Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-04-20
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning April -, 1910.

NE Ii1cSlOA VI JESUS Nhi Act was ~
win the world. God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten
Son. He came first to the Jews and
for the salvation of the Jews. and yet
before He had begun His worldwide
mission the fact that this was to be
its character was clearly set forth in
the Old Testament prophecies and sug-
gested by words and actions of His
own In His life upon earth. In re-
Spouse to the faith of the Syropheni-
clan woman He healed her daughter.
At Jacobs well He spoke of Himself
as the Messiah to the Samaritan wom-
an and called forth the faith Of the
inhabitants of Sychar. In the lesson
for our study He received certain
Greeks who desired to see Him and
declared upon their coming. THE hour
is come that the Son of Man should
be glorifed.' No doubt the request of
the Greeks. who represented the gen
tiles, to see Him inspired this utter
ance for in the Jew and the gentle
the people of the world were repre-
scented. Then at the close of the dis
course, beginning with the words just
quoted. He makes the deliberate dec
laration that His mission was world
wide 81. if / be lifted up from the
earth (crucified), will draw all Tor all
mem unto Me-" And why ''alf' If His
mission had been limited to any one
s.<, xx~a
so limited. This is the only explana-
ton of Christ's reception of the
Greeks and His use of the word 'alf'
In referring to the result that should
follow His crucifxion upon the cross.
Our ''hearts should burn within US"
as we read these words of the Saviour,
for we, being a part of the worlds
"all," are thus assured of His willing
ness and power TO save us.
The method by which Christ wins
the world is indicated in the words
before us. To do so He was COM
PEELED to take mans sins upon Him
and die in his stead. thus atoning for
him and making his salvation possible.
"And I, If / be lifted up from the
earth. will draw all men unto Me-"
This He said, John adds, "signifying
what death He should die" BY His
death on the cross, therefore, He would
pay the penalty of mans sin and at
the same time draw all unto Him.
The attractive power of the cross is
wonderful He wins men, He draws
them by His love. manifested by His
death, and thus they put their trust in
Him, accept Him as their substitute
and are saved.
The cross is able to draw 'all men,"
but unfortunately all men will not be
drawn. Some have given up the atom
ing character of Christ's death and
look upon it simply as an example to
men to reach moral transformation
through the effect of Christ's death.
Others prefer to give their lives up to
sin, and the cross has no power to at
tract them 1t often repels, for it
speaks Of the death Of one who was
sinless. and they love sin. A third
class are Indifferent to the cross. They
are so occupied with the things of
time and sense that even the glory of
the cross is lost sight of by them. But
there is no fault In the cross. II one
Is attracted and another is repealed the
difference is In the persons themselves.
The cross Is ever and always the
same. If it does not draw you it is
your heart and your life that are
wrong, and they need to be changed,
for you as well as all, being a sinner,
need to be saved and can be saved
through Christ alone.
Christ's part is DONE He has been
lifted up, and He is winning the
world. How large the world once
seemed, but how small it is today.
Moreover. the advances of mankind
are ever making it smaller The op-
portunity of Christ's winning the
world is thus daily growing greater
and brighter. But men to be won must
see the cross. They must know the
story Of Jesus and His love. How
shall they believe in Him Of whom
they have not heard? And how shall
they hear without a preacher? And
how shall they preach except they
be sent?" Sent of God, so far as their
cClCNAicA ID NohtClACd. pot SCAt vi
man.. SO far as the opening up of Their
opportunity is concerned. Go or send
One of these two duties rests upon ev
cry one of US. Not having gone, are
we sending? Are we giving and pray
ing that soul winners may be sent out
the world over and win all men fol
Christ? If not we are failing in oul
mission as Christians and in the duty
Of the saved toward the unsaved
Can we afford to reject or to disre
gard such plain duties divinely placed
upon us?
BIBLE READINGS.
lisa, Lii, II; liii; Ps. xxi: NAL xii
3; Dan. xii, 1-3; Matt xviii, 10, 20
John 1, 35-42; lii. 10; iv, 25-29; Rom
I, 1915; Rev. xxi, II.
A Candle MEETING,