The Brinkley argus., 1914-04-17
LESSON FOR APRIL 19.
COST OF DIScIPLESHIP.

LESSON TExT-Luke 14:25-35.
 GOLDEN TEXT-"Whosoever would
 save his life shall lose it. and whosoever
 shall lose his life for my sake shall find
 It." Matt. 1925.
 While this discourse is recorded
 only by St. Luke, still there are many
 things mentioned here to which our
 Lord made reference on other occa-
 sions. Last Sundays Easter lesson
 made break in the sequence of les
 sons we have been following, ana shall
 follow for several succeeding Sundays
 Leaving the chief Pharisee's house
 wherein he criticized both host and guests great multitudes" followed
 our Lord Turning, he uttered some | of the severest and yet the most won- derful words that ever fell from his | lips, as we shall see if we follow all of this part of our lesson series. Multitude Rebuked.
 l. A Caution, V. 26. On another oc- casion, John 6:26, Jesus rebuked the multitude which followed him. This | multitude who pressed about him did not realize what was involved in a | true following. They were influenced by the psychology of the crowd, and did not count the cost. Jesus does not mean that our discipleship will lessen our love for our kin (Eph. 5:25, 2S-31; 6: 1-4), but as compared with our love for him it is aversion. See Matt. 10: 37; Phil. 3:7, 8; Ps. 73:25, 26. Aver sion is to turn aside, and the Master told us that those who shall turn aside thus shall have an abundant reward, see Mark 10:2S-30 Jesus Christ must be supreme in Christain's affections. He who freely gave his own self John 3:16, Phil. 2:8) has right to demand a like devotion to himself, and as men have approached nearest to such a consecration he has exalted them. The Cross means the shame, sorrow pain and death of self and all that lies in the pathway of loyalty and devo- tion to him. II Tim, 3:12, Acts 14:22 II. A Challange, w. 27-32. CD The instruction, V. 27. As if to make this caution more solemn, Jesus sets be- fore the multitude the manner of his approaching death and the condition of discipleship. He here lays down the first declaration of the severe terms of discipleship, but explains the meaning of his words. There is new meaning of this passage sug- gested by the Revised Version of V. 33, 50 likewise" is rendered, ''so therefore" Our Lord does certainly insist that those who build tower or conduct a. war must count the cost; so, likewise, they who follow him. But by this change the opposite thought is suggested, viz, that those who follow him must do so whatever the cost may be. @ The illustrations. (a) The builder of tower, w. 29, 30, and (b) The King at war, w. 31, 32. Too often we present to men what is to be gained by Chriatian discipleship. The gain does outweigh the cost, but as wise builders we must present the cost side of the transaction.
 Homely illustrations.
 III. The Conclusion, w. 33-35. We have already indicated the conclusion towards which Jesus was leading with terrific logic, and by looking back to the first verse of the lesson we see what 1t was he was seeking to impress upon the minds of the thoughtless multitude. Again the Master uses one of those homely illustrations gathered from the common expert ences of life which he employed so frequently to amplify or to drive home a great truth. There must be quality as well as devotion to this disciple ship. Salt preserves from corruption, seasons insipidity, freshens and sweet ems. These qualities are referred to abundantly by Scriptural writers. Salt is highly prized in the East. The natural man is presented also as be- ing corrupt, Gen. 6:11; 8:21; Ps. 14:2, 3; Eph. ?: 1-3. The remedy for this is the active presence of his disciples among their fellows. The true dis ciple is like salt with a good savor. On the other hand, salt that has lost it's savor is not even fit for dung hill, but is thrown out and trodden un- der foot of men. So our Lord sets aside that disciple of his who has lost his usefulness This expresses our Lords contempt and scorn of those who lack, not merely a certain kind of character, but those whose profess sion and appearance would indicate better expectation
 This lesson presents the severity of the claims of Jesus. lrresstibly he drew the multitudes to himself Wit ness the crowd following him as he leaves the house of the ruler But he paused and by his teaching sifted them, and seemingly made 1t ifficult to follow him
 What is the purpose of dscipleship? Ut means cooperation. The work of
 inc King is to build and to battle, so
 the disciple must wield both sword
 and trowel. He must set aside his in-
 terests and devote himself and all of
 his strength to the work and the war
 fare. We must not, as has been inti-
 mated, allow ourselves to imagine
 that these sayings of Jesus conflict
 with his tender words about the home
 or or men coming to him for rest l (Matt 1l:2S-30) The ultimate end of