The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-01
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
~
Lesson V.--Second Quarter, For
May 3, 1914. h
: F.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

t. ANke Nv SFS ~
by Rev. .. M. Stearrs.
In this third part Of the parable
which is spoken of in verse three as
"this parable" including the three
stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin
and the lost son, we have beautifully
set forth the heart Of God the Father,
as no one but the Son of God could
tell it out, for mo man knoweth the
Son but the Father, neither knoweth
any man the Father save the Son, and
he to whomsoever the Son will reveal
him" (Matt. Il, %. We are told in
many places Of the love Of the Father
as in John lii, 16; I John ", g, 16; and
Of the love of the Son, as in Gal. II,
20; Eph. v, %. The love of the Spirit
is mentioned in Rom. xv, 80. The love
Of God and His unwtllingness that any
should perish ; are two Of the great
foundation truths Of all Scripture, and
are perhaps nowhere more simply told
than In this threefold parable. Mans
helplessness. his deafness and his self
ishness and enmity to God are also
here set forth.
1t may be difficult to see quite clear
~ whom the elder brother represents,
but we would not need to seek far or
long to find some really saved people
who act a good deal like the elder
brother when sinners who have wan
dered very far away are welcomed
home.
l have read a discourse upon this
chapter by a great Bible student in
which he thinks that both the elder
brother and the ~ninety-nine Just per-
sons represent the angels who v
sinned. There seem to me to be-
many difficulties in this interpretation.
We are quite safe in dwelling upon
the love of Ged In seeking and well
coming home the lost ones, and we
shall understand many things better
when the Intelligence symbolized by
the many eyes Of the cherubim shall
be ours.
How many seem to think that they
have a right to demand Of God a por-
ton of this worlds goods and to do
as they please with It! Such self VILE
Is the essence of sin and shows the
heart Of man toward God, and yet
God often permits it. Every sinner is
in the far country, far away from God,
without God and without hope, living
unto himself, his life all dark and
void and nothing clarifying to God in
It Gen. /, 2; Dan. V, 23). The ungodly
are compared to dogs and swine by
our Lord Himself and also by the
Spirit through Peter (Matt. vii, 6;
II Pet. ii, 22). The comparison would
not be at all fattering to some respect
able sinners, but the Bible says
nice things about the enemies of God.
There are many ways OF wasting ones
substance, and when we read that he
had spent all we think Of the sick
woman who spent all that she had
upon physicians and was nothing bet
tered, but rather grew worse Mark
v, 30.
It was a good thing for this lost son
that he became so desperately in want
thai o would fain have eaten swine's
food, and it was a good thing for him
that no man gave unto him. Possibly
some down and out" people might
come to themselves sooner If no one
helped them to be comparatively COM
Portable in their low down estate.
1t is a great thing when one is led
to see himself in his true light before
God, when his heart cry is, God be
merctful to me, a sinner" It is a good
experience for a saved sinner when
he Is led to say as Job did. II abhor
myself" Dob xiii, 81. Whatever leads as
to e more Of GOD and His goodness
is a helpful experience. It was good
for this man when he began to think
about his father and the abundance
there which he might be enjoying. It
was we'll when he determined to re-
turn to his father, confess his sin and
ask to be given a servants place, but
it was better when he actually arose
and came to his father. .
See the fathers heart In Verse
20. when he was yet a great way
of his father saw him and had con-
passion and ran and fell on his neck
and kissed him" No upbraidtng, not
u WCEu VI idu1NAho4A55 JNSS @SS
ing welcome home and a kiss of
reconciliation. Do we know God as
such q Father, and are we ready TO
tell lost ones of such a welcome await
ing them If they will turn with true
penitence to Him? The son said part
only Of what he had intended to say,
but was not allowed to finish 1t. In
stead Of the servants place 1t is the
best robe, d ring on his hand, shoes
on his feet and a feast OF welcome,
because the lost M had come home.
If we really believed that there was
such a reception awaiting penitent
sinners, how could we help. urging
them to come home? Il.
1t is said that they began to be
Misrepresentation Is only the beginning
Of Joy that knows no end. Consider
the elder brother as representing one
who has from his youth known the
way of life, a child of godly parents
and truly saved. having. at some time
not definitely known to himself &C.
cepted the Lord Jesus. He never fell
into bad habits, but was always
known as a good sample OF a consistent
Christian. though by NO means 9
happy one He did not know his
father as he might have done and had
no use for returning prodigals. DID
you never see such a one In the glass
. or eisewhere9