The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-05-08
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Topic For the Week BEGINNING May
In-Cs0uuneux nv Rev g. H. DOYLE.

Topic For the Week BEGINNING May
1O-COmment by Rev. s. H. Doyle.
Topic.SWhat does the story Of Zaccheus
teach us?-Luke xix, lilo.
When Louis Kossuth visited the
United States, so great was the enthu-
siasm for Hungary that the trees
around the New York Battery were
crowded with people who had climbed
there to see the distinguished stranger
as he passed That Zaccheus could not
get to Christ for the crowd, but had
to walk out the avenue ahead Of the
procession and climb tree to see him,
argues greatly for the popularity of
our Saviour.
This story is one of the most interest
ing in the life of Christ and suggests
many useful lessons.
/. Some occupations hinder our COM
ing to Christ.
He was a Roman tax gatherer, and
as his business represented Roman OPP
preston it was unspeakably hateful
to the Jews. His case was aggravated
because he was the chief of the pub
licans-because he resorted to extor-
ton and because he was renegade
Jew, who had thus become a traitor
to his country.
There are businesses now which no
man can follow and be on the road to
heaven. There are even legitimate
lines of business in which it is hard to
be a Christian. We may let good
business so fill our minds and hearSS
that we have no time for Christ.
2. Some personal characteristics may
hinder us from coming to Christ. Fac
cheus was little of stature, a mere mite
of man. When he came to the crowd
ed street, he was unable to see. Big,
burly fellows would push the hated
dwarf to one side. He might have rid
himself of his despised business, but he
could not "by taking thought add one
cubit to his stature
Some have traits of disposition such
as pride, stubbornness, love of pleas
ure and fashion, evil habits and inner
tied passions that make it harder to
enter the kingdom.
8. Some broad shouldered man hides
our view of Christ.
Wherever Zaccheus went he always
him and the object he wished to see.
How many little people allow some
great man of their community to OBJ
struct their view of Christ! When you
try to lead them into the kingdom some
broad shouldered great man looms up
between them and salvation. They say
to your entreaties, "There are Dr.
Blank and Professor So-and-so, who
are as good as any Christians, yet they
are not members of the church" The
big man obstructs their view of Christ.
4. An intense desire to see Jesus
will be rewarded with success.
Zaccheus conquered his difficulties.
1t may have been curiosity, but curl
osity is a good motive when it leads to
Christ. If he could not get through the
crowd, he could run ahead of it. If he
was small, he could piece out the short
ness of his stature by adding to it the
height of that sycamore tree. TO see
Jesus we must get above the sordid
earth to a higher point of view.
where there's will there's way"
5. Jesus Christ is searching for us.
Christ was searching for Zaccheus
first-long before Christ entered Jer-
icho. Christ came into Zaccheus'
town and down Zaccheus' street and
along to the tree ON which Zaccheus
sat Looking up He saw Zaccheus,
and, speaking his name, said, Come
down for today I must abide at thV
house." "The Son of Man came to
seek and to save that which was lost"
When we are searching for Christ and
Christ is searching for us, salvation
will come to our house.
BIBLE READINGS.
Luke V, 1922; iii, 10, IA; Elk. xxi,
1; Sam. xii, 3; II Sam. xii, 6; Matt.
TX, 10, IL; Gal. iii, Z; Luke xiii, IS;
Matt. xviii, IL; X, 6; XIV, "a.