Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-29
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the first instructions. commonly called
the Sermon on the Mount" This les
son went to the root of the whole phil
osophy of life and established a new
system. Blessed are they" Blessed
ness is the divine thought and inten-
ton for us. Happiness is that after
which all men in every age seek, and
they have two views of what happiness
consists in, namely. having and doing.
The popular theory is that to possess
much to do some great thing consti-
tuteS the sum of human blessedness.
But Jesus absolutely ignored these con-
ceptions; no blessed of His is be-
slowed on man for the having" or
basis; a mans happiness depends on
what he is in himself; and character is
made the basis of judgment of the dis
ciples, instead of possession or accom-
first ideals of true life and reveals to
men the divine purpose for them. In
actual experience the teaching of this
sermon is very far in advance even of
this advanced age. Men have hardly
begun to guess at the glory and beauty
of this wonderful ideal, but in relation
to the teacher it is elementary and in
itial.
AS education is continuous process
or, rather, a progressive develop
ment-the teaching does not end with
the establishment of these elementary
principles, but develops their applica
ton to all the various phases and con-
ditions of life. AS the disciple masters
the principles. he applies them to his
own condition and experiences, and SO
they become vitalized. and his charac-
ter, or being. becomes the expression of
the principles taught by Jesus. This
progress is quantity but well express
ed in rhyme by Charles Wesley:
No matter how dull the scholar whom He
Takes into His school, and gives him to see;
wonderful fashion of teaching He hath
And wise to salvation He makes through
faith.
The wayfarins men though fools shall not stray,
His method 80 plain. so easy His way.
The school of Jesus is a technical
school, as the advancement is made by
the application of the instructions to
actual practice. The disciple begins to
apply the principles he learns right
from the time when he enters the
school, and as he progresses in this his
character is developed for service.
There is no phase or condition of life
to which these principles do not apply;
they are not merely etchical or moral
principles, limited to the spiritual life,
but vital principles. applying equally
to mental conditions and development
and to physical life in all it's FORMS
Privileges and Rewards of Dis
cipleship.
1t is not only a condition of disciple
ship that the right personal relation
ship with the Great Teacher be main
tanned, but it is the great privilege of
his disciples to have fellowship with
Jesus. We may sup with Him and He
Will sup with He will be our COM
panion, and from Him we may con-
stantly learn more about Gods plans
and purposes for mankind as well as
for our individual selves. When Christ
had to leave His disciples after all His
teaching He said to them. Il have yet
many things to say unto you but We
cannot hear them now. Howbeit. when
He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will
guide you into all truth" If we main
tain the personal relationship with Him
He viii instruct and guide US into
knowledge Ct the truth and provide us
with the strength for His service. This
applies not only to the seasons of
meditation and prayer, but to every
day, practical life in all its phases. He
will give us a new vision of the home
life and it's relationship If we adopt
the attitude He bore toward others
the attitude of one who waits not to be
ministered unto. but to minister So in
business. in work, in play and all the
other phases of life the application of
the principles Christ teaches will de-
velop the character of His disciples.
There are also other privileges-the
privilege of actually serving others. of
being Gods instrument of blessing to
others, OF having part in the better
nehe VI nidnhihu' anu the RAISING Oh
the standards moral. social, educa-
tional and political. toward the level
which Christ set the ideal for the
race.
The great reward of discipleship is
indicated In John, 1926: IF any man
serve me let him follow me. and where
/ am there shall also my servant be:
II any man serve me, him will my
Father honor" This Is the reward of
heaven, where l am. there shall also
my servant be-" Then there is. be-
sides, the promise of the Fathers
honor Are not these greater rewards
than any offered by this world-the
possession of wealth. the attainment of
fame. the accomplishment of the ex-
traord!nsry?
piscirleship in the school of Jesus.
then. means. first, the establishment of
a personal relationship with Him by
the pardon of past sin and the cleans
ing from present sin; then development