Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

came to them after they had deserted
John to seek Christ. All that find
Jesus will find Him by having faith in
Him as the Lamb of God. as the Savior
of men, that will cause them to desert
the world and follow the Lord until
they come to know Him and abide
with Him. Johns testimony directed
| them to Christ. but the Masters con-
versation revealed unto them that they
ought to try to bring men to Jesus, the
Messiah.
The first impulse of the converted
man is to go and tell others about the
dear Savior he has found. The true
disciple cannot resist the longing to
win others for the Master. The Cad
arene demoniac went home to testify
what Christ had done for him. The
woman at the well of Sychar left her
water pot that she might hasten into
the city to tell about the Messiah, who
had revealed himself unto her. An
drew's first thought was about his
brother Simon. Most men find it diff
f1cult to speak to others about religion,
but the first thing he did was to find
his brother. 1t was great day for
Christianity, as well as for Simon.
when Andrew fastened to tell him not
that he had experienced religion. but
that he had found the Christ. He did
not stop his efforts until he had
brought his own brother to Jesus
1t was remarkable welcome that
Jesus gave Simon when He said, Thou
be called Cephas, which is by interpre-
tation stone" Names mean more to
the men of the east than they do to
Americans. The greeting that Jesus
rash. unstable" Simon meant that I'M
der the direction of Jesus his character
would be transformed and his career
nodded along different lines that would
and consecrated leader in the work of
establishing the kingdom. The gospel
tells little about Andrew, but If he
never did anything else than win his
brother Simon for Christ his name
would have been remembered. If every
man who has found Jesus as his Lord
would follow Andrews example a new
day would dawn in the life of the
church of Jesus Christ. If the followers
of Jesus in America were required like
the new disciples in Chosen, to win one
soul for Christ before being received
into the membership of the church, men
would rate their church membership as
of greater value and be following the
worthy example of Andrew, who
brought Simon to Christ.
When the Master went hunting for
men he continued His search until
Philip was found He Is still seeking
men and calling for volunteers to help
Him find the men and women who are
lost With a word of imperious COM
mand he persuaded Philip to follow
Him.
Jesus. by His efforts to win Philip
revealed the method that He practiced
in His ministry of winning men one by
one. 1t is the most successful way to
reach men today. Philip probably was
influenced by the actions of Andrew,
John and Simon. He. too. became a
personal worker for Christ, for he
found Nathaniel, who doubted when he
was told that Jesus Of Nazareth was
the Messiah.
Philip succeeded in persuading his
friend to come along with him and see
for himself. When Jesus saw him COM
ing He recognized his sincerity. The
honest doubter is always welcomed by
the Master. The skeptic, whose per-
sonal sin makes him doubt Christ, can
have his doubts removed if he will
make sincere investigation of the
claims of the Lord Jesus. The Master
also convinced Nathaniel by His reve-
lations that Philip was right. for
Nathaniefs doubt was transformed into
wonder and then into faith.
The Masters courtesy disarmed Ma
thiniel's prejudice. and from the tact
step in the art of soul saving. 1t is the
Christians business to introduce men
to Christ. but no two men should be ap-
preached alike. The first five disciples
were all won, with the exception of the
first two. both of whom were converted
by the Masters conversation. by diff
ferent methods. In every case they
sought to share their experience. Just
as throughout the centuries that have
gone since John said, Behold the Lamb
of Cod" have the multitudes of Chris
tians been witnesses of the saving
power of Jesus. who says today. as He
did of old, to all men, Follow Me-"
Where He leads, follow on. inviting
all. lovingly and tactfully, to follow
the Lord with you.