The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-07-10
-%.+:..: :. !. .s..+ T. !!
! Sunday .SChool Notes
: Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils. :,
Edited by CHAS. K. MEYERS,
**.*.:**:*+:**sx

NlnQS OIL SOIL. Mark 4, l-2O.
We have for our lesson this week
one of the remarkable parallels de-
livered by Jesus in the course of His
teachings. The parallels OF the Prodi-
gal Son, of the Sheep Lost, the Ten
Virgins, the Talents, the Sower all
stand out in bold relief, impressng
truths in a way which attracts atten-
ton and carries much force.
Our lesson this week is that great
parable of the Sewer who went forth
to SOW grain. Some seeds fell on
the hard road and never made start
to grow, being eaten by the birds;
some fell where there were stones
and thin soil, and here the seed
sprang up quickly, but there being
no depth of soil the plants soon gave
up the struggle for life; other seed
fell on ground where there were
ihorns and weeds, and although the
plants grew, it was with difficulty,
and there was no bearing of grain for
the harvest. Lastly it was told of
the good. rich ground which on receiv-
ing the seed nourished it, and there
was great fruitage.
The disciples of Jesus did not in
full understand the meaning of this
parable, and so asked for an insight
into its reasonings. Jesus gladly told
them and us. He began by saying
the seed represented the word of God
given the world Some hearts were
hardened and non-responsive, like
ground of the roadway. OF course this
is a serious kind of heart to have.
Few people will acknowledge that
their disposition towards Gods word
is represented by the repulsve bar
rem ground of the roadway, but such
is the truth in many cases. 1t goes
without saying that one wants to get
in a different class at once.
The heart which has a thin, shallow
substance is little better than the
first spoken of. Experience shows
that in many cases people hear tie
preached word and apparently pay
much attention and guide their con-
duct by it. Later their enthusiasm
dies out, when temptations come and
the excitement of the hour has passed
away. What one wants is heart
which will receive Gods truths and
then have strength of purpose and
character to hold fast, despite dis
couragements.
The kind of hearts symbolized by
soil which gets overrun with weeds are
all too common Every christian has
to fight the tendency to let worldly
affairs come in, driving out the better
things of faith, prayer, real religious
experience. There must be an exer-
else of the will and a determination
not to drift along. The making of
living is most important, and informa
ton as to the things doing in all parts
of the world quite needed, but these
must not take up all the time and
thought of person. Thinking of the
truths of the bible, prayer, hearing
about the gospel and deciding to fol-
low it's teachings are the more import
ant duties of life. All should remem-
Der that the years of life may be cut
short any time, and then, how We
stand with God will be a most i'm
portant question for us.
1t is with pleasure one hears as to
the good soil or heart, where the
truths of the gospel find lodgment
and grow to magnificent fruitage. AS
the seed cannot grow by itself, but
needs the sun and rain, the support
of the proper chemical found in the
ground, so Gods words must have our
support, and pains be taken to i'm
prove and culture it. The consider
alton of this part of the bible ought
to cause us to pray for a heart re-
sponsive to Gods desires for us. We
must will to have such heart. Read
ing the bible, prayer, a decision to
shun wrong doing, all are helpful in
causing Gods will to be done in our
lives. There must be fruit bearing
such as kindness, truth, love, guard
ing the tongue from saying biting
things, desire to help others to gain
through the example and
the death of Jesus, the Christ. People
do not drift easily into this manner
of living, but must will to do so. May
all readers strive to have hearts like
the good soil.