The Brinkley argus., 1912-12-06
INTERNATIONAL. SUNlANSC[lDOL
 LESSON (By B. o. SELLERS, Director of Eve ming Department The Moody Bible h. stitute of Chicago)
LESSON FOR DECEMBER
THE CHILD IN THE MIDST.

LESSON TEXT-Matthew 18:1-14.
 GOLDEN TEXT-'Tn heaven their an- gels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."-Matthew 10:10 R. V.
 Like two mighty mountain peaks there stand before us in this lesson two tremendously vital lessons. The first and the foremost is that of dis cipleship as suggested by the ques- tion in verse one, Who is the great est in the kingdom?" And the second lesson is that of Christ's attitude to- wards children. Jesus again reveals himself as the worlds greatest teach CT. He teaches by example-setting child before them, and by exhorta- tion, Except ye become as children" by contrast, etc.
 The very form of the disciples question revealed their coarse ambt ton for power and clearly indicated that they were as yet far from com pretending the principles of his kingdom. One of the most insidious temptations that comes to the Chris tian worker is the ambitious desire for place and power. It is hard to reconcile church politics with the principles of the kingdom of God.
 Jesus answers their question by the use of objective teaching that always has such an advantage over the purely metaphysical method Of an swering such a question. Placing child in their midst he answered m the words found in verse two of the lesson.
 What He Meant.
 The word "verily" is tremendous with emphasis. T say," again re- veals his authority to answer. Ex- cept ye turn" what does he meanf To become childish? No, but to be- come childlike; there Is a vast deal of difference. There the child stands. trustful, obedient, submissive, unself- ish, pure, potential, imperfect, ready to receive impressions as wax and as tenacious to retain those impressions as granite. Pride, self-confidence, disobedience, selfishness, impur1ty' assumed perfectness. and an unwiil- ineness to learn will effectually keep us out of the kingdom of heaven. What a rebuke his answer implied, viz. not who is greatest but rather, .are you sure you are really in the kinRdom?" The true disciple wno really comprehends the essence or Christ's teaching Is far less con cerned with his rank in the Kingdom than he is to know him" and thus make sure of place in the kingdom. Ever after this, when wrong amDi- lions arose, these disciples must nave recalled that sweet child ana Jesus saving, "be like that"
 Does this lesson then teach us that all children are by nature children or the Kingdom? Hardly, though we cer- tainly do not believe that child dy- ing in infancy is lost. Rather we in- cline to the belief that they nave that spirit of teachableness and trust that fits them to "enter" (v. 5 the kingdom (see John 3:6). Therefore, the added significance of verse six. The responsibility of parents ana teachers to lead them into the King dom at this early age when their trustfulness has not been destroyed.
 Let us look at some of the conoi- tions whereby we enter the kingdom John 10:9, T am the door, by me shall ye enter" John 3:3, Except ye be born again" Heb. 3:ls, "Iney could not enter because of unDeiier. Read also Peter 1:5-ll-
 How to Become Great.
 Having thus struck at the primary question involved, Jesus then tells them how, once being in the kingdom to becorne great. ''wheso humpie.A himself. etc" To humble yourself Is vr,lpntarilv to choose the humble. the lowlv. place for yourself: that place ramovad from the admiration and the aaplation of men. Paul learned tnis leeson and constantly refers to nm self as the bond slave and wishes that he might be accursed for the soLa of his brethren Israel. Moses found this place when he pleaded "i'n Cod to blot him out of the book o' his remembrance but to save the cn'l dren of Israel. Jesus is himseii tue greatest illustration of this princip'e (See Phil 2:6-11o
 Iesus goes on to teach by con trast what is to be our attitude 'o ,rard those who are in the kingdom There is an incidental iiium'na'o1 - Hr~nn