Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-02-17
Sunday School Lesson

lfNNon'f ebruarN - Mark .'1 IA
The keynote Of Christianity liz is
/ naiuralness. We arc accustomed TO
looking upon the natural man as the
enemy OF things spiritual. and aycu
some passages IN the Bible bear out
mat impression hut when wo sift
the matter down and compare scrip-
tural authorities, We rnd that the
whole idea rests on perverted def
milton To begin with God made the
natural man and he made him sin
less II was not a part Of his nature
Ia he sinful That element was in
| jected by the evil one Coming down
thru innumerahle generations that
eNil principle has grown 50 bold and
so universal that We have come to
regard the natural man as iucom.
patlble with the spiritual We are
persuaded that every man is spirit
ually a part and portion Of the one
great spirit which we call God
Every man IL the exposition of this
spirit " he retains bis natural coudi-
ton. hut as we have become defiked
by dallying with sin we have to that
extent drawn away from the spiritual
excellence which naturally belongs
to us and havo been content 10
erovel In the mira OF sordid things.
The Intent OF Christs teachings con
pistently was 20 draw man away from
this low ambition and to set his feet
upon tho foundation OF spiritual
truth and open HIS eyes 20 the high
estate which God had provided for
him the estate which Adam once
held but lost thru disohedience
Like natural things. the progress
Of the kingdom Is a growth and IA
spreading, aud goes on in ways that
We cannot understand. but we know
they occur. The seed Is planted and,
whilo the farmer goes about other
business, IL springs up and grows to
maturity and awaits the harvest.
Like the mustard seed. Il had very
small beginning, but held within IL
the germ Of "A growth that should
be world wide For the earth
bringcth forth fruit OF herself" II
IL left for ms 20 SOW the seed but II
is God that elNeth the Increase Hu-
man means are inadequate to fulfill
the functions Of gospel growth. Each
man has within himself the germ
which, when brought into harmony
with the Father. makes him par
taker OF the same spiritual whole as
was planned for him at creation
and which he cast away by entering
lUtb a tpUiha'A WIN WV fNb Nlfs
But wo must not forget that II is
incumbent upon MS 10 SOW the seed
before we can look for a harvest.
God has commissioned man TO carry
the news OF salvation to tho utter
most parts Of the earth. He Is ready
to produce the marvellous growth
when once his agents In humanity
hayo performed that part uf the tasl,
which he has assigned them. II has
pleased God to mako men his agent
for tho salvation of the nations. 80
that he may have glorious part IN
seeing his brother men brought into
the kingdom But along with tho
glory Of this divine commission
comes great share VI responsibility.
We must not be slackers on the job.
We must not be ashamed OF Jesus
and afraid OF tho criticism or ridi-
cule OF other men. II rs very nat
urai that "A man should be timid
about pointing the way Of righteous
ness TO those who know his own
shortcomings II ls very natural FOR
people TO expect thu man who nd-
monishcs them to be himself above
criticism. Such n thing. Is humantg
impossible. Besides, va have gone
TOO FAR very often In Tho line or
admoniuon, when what Jesus wants
us to do 10 20 carry a message OF
love and mercy to hungry hearts
We take too much time and energy
TO lin,ng up our fellow men-a Job
for which we must needs be above
reproa,h ourselves while Christ is
anxious for ua ~ tcli them how much
he loves them and how much Better
II is Tor them to come over ON his
side
Il Is more To the point. instcad Of
fighting 80 manfuliy for doctrinal
and Crecdal perfection. TO- reach the
hearts of men with the message or
the kingdom. our light must not Toe
hid under n hushel We are held
responsible for seeing that It Is put
where u will shine and others shall
see the light And that light is not
"a Eiariug prctensc of rectiulde. but
the light Of love which shines from
the gospel, a light given us by Jesus
himself and which he expects us to
share with all the world How shall
they know We have that light. and
how SHAFT they know there is such
light n We make the pracucc OF
keeping II carefully conceRleH This
means not simply that We should be
eager tp carry the gospel TO heather
lands bat that our every day life
should be- so oo,orcd by our faith that
al men shall know hat We are fol-
lowers, no matter how imperfect of
the Great Ideal n We have tho
knowledge of the forgiveness Of our
sins. n We have q title 10 eternal life.
WHY should wr keen II secrct2 God
does not $50 iutDud lt For We are
insured that tho more We make our
pouagtpusnevs ~ peace with God
liVnp influence among men, the
more shall ws be- blessed with more
robust faith aud more enjoyable
splrituaity " we tail> 10 use our
opportunties for good we lose ln
spiritual growth and VIC deprive our
selves of the blessing the Spirit be-
L-L-l.....- - -L.t-. -LuL ~. l-LLn Inn