Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-01-21
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson N.-First Quarter, For
Ian. rs, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Luke viii, 1-3;
x. So 42--Memory Verses, Luke x, 40
42-GoIcen Text, Matt. XIV, 4o-Con-
nnentary by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

xs 49, 42--Memory Verses, Luxe x, ~
42-GoIden Text, Matt. XIV, 4o-com-
mentary by Rev. .. M. Stearns.
The title of this lesson, "Ministering
to Jesus" is fascinating one and is
found in chapter viii. 8, concerning the
women who ministered unto Him
of their substance. Angels delighted
to minister unto Him when He was
here in humiliation, as they did in the
wilderness after His conflict with the
devil Matt. iv. ID; also at His birth
2 and in Gethsemane and at His reSur-
rection and no doubt always. according
to Ps. eli. 20. 81. where we read of
them as ministers of His that do His
pleasure, hearkening unto the voice of
His word.
What an honor unspeakable for rs,
who are saved sinners, to minister i'll
any way unto Him who made us. who
came from heaven to redeem us. who
died for our sins. who as the risen
Christ lives for US at Gods right hand
and will share His kingdom and glory
with us. He was always showing the
glad tidings of the kingdom of God
viii, L, and giving samples of life in
the kingdom by healing all manner of
disease Matt. iv, 23), for when the
kingdom comes the inha bitant shall
not say, am sick, and the people that
dwell therein shall be forgiven their
iniquity" Elsa. xXxiii. pa.
Forgiveness of sins is the first step
toward the kingdom, as we learn from
Luke xiv, 46. II; Acts xiii, IS, 80. and
that this is the privilege of all who re-
ceive Him is plainly set forth in Eph,
j, 6. Z; Col. i. 12-14; Rev. i. 5. 6. We
must not think of the church as the
kingdom nor Christ in us nor aught
but that spoken of by our Lord when
He taught US to pray. "Thy kingdom
come, thy will be done, as in heaven,
so on earth luke xi, p. 1t will begin
with Israel. who shall be all righteous.
and all of them shall know Him from
the least of them unto the greatest Of
them.
Jerusalem shall be the throne of the
Lord. and all the nations shall be gath
cred unto it to the name of the Lord,
for it shall be the first city of truth on
earth lisa. TX. 81; Jer. xxi. "a; iii, II;
Zech. viii. 8, I, s, %. 23). While we
wait for the kingdom and live to has
ten it (not extend it, for we cannot ex-
tend that which has not yet begun we
may daily minister unto Him in all
that we do These women were true
believers. and all believers are kings
and priests unto God tRev i, 5, 81.
We are reminded Of sentence con-
corning the priests in Israel, THAT he
may minister unto me in the priests
office" (Ex. xviii, /. 8. 4, and else
where), these ten words being the
translation of two little words in He
brew
The words unto Him" in verse 3 of
this part of our lesson suggest many
most helpful words for our daily life,
such as Unto Him that loved u.s."
Unto Him that is able" Unto Him
be glory" Unto Him who died for us
and rose again" (Rev. i. 3; Eph. iii. 20,
81; II Cor. V. 15). AS to the women
the women who labored with him in
the gospel phil. iv. 81: that the gospel
was first preached in Europe at a wo-
mans prayer meeting. and the first
convert seems to have been Lydia. who
received the apostles into her house
and took care of them (Acts xvi, 1879.
Note also the revised version of Ps.
xviii, II.
Whatever He may give us the privi-
lege of doing, He only expects us to do
as He gives The ability. and our aim
must be that God in all things may be
glorified through Jesus Christ q Pet
iv. III. However much we may be
able to do. we should always say as
David did, "All things come of thee.
and of thine own have we given thee
q Chron. xxx. IA.
In the second part of our lesson we
have home scene, that blessed and
honored home in Bethany. and the two
sisters ministering. each in a some
what different way. Mary could not
have been idle or neglectful. else the
Lord would not have commended her
l have no doubt but that she did all
that was necessary, evidently all that
the Lord thought necessary, and then
she found time to sit at Jesus feet
and hear His word. Martha wanted
more than either her sister or the
Lord thought needful and was hit
put out with Mary for not thinking as
she did
Happy are those housekeepers who
would rather please the Lord than
their visitors and who always count
upon the Lord as one of the guests.
Simple fare is more acceptable to Him.
who was oft content with bread and
fish, than the superhuities of life.
Although Martha did not serve as
care free as Mary on this occasion. yet
it is written. Now. Jesus loved Mar
tina and her sister and Lazarus John
u. D.. He loved them ALL But why is
Martha there mentioned by name and