The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-22
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Heavenly Interest in Sinners

There is joy in the presence of the an- gels of God over one sinner that re- penteth."-V. TO-
 l The scribes and the Pharisees held them selves aloof from the common people-the scribes, because the masses were illiterate; and the Pharsees, under the claim that the people were sinners, vut off from rela- tonship to God, and therefore not proper to be recognized by the holy of humanity, which they clamied to be.
 Jesus, however, received the common people, even the publicans, acknowledged sinners. His superior knowledge did not make Him naughty. and His superior righteousness did not make Him proud and unsympathetic. He has set His fol- lowers an example that they should walk in His steps.
 Our lesson tells us how the Pharisees and the scribes murmured against Jesus charging against Him as a sin that He I received sinners Whatever did not har- monize with their standards they could only contest. Their difficulty in part was that they had too high an opinion of them- selves. Their spirit in this matter was an evil one, begotten of the adversary
 
 being children of their father, the devil because his works they did. But even this does not signify that the Pharisees were beyond hope of salvation. Did not Jesus address St. Peter on one occasion. saying Get thee behind Me- Satan (adversary)?" He had adverse spirit at the time; but corrected in harmony with the Lords spirit everything was changed
 | So 1t is with us. His servants yet are | to whom ye render service. By their fruits ye shall know them said the Mas ter. Applying Ills words to many who profess to be Ills disciples we are bound to suppose that either Intentionally or ig- norantly they are in opposition to the Masters spirit and teachings-adversaries of His teachings
 Jesus, knowing the thoughts of the Pharisees, answered them in a parable, saying, What man of you. having a hun dred sheep. and having lost one of them. doth not leave the nine and nine In the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he find it?" And finding it, he lays 1t upon his shoulders rejoicing. and tells his neighbors exultantly The shepherds 8 course. Jesus declared. illustrates the at- tituds of God and all the holy angels They have special feeling of interest in those who have strayed, and especially rejoice in the recovery of such.
 Oh, how encouraging 1t is to know that this Is the sentiment of heaven. and that the fall of man and our imperfections do not stand as perpetual bar to recogni- ton by the Lord. if We return to Him! He is merciful. and will abundanty par don, and will remove our sins from us as far as the east is from the west But any sheep, having been found by the shep- herd. and then preferring to live with the woifish. could not longer be interesting to the heavenly ones. Many apply this parable inconsistently. They seem to think of the whole world of mankind as representing the flock of a hundred sheep. and the one straying shsep as representing the sinners of earth, comparatively few. Surely this cannot be the true interpretation. Rather, as the prophet has declared. ''All we like sheep have gone astray." There is none right eous no. not one" Let us rather interpret the parable on a broader scale in compartment with the facts and with the scriptures Let us un- dertsand the one straying sheep to repre- sent Adam and his family; and the ninety and nine to represent the holy angels To this view every feature of the parable in- clnes The Good Shepherd left the heav- enly flock and came to earth to redeem, to recover. mankind. the lost sheep; and there Is more rejoicing in heaven over hu- man recoveries from sin and alienation from God than over the holy ones them- | selves, who have never been thus alien l ated, were never redeemd with such a | price and never needed recovery.
 The lesson of the Pharisees Is plain. | Theirs was an earthly view, selfish, proud | and naughty. out of accord with the Di- | vine Spirit, and not pleasing to God | Jesus would have His disciples copy God l
 Be ye like unto your Father which is in heaven" His mercy endureth for ever'-to full completeness.
 His mercy sent His Son, the Under Shep- | herd, to be our Redeemer His mercy | will pursue the lost sheep until every | member of Adams race shall have been | brought to a full opportunity of return | Ing to the fold of God To this end the l Messianic kingdom is to be established | To this end also Is the present call for | the church to be a royal priesthood, that | they may be co-laborers with Jesus in | carrying the message of Gods grace to all of Adams family.
 Oh, how different this view of our loving | Creator from the one handed down | from the dark ages! How different from the one which represented the Almighty !, as angry in vicious sense!-as having | nal torture of the human family, except | a few who should happen to hear the | message in the present life! On the con- trary. Gods loving provisonNis only be- ginning to be manifested, in Ills favor to- ! ward Chriest and the church; and ulti- l. fnately the knowledge of the glory of God | snail fill the whole earth.
 In proportion as we become Godlike we | have an interest in sfnners-especially ! those who through heredity or evil en- ! vironment are more deeply steeped in sin, ignorance and superstition. We are not to the same great truth from another angle.