Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-01-10
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In answer to the charge of the Phari-
Uoes that He received sinners and ate
With them Jesus spoke the three para
bles of this chapter--the parallels Of
Tie lost sheep. the lost coin and the
brodigal son. His purpose was to show
that He had come into the world to
seek and to save that which was lost
But in these parallels He also touching
y pictured the anxiety of God to save
the lost and the way of the lost soul
back to God.
The prodigal son "in the far eoun-
try" represents man in the far country
Of sin. Sin is indeed a far country. 1t is
far away from God. our Heavenly Fa
Their. 1t is far away from heaven. our
Fathers home. To be in sin is to be
separated from God. from home and
from country and to be Il wanderer and
sojourner in land that is foreign to
us. God has made us - Himself for
His home. and if away because of sin
we are In far country. and if we per-
sist in our absence the separation will
become an impossible gulf. This fact
should cause us t61 hesitate. to pause
and to consider How may | return
from the far country TO my Fathers
homer and to thank God that a way
has been opened up by which we may
return and receive a cordial welcome.
The return OF the prodigal son to his
fathers house symbolizes the return of
the sinner to his Heavenly Fathers
home. Life in the far country soon be-
comes unsatisfactory. We want to re-
turn. The prodigal did, and so some
times will all who are away from God.
The prodigal did return and thereby
left an example which all may follow.
Three things characterized the prodi-
gals return: 1. Thought HE came to
himself" He thought upon his condi
ton, and this thought and reflection
were produced by diversity. Thought
lessness keeps many away from God.
II we would think soberly of what we
are away from God and what we may
be If we return to God, more OF us
would return to God. .. Resolution.
Thought produced decision. He said,
II will arise and go to my Father" 3.
Action. The prodigal not only resolved
to return. but he arose and went He
acted up TO his decision. Here many
fail. They decide to return to God but
fail to act up TO their decision. If we,
like the prodigal, upon serious rehec-
ton, win decide to return to God and
will do so, with confession of sin and
with faith in Christ, we also shall be
gladly received and cause joy upon
earth and in heaven.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Have a called meeting" At the
proper time let the leader open on the
topic and on closing call for some one
else to take part who, when having fin
ished, shall call upon another. and so
on until all have been called and have
responded. If any one should not be
prepared, he may simply call upon
some one else. This will make an in
teresting and spirited meeting.
Bible Readings.-EZ iii, S-13; Ps.
xix, ia; xiii. 1-3; Ii, IL, II; lisa. l..
Is, 10; xxxv, $40; ", II; Jer. ", l.;
NAL Iii. TIP; Math. xi, IS: John iii, 16;
xiv, Is: ii Tim. iv, Z, S; Heb. xi, 8, 16;
l Pet. Ii, 1925.