The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08
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Still it remains true that the blight Of
despotism or class distinctions or race
prejudices; but that old enemy of man
kind, sin. When sin is overcome, all its
attendant train of evils disappear.
The Peril of Snort Cuts.
Everybody is attacked at his point Of
least resistance. The hungry mans
temptations come as did that of Jesus
through proffered food The lonely,
misunderstood woman's temptation
comes in the form of companionship and
sympathy. The poor mans temptation
comes in the guise of wealth. This
borne in mind. And further, that temp
tatlon is not necessarily a defeat, but
rather chance for victory.
There is modern maudlin, novel
writing school of philosophers who
assume that of course temptations are
TO be yielded to. This sort of litera-
ture seldom affirms the doctrine, Re
S1st the devil, and he will flee from
you.' The new fashion of the senti-
mentalists is to give up all idea of re-
slsting temptation: instead, tempta-
ton is to be coddled and cherished.
SO we have it pictured that because
Va woman finds life with her husband
and domestic cares not quite to her
hiking, she is to shovel the ten COM
mandments. and all the old code of
II,
while she runs off with some smooth
talking scoundrel. And the young
man in our modern novel finds vir-
tue not easy, so he jiIts her and goes
the way of folly; to be hailed there
fore as a hero.
Indeed we need to study a lesson
on temptation, to learn how to fight
and to overcome; and to see in the
example of Jesus that 1.-THE Easiest
way Gas current problem play is
~ l.
way of the devil. For the temptation
OF Jesus is a study in the avoidance
of Shortcuts. Satan tried to beguile
Jesus into accepting some other way
than Gods way. What he proposed
was not wicked in itself SO much as
it was compromise with the evil one:
a reinforcement of God from his
place of prominence.
1t was natural of Jesus to want
bread; but it would have been ignobIe
OF him. at the evil ones bidding, to
employ his highest powers for lowest
uses. To have tested God by an idle
leap from the temples pinnacle would
likewise have been a needless viola
ton OF Gods orderly way of working.
And to bend the knee to Satan. in or
der to acquire world-dominion with
out travelling the bitter way of suf-
fering, sacrifice and surrender, would
nave been to strike hands with the
adversary whom he had come into
The COnquering Sword.
That he might be closest brother
10 every son of man, Jesus underwent
all human experiences. I'm that he
nlmsef hath suffered, being tempted,
ne IS able to succor them. that ARE
tempted. He met temptation, with
the full possibility of yielding to it.
even as every mortal must face temp
tatlon. He conquered Satan by no
power which may not be used by ev-
cry other child of God. The weapons
which Christ welded are all ours.
As good books. noble memories.
exalted thoughts are as armor of de-
Iense TO the soul, so Jesus found his
weapon in the arnory of Holy Writ.
II is written was the sword that
thrlce thrust the adversary back in
oe1eat. Before the Word of God,
temptation covers and shrinks. The
best equipment for life's inevitable
temptations is knowledge of Scrip-
ture. To know the will of God is to
be able to thwart the will Of the devil.
Terse Comments for January 9, bring
ing Others to Christ: Who Should
Do 1t. How it is Done?" John 1:
35-51.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS
Stereotyped phrases creep into all
speech, and one NAV frequently hear
nowadays talk of Mass movements
towards Christ in Burma. India Korea
and Uganda. The phrase is misleading
and dangerous Mankind is not going
10 be Christianized in the mass The
crude and unscriptural conception of
an carly day, that whole nations might
pc baptized into belief at one time, has
neen outgrown We know that this
world VIII give allegiance to Jesus
Christ only as one by one. individual
persons yield their lives to him in dis
cipleship
They who have the best and share it
lot' nave talied to possess it fully.
When a person is brought to Christ
he is likewise brought to his best self.
The Bible incident upon which this
lesson is based relates how two disci-
Piles of the Baptist at the latter's sug-
gestion. left him to follow the Greater
one Who had come. Little did John
ana Andrew dream of what was in
VOWED in this decision. Life is a sue
cesslon OF choices; and each choice of
higher involves the likelihood of hav-
ing to abandon this in it's turn for
something still higher Discipleship of
John led to discipleship of Jesus: dis
cipleship of Jesus led to the abandon
lnent or home and business and voca-
ton, in order that life might be wholly
merged into his cause. When one sets
out to follow Christ there is no telling
where he will end. That decision has
meant for millions of persons a COM
| plete transformation of their circum-
stances and work and character
To follow the best is always to find
| a better.
Society women are forever having a
succession of fads. and nobody critcises
them for growing enthusiastic. over
each of these passing interests WHY
should Christian feel himself subject
| 10 unfriendly comment if he displays
| enthusiasm over what his Saviour
means to him? If in reverent, tactfuI
| fashion, he talks Christ is he not shar-
irg his best Knowledge with his friends.