautifully illustrated by St. Paul: “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,  that ye through his poverty might be rich.  I mean not that other men may be eased, and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality; as it is written, ‘He that gathered much ...

     "A program of light jazzy religion can equally  stultify spiritual growth.  And too many ministers have not learned that sermonettes by preacherettes make Christianettes.  If you want to have a strong spiritual life, you must spend time on it.  The growth of the soul is a definite thing, and we must obey the rules of spiritual dietetics if we would come into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.      ...What does it mean to import truth from one heart to another?  It should be understood that it is a vertical work and not a horizontal one.  There have been those who have attempted to introduce into the Christian vocabulary the idea of sharing.  There was quite a vogue of this sharing a few years ago.  One man who had been a drunkard would tell another drunkard that he himself had been that way, and that he could share certain experiences with him, and certain knowledge of how to ove...