The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-02-23
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les
son for Teachers and Pupils.
By CHAs. K. MEYERS

I By CHAS. K. MEYERS
Feb q. False and True Disciple
ship. Matt...7:13 20.
We have for our lesson this week
the last words of the great Sermon on
the Mount. from which all have been
gaining SO much instruction in chris
tian living. In passing to other
chapters it will be we'll to remember
where to find the precious words of
Jesus as recorded in the fifth, sixth
and seventh chapters of Matthew.
Choosing a we'll known physical
thing to teach matters spiritual,
Jesus made US of the small and the
broad gates opening through the wall
of the larger cities Of Palestine in
His day. AS it was easy enough to
drift with the crowd through the big
broad gateway, and it required effort
and separation from the rest to enter
the small gate, SO Jesus said it was
in gaining the kingdom of Heaven. =
1t was attained by forethougnts. de-.
termination to be different from
others. by perseverance, by directed
struggle. Very plain what he wanted
us to know. and all can understand
just how it is.
Jesus the Master. and Paul the
great apostle, both give special warn
ing as to those who, pretending to
serve God, are false at heart, ana
wolves in sleeps clothing. Again
making use Of familiar things TO il.
lustrate spiritual truths, Jesus calls
attention to the relationship between;
q tree and it's branches. He does this
in tine lesson verses Of today and in
John l5-the chapter beginning. -
am the vine We are the branches
The test of christian living is made
from the kind Of fruit one bears.
Good fruits-gentleness, long suffer-
ing, meekness. love. self-sacriice,
rejoicing in good and not in eyil-wills
be recognized and rewarded by God.
Bad fruits drunkenness, hate, evil
thoughts, wrsnRling. revenge. failure
to obey Gods demands will be also
noted and rewarded accordingly.
Jesus in another place gives parable
which represents q land owner looking
at the trees in his garden, and finding,
one which bore 40 fruit. It is told
how the gardner asked one more year
of trial to make the tree bear before
cutting it down. One on reading this
has the feeling as if they could wish
to tell the tree that 1t must do its
hest, in view Of It's fate il there is
another failure to bear. The thought
has often come to US that many peuple
are having their last trial as to
whether they will confess Jesus, and
live so to deserve eternal life il
heaven. Every person who lives to
manhood and womanhood must know
that their whole life is q probation,
chance to make good. = No per-
son who reads the Sunday School col
umn. or has an opportunity to study
the bible and to hear preaching based
on Gods words can put forth the ex :
cuse that they did not know their duty.
In closing the sermon, Jesus like
ned one who trusted in Him who learn
ed Of His will and did it. to man
who built house on firm rocks. SO
THAT il would stand no matter how
fierce the storms blow. The person
who is informed as to Gods will and
will not obey, is likened to one build
ing on the shifting sands, whose house
persisted in the storm. It is thus
plain that if we want blessed eternal
life we must bear fruit in the shape
of Cody living. must do the will Of
God. must strive to do this. not drift
in the broad way easily along that
it is not those who make the greatest
outward pretense Of doing God's com.
mands but those who actually do them.
whom He will reward in the great do,
of accounting.