Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-03-26


doth the Lord require Of thee, but to do
justly, and to love mercy. and to walk
humbly with thy God micah 6:S.
There is no chronological order to
the lessons for the past quarter,
though .aey have all been selected
from the period of the Perean ministry
Of our Lord. The thought of the Gold.
en- Text. rather than the reading les
son, will serve to give US a connected
review.
The lessons have chiefly concerned
Jesus as the great Teacher, thus we
notice the inclusive note of the first
clause of the Golden Text, He hath
showed thee, o man, what is good"
AS an exposition of that note we have
presented Gods plan of action, out
ward, ito do justly, aid to love mercy z
and inwardly TO walk humbly with
thy God" With this thought in mind
let US divide lessons of the quarters
into two sections: "a The first seven
lessons which have to do with mans
relation to the kingdom in it's outward
manifestation, and (2) the remaining
i've that have to do with walking
humbly with thy Cod
As Children.
|. The first section. In order to
keep this two-fold thought before us,
we must observe carefully the several
golden texts. In the first lesson we
have set before US the manner where
by we are to enter into this new
kingdom. We must enter as chill
dren and the Golden Text, Likewise,
We younger, be subject unto the
elder for God resisteth the
proud, but giveth grace to the hum
pie" illustrates the humility of chill
dren and the necessity of our right
relationship to them. The second les
son deals with the possibility of CO.
operation with him in service, as
when the 10 went before his face.
Great privileges, however, when
abused, bring condemnation and deg
radiation. 1T is not you that speak,
but the Spirit Of your Father that
speaketh in you" The third lesson
THE Good Samaritan lis another ex-
preston of the outward walk of life,
that of loving mercy. True love never
asks who it may, but rather who it
can, serve. 1t always manifesto it.
self in sacrifice and in service-"Th
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
The story of service actually rem
dered to our Lord In the days of his
flesh is the subject of the fourth les
son. All other interests and ties must
be secondary to our allegiance and
obedience to him" Inasmuch as, We
did it unto one of these, my brethren,
even these least, we did it unto me-
The fifth lesson concerns prayer. The
parable of the unfriendly neighbor and
the effect Of prayer to bring about just
relations is revealed in the Golden
Text which is the heart of that les
son. ASK, and it shall be given you;
seek, and We shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you" The sixth
lesson still continues to treat this out
ward aspect and reveals to us the
fact that great as Satan is, our Lord
Jesus has far greater power
Must Walk HumbIy.
II. The second section. We now
come to a group of lessons that seem
to emphasize the second part Of Gods
requirements, as expressed in the
Golden Text for today, viz, and to
walk humbly with thy God" This
is the inward, personal. relation with
God, as against our outward, right
eous relations with men. These re-
principles of discipleship which
Jesus gave to his followers. The
eighth lesson reveals the principle Of
a true confession of Christ to be that
of the faith which makes fear fmpos-
sible. We are to fear God alone In
the ninth lesson we see that the true
fulfillment of life is that of having
the heart set upon the true treasure.
which is spiritual, rather than upon
the false treasure which is material,
for, Where your treasure is, there
will be your heart also" In lesson
ten we have set before us the prin-
ciple of faithful service which is that
III WdlCuluiueSS LOT the returning
King, and which expresses itself in per-
petual service in his interest and on
behalf of his household. Blessed
are those servants whom the Lord,
when he cometh, shall find watching
The principle of the religion of Christ
is that Of compassion Cesson III,
and the true sanction of the Sabbath
is fulfilled in such service as makes
the Sabbath possible to those who are
in need. 1t is, therefore, lawful to
do good on the Sabbath.
Lesson IL deals with the vital issue
of this second section, viz, that it is
of far more Importance that we be in
the kingdom than any other issue. We
must put forth strenuous efforts that
we may enter the narrow door. The
kingdom of God is doing the will Of
God, rather than calling him Lord!
Lord! mot everyone that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven