July 12

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10.

We all ought to be builders of the Christian Church. No man has a right to stand aloof from the Christian Church. There are many, however, who do not like to join a church. Why? They say: "I do not like to bind myself." But they are already obliged and pledged to perform the duties incumbent upon a member.

Each and every Christian ought not only to be a church-member, but also an active church-member. We all ought to be laborers in the Church, helping to build and give it ever wider dimensions. Those who have hitherto stood aloof from the Church or who are mere lingerers about its gates, let them learn what is their duty. It is a serious matter to shirk and lie at ease while others labor and the Master Builder is present. He sees and knows your every act and word. Woe unto you if you will not do your duty! You will be discharged from His service and be driven into a spiritual destitution. And what shall we say about those who endeavor to dissuade and hinder those who would labor, and about those whose greatest delight it is to tear down what others have built, to break up a congregation by false insinuations, by maligning the pastor and the members of the church? What will their lot be? God, their Master Builder, sees what they are doing, hears their words, and beholds the evil counsels of their hearts.

But do you ask how you may help to upbuild the Church? God needs not only skilled laborers, but also helpers. It is our duty to bring the Gospel to those who have no connection with any Christian congregation. Then there is also a large number of such as profess to be members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, people who have been baptized and, possibly, confirmed, but who are no longer living stones in the walls of Zion. It is our privilege and our duty to find them with the help of the Gospel, to urge them to become living stones again in the holy temple of the Lord. And finally there are the children and young people with whom we are to build the Church.

Prayer.

Lord God, heavenly Father, let us continue to build wisely under the guidance of the Master Builder, God the Holy Spirit, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, choosing Jesus as

the chief Corner-stone of our edifice and seeking our material with prayerful diligence, that our Church may grow up a powerful organization, possessing spiritual strength to do good. Direct our efforts and strengthen our hearts, so that, while we are working faithfully, we may hopefully and confidently say:—

I love my Church, my dear old Church, My fathers' and my own, On prophets and apostles built, And Christ the Corner-stone. All else beside, by storm or tide, May yet be overthrown, But not my Church, my dear old Church, My fathers' and my own.