Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-08-15
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in return what reward have you?
'.But when thou doest aims, let not thy
left hand know what thy right hand
doeth." And when thou makest din
ner or a supper, call not thy friends,
nor thy brethren, neither thy 6ns-
men, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they
also bid thee again and recompense
be made thee. But when thou makest
a feast call the poor, the MANNED, the
lame, the blind; and thou shalt be
blessed; for they cannot recompense
thee; for thou shalt be recompensed
at the resurrection of the just Paul
writes to the Corinthians: ST will very
gladly spend and be spent for you,"
and to the brethren at Ephesus he
preached the doctrine of giving and
besought them ito remember the
words of the Lord Jesus, how He said:
1t is more blessed to give than to re-
ceive.'''
This was the ruling motive of the
apostles life. This it was which led
him in labors more abundant, in
stripes above measure, in prisons
more frequent, in deaths off," in or
der that his Lord might be glorified
and those with whom he came in con-
tact blessed. While He gave to others
listen to what he received: "Of the
Jews five times received 1 40 strokes,
save one. Thrice was I beaten with
rods, once l was stoned, thrice I suf-
fered shipwreck, a night and day I
have been in the deep; in journeyings
often, in perils of waters, in perils Of
robbers, in perils of mine own country
men, in perils by the heather, in perils
in the city, in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea, in perils among
false brethren, in WEAKNESS and pain
fulness, in watchings often, in hunger
and thirst, in HASTINGS often, in cold
and nakedness. Besides those things
that are without, that which cometh
upon me daily, the care of all the
churches" Paul gave and as he gave
God gave to Him abundantly of His
grace that He might give the more.
So should the disciples of Jesus Christ
give. Give to others that they may
receive from God.
The simplest service can be glorified
by being given in the name of the Mas
ter. So many dear disciples of Christ
withhold because they have no large
gift of money, or talents, Or abilities,
forgetting that special mention is
made by Scripture of the widows mite
and the cupful of cold water, while the
large gifts are belittled by Christ de-
claring that the widow gave more than
they all, and the giver of the cupful of
cold water is promised a reward, while
those who had prophesied in His name
and done many mighty works but had
left the little things undone were not
recognized as disciples at all or even
admitted to Heaven.
Astounding to Every Good Work
This is wonderful privilege and be-
longs to those who are disciples of
Christ and VIII o have learned the source
of true power and blessing. tits the out
growth of faith that God will make
all the grace abound" and that always,
you will "have all sufficiency of all
things" This is the life Christ lived.
This is the lesson He taught His disci-
pies. The Gospel message needed the
fruits of good work to give it a tangible
basis of operation. It must necessarily
be the medium through which any eff
fective work can be done for Christ.
For Astounding to every good work.
is the outward evidence of the inward
possession of the call grace of Cod
It has been the privilege of the
Highway and Byway" preacher to
wheel across country during the sum-
mer days, and the avenues of service to
others which have opened up by the
wayside have been a revelation to him.
While bordering on the text we have
before US county poorhouse doomed
up on one side of the road. Unexpect-
eddy. while enjoying the charming
verdure and scenery on each side of the
roadway, an opportunity came of bear
ing the message of glad tidings to poor
outcasts whom the Lord was yearning
to adopt as sons, and fill with the
brightness of the hope of Heavens
glory A CHEEKY word to each, a little
card with Scripture verse upon it and
a hearty God bless YOU" brought
ray of light from the presence of God
into their lives that will bide through
time. and we pray through eternity,
for the little seed sown may spring up
into everlasting life through faith in
Christ Jesus. AS we talked of man.
sions in the skies which Jesus has gone
to prepare for them that love Him,
ewes moistened, and new hope shone
out of eyes which had been Hstless and
discouraged when we came.
A little farther along the road we
met group of urchins, whose world
was bounded by the limits of the farm.
A pleasant word. accompanied by a
pretty card. won their confidence, and
we soon learned that they had never
been to Sunday school and did not
know who Jesus Christ was. But their
hearts readily opened up to the
thought of Saviour and never-failing
friend. and we left them absorbed in
the new Friend who had come to visit