The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-03-08
What the Act Teaches.


What the Act Teaches.
Now note that the evidence of the
cure is here also for she ministered
unto them" 1t must have been
complete cure. else how could she go
at once about her household duties?
This act teaches us not only the fact
of the cure but also that other lesson
spoken of by James in his epistie,
viz, that the best method of showing
our faith is by our works. God JUS
fifies the believer through faith in his
Son, but we are judged righteous be-
fore the world by our works BY her
loving ministrations to those OF her
household, and to Jesus who was
their guest, this ancient mother-in-iaw
showed her gratitude and love for this
act of compassion on the part OF
Gods Son. God bless the mothers-in-
law and stop our gossip.
At the close of this busy day we
can in our imaginations see the crowd
of the city gathered about Peters
door AT even, when the sun did set
they brought unto him all, etc" One
of the most charming and wonderful
things about the Scriptures is that IT.
saws so much in so few words. one
can feel himself a part of the CROWD
gathered at the close of that day,
eager and anxious to see this new
healer. and urgently, eagerly, present
ing their loved ones that he may per
form his healing ministrations ere the
shades Of night shut him from their
sight. or perehance he begin jour"
ney OH the morrow. The record Is
significant in the use of the WORD
all in verse SO. and many in verse
81.
The next morning, "a great while
before day." Jesus goes apart for
prayer. How much We need Gods
presence and wisdom which can be
obtained only by going apart" TO
the place of secret communion, espe'
cially in the day of our greatest sue
cess and popularity. The danger oil
material or other success is to turn
mans thoughts away from God. AS
man contemplates the prowess of his
own arm or the achievements OF mis-
own brain the temptation is to trust
himself and not to trust God. Jesus
knew the tests of service before Him
and the need of vital contact with MS
Father. Having gained this through
this early morning watch, he was
ready to reply to Peters unconscious
test when he referred to Christs pop
ularity by saying that others had
need of him. / must preach to them
! also, for this came l into the world.
Chief End of christ's Ministry.
The compulsion of a great mission
gave Christ no time to consider the
popular acclaim, or longer to pause
at Capernaum. though there were
doubtless others who needed his min
istrations. Healing of the body and
the relief of human distress is not the
chief end of Christs ministry. He
came to establish a kingdom and
must preach the good tidings, for
therefore was l sent" Social serv'
Ice is indeed God-like. but Jesus tells
us plainly that the soul is Of more
value than the body. Matt. 6:33)
Three great lessons can be empha'
sized: First, Jesus busy life of go
ing about doing good; second, that
his compassion was genuine as shown
by the frequent personal touch, and
third. the lesson of missions, espe
cially medical missions, and in this
connection the lesson of leprosy, as
type Of sin, loathsome, contagious, IN
durable.
Emnhasize the drawing power oil