Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-09-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THOUGHTS WORTHY OF CALM
REFLECTION.

Pleasant, Interesting, and InstructIvo
Lesson and Whore It May 30 Sound-A
Learned and Concise Review Of the
Same.
The lesson for Sunday, Sept. z. may be
found In Luke 10: 1-10.
| INTRODUCTORY.
Rightly viewed, this Is one of the bright
est glimpses we have in the Gospels OF the
/ work OF Christ on earth. We read that Zac-
ch@us sought to see Jesus" But It was
rather Jesus who was seeking Zacch@us,
| ana because OF that seeking spirit Christ
came to Jericho and passed beneath the
| sycamore. Were IL not that Christ sought
us, we should never have been seeking him.
IL is his love responded to that we namc
| Christian love. 1--WE love him because no
| first loved u.s." All the seeking we need
| Is to follow the dictation of his Spirit In our
hearts and open the door TO receive him,
| and 10! he is at hand saying: MAKE
haste and come down" 1t was not nearly
| so far from Zacch@us' home to the syca-
more as from the Fathers house to that
same tree.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Jesus entered. Or, having entered. The
word Jesus is added I'm the English. The
Gospels are 80 thoroughly the story of Jesus
that the simple pronoun Is sufficient, at all
times, to designate him.--He passed
through. More accurately, was passing
through.--Jericho. Then chief city with
outlying suburbs.
Behold. Introducing a singular circum-
stance.-A man named Zacch@us. Doubt
less well known I'm the community on ac-
count OF his public occupation. The chief
among the publcans. Rather, chief tax
gatherer. One word I'm the Greek. Proba-
bly, the head of one division of the tax
gatherers, who doubtless found Jericho
lucrative center of operations.--Rich.
The publicans OF the day, to whom the
taxes were farmed out, had abundant op-
portunites whore conscience was stilled to
accumulate wealth.
lie sought. Better, was seeking, or kent
seeking; imperfect tense.-To see Jesus.
Implying some knowledge of the name and
reputation of Christ.--Who He was. In
the Greek idiom, who He is. He desired
personal or at least a slight acquaintance
with Jesus.-Could not for the press. lie
probably had been tip-toeing about for some
time ON the edge of the throng.-Low
stature. Not always misfortune, as the
sequel here proves.
To him. Speaking as directly and frank
ly as he had been spoken to.-This day.
Same word as In v. 6.-Salvation. T. Q.
Christ herewith bestows his saving grace.
is come. Better, has come.-To this
house. 1t was the same as saying, Thy
faith hath saved thee.-As he also.
Rather, since also. 1t Is an added consider
alton, of special weight with the objcctors,
an argumentum ad hOminem.--A son OF
Abraham. He was a Jew, one of the lost
sheep OF the house of Israel
Is come. Emphatic position. |. e. the
express errand OF Christ was such work as
this.--To seek and TO save that which was
lost. How can the lost be saved without
being sought!
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
sycamore tree. Thank God for the
syes%1rs; II Is not mSss ss 2f b5es gs
Is a very insignificant place. But do you
know? Right here the other evening, man
who had wandered about In many lands, a
refugee from his home government, the heir
of vast estate, gave himself and all his to
the Lord. And his Is but one of the many
souls that have been given here new and
Transforming glimpse OF life. This country
church, open but once OF twice week.
seems to have very little to do with the
great bustling life OF tho thronged thorough
fares. But II was right hero that that sue
cessful minister or Sunday school worker In
the great metropolis enlisted for King Jesus.
We are not going to despise these sycamore
trees along the Lords highway. They may
be trysting places 'twlxt the soul and God.
When they saw 1t they all murmured.
How slow we are to realize an evangelistic
opportunity! What Jesus seized by u sort
of divine instinct the disciples looked upon
askance. No wonder the gospel net catches
so few fishes, comparatively speaking; we
move so languidly and iaggardly.
The other night at the close of the testi-
mony meeting, several persons arose for
prayer. One whole family, a father, wife
and son In body. After the benediction
the pastor hurried back to the door. He
was able to take two OF three of those who
nad arisen by the hand; nut not all. What
were the Christians around about them do
ing? Would you believe it, just nothing.
Waiting, II would seem, to be introduced.
Oh, these miserable society trammelsl Why
should the Kingdom so fetter itself;
why put itself under world-bondage?
May the Lord unseal our eyes to behold
the man waiting to see Jesus; and may he
loose our hands to help him!
Gone to be a guest with man that Is a
sinner. So the Lord preferred to spend his
precious moments. There he was usually
TO be found, where he could do most good.
Doubtless they had some other plan for him.
Perhaps they were hurrying him forward 20
some important man-made appointment.
Christ had his own errand there. We have seen
IL so. Have not your What disappointment
that was to us few Sunday nights since
when we were expecting one sort of serv-
ice, and, by the providence of God, it was
turned into anotherl just simple praise
service that was all, instead OF the plat
form meeting we were expecting to have.
But then how God cheered us when the ap-
peal was made In enabling us TO see one soul
after another arise and ask to be remem-
bered In prayer. Our Master had changed
our plan OF the meeting. He had other
business. He had gone 10 be a guest with a
man who was a sinner.
This day Is salvation come to this house.
Yes, IL only Christ is let In. Here are a
multitude Of homes, just like that OF Zac-
ch@us, needing salvation. Here is Jesus
with his salvation. What now will bring
salvation into these houses? Why, simply
10 open and let Christ In. Behold, stand
at the door and knock" This Sunday-school
lesson Is another gentle but earnest knock
at the door. At many n heart the Savior
Is standing and seeking admission to-day.
VIII you let him inf When you let him In
you let In life and light. Salvation is como
10 this house.
To seek and to save. Christs errand to-
day Is not for judgment. 1t Is for mercy.
When we hear his tapping at the door let
us not forget him even though our SINS and
shortcomings are great. The woman who
failed TO let I'm her benefactor because she
thought IL was the landlord for the rent was
not moro foolish and forlorn than that one
who because OF conscious delinquencies re-
fuses to hear the tender voice that calls.
There Is a time when Christ will come for
/ judgment. But II Is not yet. And those
who will feel his wrath then are those sim
ply who scorn his mercy now. 30 kiss tho
Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the
way when his wrath Is kindled but little.
Blessed are those that put their trust In
him."
Next lesson: Parable OF the Pounds"