The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-01-08
LESSON FOR JANUARY II.
THE MISSION or THE SEVENTY.


peak. but the spirit OF your Father that
| 'peaketh In you."-Matt. 1920.
Jesus came unto his own and his
own received him not" Rejected In
Judea, he turned to Galilee, making
his headquarters at Capernaum only
to be rejected there also. After these
things" ". ~ 9. g., after his final de-
parture from Galilee, and as he was
bout to perform his Perean ministry.
The ministry of Jesus Is rapidly has
tening to a close, still there is much
work to do, hence the selection Of
hose who shall go before him to pre-
pare for what proved to be In each
lily and town his last visit.
I. The Seventy Sent (vv. 1-9). Verse
one tells US of the character of the
work they were to undertake, viz. to
be heralds; to prepare the people
against his coming. 2 Cor. $50. There
is a plentitude Of wG.k. but, the la
borers are few" They we're sent to
a particular people, whittier he him
self would come" Q Tim AS; Titus
2:13. No matter what may have been
their limitations, the coming one"
would supply all deficiencies. Jesus
commanded prayer. but also sent forth
those same praying ones wv. 2, 81.
Prayer and work 90 hand in hand In
a sane Christian experience. Every
impression demands sufficient express
sion, II 1t is to make any lasting con-
,ribution to our characters. The large
harvest demands attention. We are
sent into that harvest by the King
himself. Behold I send you. and
those whom he sends are not com
PEELED to labor alone, Matt. $3.50;
John 1916. Jesus mentions four
things about those whom he sends:
Like Lambs.
a. Their character. They are to be
like lambs" We have just had the
figure of "laborers" presented. labor
ers who were sent. Is this then
mixed smile? We think not. We are
to 60 forth to the harvesting work as
laborers, that 10 our work. but, In our
characters. we are to be lamb-like.
(2) Their environment, among
wolves" That lie to say, surrounding
each harvest field, and frequently en-
croaching as far as they dare, are the
wolves. a type Of the evil one and Of
his agents. Those who go thus into.
or by the way of. danger will not carry
any excess of baggage, 2 Tim. "a.
(3) In the third place, they are to
20 forth with complete dependence
ipon Gods providing care ". ~. The
exact letter Of these instructions Is
not always incumbent upon his ambas-
sadors. chapter 22:35. SO, but the spir-'
it of absolute faith In q Father who
will provide. must always possess his
representatives.
4. AS to their bearing. 1t must be,
that Of dignity and self-respect ". 81.
Social demands consume a great deal
OF energy In diplomatic circles. and IL
Is here that many Christians waste
precious energy, as well as becoming
involved in worldly practices. Their
first thought upon entering house
must be for the good of the home
". 81. not for their personal comfort. =
If a son Of peace" ". 81. dwelt there,
one to whom peace rightfully be-
longed, their benediction would bring
to that home a blessing. But II he be
not there their peace was not to be
lost. for II would return to the giver.
80 Their mission was to offer. not
to force acceptance. They were not
beggars, going from house to house
". ~, they had something worth
while and were worthy of their hire.
The fawning, cringing sycophants that
pass for Christian workers stand re-
buked before this teaching. However.
this does not sanction the dogmatic.
methods of some. They
are to accept what is offered ". 81,
not demanding, "a worthy compensa-
ton" The church of Christ stands
for the meager salaries
given its representatives. yet it is also
true that a man usually. and in the
long run, gets about what he is worth.
Gods Truth.
To build up character brings a far
richer compensation. and more last
ing results, than to obtain earthly
prestige. ease or wealth. Therefore
he ambassador of Christ can AFFORD
70 wait with glad certainty the final
'asting up of accounts, accepting In
he meantime the lowlier seats among
men. Luke 14:7-14. However, these
do have an exalted work
o perform. They had a commission
or both body and soul. The Gospel
II Christ is for the whole man ". 81.
70 minister to the bodies OF men must
However be accompanied by the her
Ilding OF the coming kingdom That
iingdoL. which is everlastingly to be
'isIDle upon earth, Dan. 2:44.
II. The Seventy Received (vv. 10
60 These heralds were TO proclaim
hat the kingdom was nigh unto you"
n this section we have set before
Is not only the probable manner
whereby the ambassadors may be re-
eived but also their attitude towards
hose who shall reject them. Jesus. by
lis anathemas pronounced upon Choir
gin and Bethsaida wv. 1910, init
mates what shall be the fate of those
Tho reject the ambassadors OF the
ling. He emphasizes this by saying
v. l6l that he is heard and despised