The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-09
THE CHlLO-llKE SPIRIT.
International Sunday school Lesson fol
March 10, 1850.

LESSON TEXT-Mark $3.50.
GOLDEN TEXT-Whosoever shall not re-
ceivc the Kingdom OF God as little child,
he shall not enter therein Mark 1913
CENTRAL TRuTu-Only in the child-like
spirit can we enter the Kingdom OF Heaven,
TlME-Autumn A. ID, 90 A few weeks
| after the last lesson
Place - Capenaum; probably in the
house Of Peter,
PARALLEL ACCOUNTS Matt. lS:l-7; Luke
9:46-5l
| lNrRopCCTIoS-On week after our last
lesson Jesus was transigured, probably on
Nj. Hermon, near Cesarea PhilippL Com
ing down He healed n demoniac child; then
they crossed the Jordan near its source,
and, entering Galilee from the north,
| journeyed slowly toward Capernaum. On
this journey, probably just before reach
ing Capernaum, occurred the dispute re.
! ferred To in the lesson.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs-;S. Add lie
came 10 CIpernagm: His Galilean homo.
| Here the temple tax was demanded, aud
Peter obtained the money from IA fish Matt.
| l7:A20 "a. Hli their peace: from shame.
ORIGIN OF THE DIsPUTE-lt may have
arisen "a from the fact that three OF their
number had been selected by Jesus for His
companions on the mount; (2) the keys
had been given 10 Peter, and he was TO be
foundation stone of the kingdom Matt.
! 1915 10; C3) Judas, as the treasurer, may
have had special ambitions, rs he thought
| Of being chief of the treasury of the Mes.
siah king; AZ those who had received
special favors may have usurped some au-
thorlty, or assumed a dctatorial spirit
which would naturally be resented by the
others. 81. Took chi.d: as an acted par
able, showing that they should have the
love, the trust, the simple, unambltlous
feelings of child 81. WhoSOeYer shall re-
ccire one Of such cl,ldren! shall love him, care
I for him, imbibe his spirit. Receireh M: has
My spirit, is like Me- and his kindness TO
the CHI Id for ChriSts sake will be accepted
as if done to Himself,
THE CumD-LrKE SPRIT-Not sinlessness;
for no children are sinlcss Those qualities
which are characteristic of childhood,
which make the ideal childhood. AS DR.
Robinson puts it, What you would have
your child be to you, that be yourself TO
God These quantities are: QD humility;
! CO freedom from ambition, rivalry, or
jealousy; (3J tender and gracious affection;
a. perfect trust, 90 obedience; o. a
teachable spirit; CO unworldliness, G) in
.
wealth IS. And John answered Him; i. e.,
his question was suggested by what Jesus
had said. Did this man we saw receive
youl Did he have the child-lke spiriti He
Jobolreh not as: he did the work really and
in Christ's name, but he did not join the
apostles 80 FORBID him not: do not inter
fere. Let each one work IN HIS own way.
40 He that is not against us; see also Matt
EN-arV 10 IN al N y ia N
There is no neutrality Al. A cup ~ ,odtsr:
the smallest and simplest gift. lie shall not
lose his rsUdrd: he shall be treated as il he
had done the kindness to Jesus Himself
Matt. - :40).
NoTE o. that the essential element
which is rewarded is the love of Christ and
devotion to Him. GU What a splendid OPP
portunity opens here for us to do that TO
which our hearts often prompt u.s. some
act of personal devotion and love to Jesus.
We would express our gratitude to Him
personally (3) This direct and personal
service of Jesus tends TO transhgure all
our daily lives with the radiance of Heaven,
A. SHAH offend; cause to stumble, lead into
sin. II is hct'r for HIM no earthly loss is
so great an evil as this SIN.
COMMENTS See how Jesus instructed the
disciples with regard to the way of enter
ing the kingdom of God. They needed this
teaching, for they were all the time taking
it for granted, not only that they were
sure of admission but that they would oc
cupy prominent positions there. Their eyes
must have expressed great astonlshmcnt
when He assured them that unless they be
came truly humble in spirit they would
never so much as enter the kingdom, much
less occupy any lofty place there With
one sentence He upset all their ideas OF
merit and established IA new basis Of valu-
alton Not by sclf-sceklng, but by self-Cte-
NAL; not by pride, but by humility; not by
being served, but rendering service %
others, would they be fitted for that king
dom. In utterng this truth the Saviour
was indeed setting forth hard saying
I for the very last thing that men naturally
love is humility. To find a truly humble
man or woman is harder than TO find
a black diamond. Pride, under the most
spccIous FORMS finds only too ready admit
tauce into our hearts. II manitests itself in
various and very horrible ways. Pride OF
dress, pride of appearance, pride OF manners,
pride of position in society, pride Of ancestry,
pride Of wealth, pride of intellectual attain
ments, pride of accomplishments, pride OF
influence, pride Of honesty, pride OF truth
funcss, pride of religious form, pride Of
mock humility. The catalogue might be
endlessly drawn out. Notice for moment
into what utterly Incongruous places this
pride intrudcs itself. At the very com
munlOn table the apostles were stumbled 10y
their pride duke 81: 24-3Ol, and to-day
many proud minister in church Offices may
be found officiating at the Lord supper,
Pride is also guest at funerals, even the
mourners welcoming him and being STUN
bled by his Satanic suggestions. In revival
services pride Is never wanting, and among
successful inquiry room workers he strives
hard TO be a guest Our hottest things are
often made unholy with this evil pride,
which will never be shamefaced enough to
take nay for an answer.-Rev. A. f.
Schauflicr.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
l. The desire 10 be greater than others
arises from selfishness, and leads to quar-
reis and bitter feelings.
2. Mans way to be great is by ruling
others Gods way to be great is by serv.
ing others.
3. We should be like child, in trusting
God, IN humility, in obedience, IN love, in
unworldliness, in teachableness.
T. Beware OF the intolerant spirit
5. Neutrality 10 impossible, We must be
on one side or the other.