The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1912-03-29
LESSON FOR APRIL H.
THE USE OF THE sAo0ATh.

THE USE OF THE sAo0ATH.
| LESSON TExT-Mark 2:2s to So
J GOLDEN TExT-"The Sabbath was
made for man and not man for the Sab
| bath."-Msrk 2:27.
That the Christian Sabbath 10 to be
, q Boon and not to be Burden 10
the gist Of the teaching Of Jesus
upon that subject. For what 10 the
Sabbath set aside and to what use
shall we put the time thus set aside.
are and have been through the years
very live questions. That God had -
Geological, physical reasons for setting
aside one day In seven as q day
! OF rest and recreation has led some
to advocate what We know as a Con
! tinental Sunday"-One given over to
pleasure. games, sports, auto rides.
drives. etc, and an over emphasis
upon the fact that God meant US not
only to rest but also that he hal.
lowed IT," has given us the Puritani.
ship Of this seventh day. Which Ia
right?
As we study these two incidents In
the life Of our Lord, the plucking Of
| the grain and the healing Of the with
cred hand. both Of which occurred
upon the Sabbath. we can surely find
| guidance as to what shall be our oh.
! scrvance Of this day.
Let us look at the first. Passing
through the field the hungry disci-
pies plucked some OF the ripened
grain, and sitting II Ia their hands.
they ate II 10 supply their hunger.
Mind, there was no rcaping and gath.
/ ering into barns for the profit OF the
owner. but simply the gathering Of
sufficient TO relieve the needs OF the
moment.
How Jesus Spent Sabbath.
Passing on, Jesus enters the syna.
gague and there found man having
a withered hand. Again the ever
watchful Phariseos observed him
"that they might accuse him."
Jesus, knowing their growing antag.
onism. their attitude Of distrust, takes
advantage OF the helplessness OF the
man to teach these Pharisees the les.
| son OF obedience--yes for once in
scorn he rebukes them; anger and
| grief struggled In the heart OF Jesus
rs he commands the sick man 10
stretch forth his hand. and with the
command went power 90 that the man
stretched forth his hand restored
70 Its full strength and usefulness.
IL It not sufhcient that sin makes
strange bed fellows. a. for instance.
the Pharisees consorting with the
Herodians. two parties a. opposite a.
| possible and bitter In their antagon.
ism. taking counsel how they may de-
stroy this young Gaiilean. The fact
was the disciples had violated no
law OF God. but IN ordinance Of man.
What irony OF Jesus tones AZ he
asked them did ye never read?" The
, complaint Of Puritanical Sabbath
was never raised by one who has q
loving familiarity with the Word OF
, God-God gave US the Sabbath, Il did
not come by accident.
God will surely reckon with those
corporations and individuals who de-
mand. AZ shown by the social surveys
i "a oo"O Va suC otVCt toWub, III IuuB-
tration. seven days labor each week.
or who In their individual lives are 20
engrossed In business and In pleasure
a. to deaden snd starve their souls,
which are all the time crying out for
God.
| Jesus anger was at the hardness.
and his compassion for this hardness
OF the hearts OF the Pharisees. Let
US avoid the wrath and be subject to
the compassionate pity Of God. Last
Sunday we studied the resurrection OF
our Lord. Let us remember that the
Christian Sabbath is a weekly remind
er Of that great fact.
Principles Make Christians.
Rules make Pharisees. principles
make Christians. II is not, thus saith
the priest or the council" that Is to
govern our actions. for that method
has always served to deaden our con.
science, hence II Is that Jesus said, I
desire not sacrifice but mercy. My
kingdom is not to become a burden:
! came to free men from the burden
OF ceremonial observance. ! desire
mercy, therefore. II whenever the Op-
portunity comes for you to exercise the
principles OF true religion, TO visit the
sick, to relieve the widows and the
fatherless, to relieve human need, to
direct mems thoughts to me In wor.
ship, II IL be Sunday or not. you
ought to do 1t In glad recognition that
the Son OF Man came not to be minis
tered unto but to minister. Church
members will have good deal to an.
swer for In lending support to open
shops. and extra labor upon trans.
portstion facilities on the SABBATH
day.
Weston never walks on Sunday.
Wilbur Wright will not ny upon Sun.
day. Not all Sunday labor Is Sabbath
breaking. but let W beware we do not