Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-01-11
Christian eNDEAyoR.


nssysr Aasstins Topic Fss tsss Sessk
esainnies Jan Is teaf.
9opie. = Lessons from great hvss-L
Abraham.-Gen. xii. lis. Edited by asev
Nhsrman H. Doyle. D. D.
Abraham was the first great charac-
ters In Gods Development q special
people through whom the Messiah or
saviour Of the world was 10 come. He
= therefore well called the father OF
she faithful He was the head OF
those who were 10 believe IN enc God.
ATst of all the Israelites and later ON
spiritually the father Of an the us
cip3es OF Christ. Such position placed
him high In the history Of the church OF
God and has given him an important
place In the history Of the worh. Such
life should be fully read In tie Bible
In connection with the great lessons
taught rs from bis wonderful career.
Abraham teaches us lesson on
fajth-faith in thesone living and true
God. In the times Of Abraham idol
airy held absolute sway, with very
few exceptions. and Abraham was one
Of them. His people were idolaters.
His own family, except himself, be-
lieved In and woFshiped Idols. His
fathers business was that Of selling
idols, many of which Abraham is said
to have destroyed. AN such an age 1t
took great courage to believe In one
and spiritual supreme being. yet
Abraham stood the test. Never did he
doubt. never falter IN his faith. Such
faith Is greatly needed today. In our
are much doubt and skepticism are
abroad In the land. Many are confused
and fearful But NO one should be.
We should be strong. bold. courageous
In our faith and not tossed about by
, every wave and wind of doctrine" IL
we be we shall be kept on the jump
most OF, the time Rather let m Abe
eteadfast and immoyable," and. like
Abraham, we shall receive our reward.
Abraham teaches us lesson Of ODE
dience. Faith and obedience must go
hand in hand. II we believe in God
we acknowledge His right to command
us. and, being commanded, we must
obey. Believing in God swhen Abra-
ham was called by Him to leave his
own country and go to aSstrange one.
which He would show him. Abraham
sobeyed without question and without
hesitation. "Abrxham departed. as the
Lord had said" How the Lord called
him we do not know, nor b It neces-
:sary to. know. He did cali SHIN. and
Abraham obeyed.
His not to reason why;
His not to make reply;
His hut to dospr die.
as God desired of him. WoAld that
more such Implicit obedience ITO God
existed among His psople today! Too
many modern Christians are IKE Jo-
nah rather than Abranam. They are
ordered to one place and go to another;
they are told. to do onesthing, but neg
slect OF. refuse to do it.
Abraham teaches aus lesson on
,faithfulness under test. God desired
for His own all wise Mrposel to sput
Abraham to- a. severe test. Therefore
He ealled-upon Him to sacrifice Isaac.
his emily and long spromise1 son. Aut
Abraham stood the test. He carried
~out the command Of God literally uNnl
God Himself. accepting the will for
sthe deed. invoked itsand blessed Abra-
ham for his -stedafaatness 1ader such
a severe trial. We are being constant
uy tested andftried. Let us fellow the
.ovo uanlo IF .Ahro hou and ~ta nd tho
test. showing an entire conservation to
God that cannst but inAlence ali about
sus.
BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. xii. 1-5: xiii. Ills; xiv. rH4-4;
.zvii, 1-S; xviii. 1888: xix. 2429; xxi
IA; XIV. 7-10;i Heb. II. Ia 812. $40.