Árdís - 01.01.1964, Page 15

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
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we are frightened. Looking within, we are paralyzed. But looking
up into the face of Jesus, we are strengthened and encouraged.
Weaknesses within ourselves or within the church can be con-
quered by God’s strength from without.
These challenges to consistent Christianity are good to make
us stretch and grow. Growth is necessary for life. When growth
stops, decay sets in. Life for the sincere Christian is a growing
into the image or likeness of Christ. To be like Christ in thought
and deed is the high goal of every Christian. Like the apostle Paul
we can never say in this life that we have arrived, but we press
on. The question is not “Are you perfect?” but “Are you growing?”
Let us accept these challenges to revitalize our spiritual lives
by closer fellowship with God in worship and private devotion and
by needful Christian service. How can we accomplish all this?
We must pray for the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into our
churches and into our lives. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers
the church to advance against secularism, atheism, and immorality;
who fans our feeble faith into full flame so we may light men to
Christ and show them wherein the true strength of Christianity
lies—in lives that are transformed by the Gospel.