The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-06-29
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sunday 8 Les
son for Teachers and Pupils

I Side Lights on Next Sundays Les-
son for Teachers and Pupils
BY CHAs. K. MEYERS ;
July 8. Pictures of the Kingdom
Matt 49,, 31-33, 44-52.
We consider this week more of the
Wonderful parallels of the thirteenth
chapter of Matthew. All are designed
to show the power of the gospel of
Jesus, and its value in the world. The
first parable compares the kingdom of
.heav to a little mustard seed which
when danted causes branching tree
or shrub to grow. This illustration of
what the gospel OF Jesus will do. finds
many examples in the experience of
every grown up reader who has been
0bservant. The same can be said of
the parable which likens the kingdom
to little leaven or fermented dough,
which when put in the meal, causes
AL to blNae likewise. The little
children ave q common example
In seeing their mother setting the
bread to rise over night. In the
morning the apparently dead dough is
full Of life and rlnnins over the sides
OF the pan. Is
The history Of missions illustrates
these parallels in hundreds of cases.
One lone woman, one little half:in-
formed native telling of the gospel of
Jesus in heather lands has wrought
. revolution In villages and commun-
tiles. The conversion Of one member
of q family has often been the means
,Of bringing all to look to Jesus as
their Savior. The Importance Of the
seed striving to grow and the leaven
ITO influence the whole lump, should
not be overlooked. You and may
be now in place where we ought to
work for the Master. be letting our
light shine. be holding up the banner
OF the cross. We will not want it
written down in the record OF our
Hives that we failed to act, when the
chance was ours to do SO. The loving
word, the gentle direction toward the
right paths, setting the good example,
all can easily be done, and these with
Gods power to aid, may accomplish
great things. The seed grows, the
fermentation In the dough all proceeds
according to physical laws Of nature.
The growth Of spiritual things sown by
'endeavors for Jesus, and the bible re-
ligion, will likewise proceed along
laws known to God. This latter seed
we must SOW or be held accountable
for the failure.
How precious is the gospel Of the
kingdom Is shown by the parallels
likenlng It to . pearl Of great price,
to something which q man was willing
to sell ~ he had 4 he could set II.
What, indeed, does It profit 4 man to
have or gain the riches Of this world,
II In the end he looses his own soul?
Was not the man who wanted the
pearl. the man who wanted the treas
ure, right in selling all to obtain
them? Should we not like them think
that salvation through Christ is the
only thing truly worth having? The
long sleep of death comes all too soon
to many. and II they have not Jesus
in their lives, the future is indeed sad
for them to contemplate.
Jesus further sheds light on the sit
uation Of our life activities by liken-
ing our condition in the world to fish
caught in great net. Fish Of all
kinds are found in the net. Those
y good for food are kept, but the unde-
sirable are cast away. Jesus says
there win come time when, we, like
the fishes in the big net, will be ex-
amined to see whether we are worthy
of joyous eternal life. This being so,
1t should take no urging from me to
have all see the need Of right lives in
Gods sight.
It will thus be seen that Jesus
wants us to consider following His
commands as something of tremend-
GUS importance. Doing so, ranks as
costly pearls and great treasure worthy
Of obtaining. He wants us also to be
active principles for Him in the world
like the seed planted, or the leaven
In the meal. He warns us further OF
q judgment to come. We would like
to have written the whole of this ar.
ticle on the teachings of the golden
text found in Romans 14-17, but space
forbids.
RICKETTS, ITEMS.