The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-25
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
BY w. 7. ELLIS

center. These make their way to the
roof by the outside stair
The company in the house suddenly
hears a scraping and a tearing above
their heads. The discourse is inter-
rupted-for probably even the great
est of preachers could not hold the
attention of Hiss hearers in the face of
a trivial interruption. Dust begins to
fall over all the people The conven-
tional folk inside are Mortified at this
breach of proprieties. All are gazing
in expectancy upon the disturbance
overhead.
Then thru the opening appears the
form of man, let down by the four
corners o; the quilt that constituted
his bed. The people look in wonder
ment and curiosity. They do not see
the questioning eyes of the Teacher
himself. who is perhaps the only per-
son in the room approaching the real
significance of this extraordinary ac-
ton. His feelings are stirred to their
profound depths. Nothing moves Nim
more than faith and friendship. Little
He cares for the conventionalties. He
sees that great resolution to get in to
himself. and His heart is made glad. Z
BY any way, however rough it be.
By any way, however thronged it be.
Amos X. Wells.
The Boon Grant
Possibly uncertain of his welcome.
the patient was tenderly laid on the
floor at the Masters feet; the staring
crowd by this time having caught
somewhat of the HeaIer's interest in
the incident. Possibly the man him
self was doubtful as to the welcome he
would receive. The first word that
fell upon his ear treasured him, for
it was the tender greeting, Son"
Now, the sick man wanted health,
but he needed forgiveness. Jesus said,
.Son, thy sins are forgiven thee" He
got health-plus. God always gives
more than we seek. No man asks
Him for little without receiving much.
Health for the body was what this
man craved and received, but with it
went the far richer prize of health for
his spirit.
OF course the theological quibblers
were present. They did not like this
new idea of the new Rabbi undertake
ing to say that He could forgive sins.
fenced them by proving that He had
power both to forgive sins and to heal
bodies. He babe the man take up his
bed and walk.
He WHO had come in helpless sup
plication thru hole in the roof. went
out in victory thru the open door. The
crowds marvelled at him and at the
Master who had wroght the miracle
Then, as now, the tidings ran wildly
that this Jesus had power to make
Lifting the Life of Ycouth.
Terse Comments on the Uniform
Prayer Meeting Topic of the Young
Peoples Societies-Christian En-
deavor, Etc-For Jan. 27: Chris
tan Endeavor Goals and How to
Reach Them'-Rom. 12:1-13.
Small purposes beget small lives.
Most persons need to aspire and to
resolve< more greatly. The familiar
exhortation of Oliver Wendell Holmes
is still a needed appeal:
Build thee more stately mansions. o my
AS the swift seasons roll;
Leave thy low Faulted past:
Let each new temple, nobler than the last.
Shut thee from heaven with dome more
vast.
Till thou at length art rree
Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's I'M
resting sea-.
When mortars plans encompass
God. then life becomes divine. A sub
lime rule of conduct is to live ones
life with respect to God; to strive to
do, in the familiar words of the
Christian Endeavor pledge. What
ever He would like to have me do
Vows made to Jehovah lift the char
acter to a higher plane; he who holds
converse with the Almighty must con-
duct himself as BELTS his station.
Most of use need an obligation to
keep us up to the level of our best.
One man says he can save money only
by contracting for life Insurance.
i dues of which must be met Another
says that the only way he can accom-
plish the full measure of work of
which he is capable is by definitely
promising to do it at a stated time; ;
thus he calls his honor to be the spur
Ill n lS
would do the measure of Christian
service that we should. except we
enter into covenant.
Our great pledge requires great
strength in the keeping. For any
| other than one to whom is promised
the constant presence and power of
an omnipotent Saviour to make such
a VOW would be sacrilege and foolish
| ness. But trusting in the Lord Je-
sus Christ for strength" we can keep
| even this mighty covenant.
| How little we depend upon God in
| His work! We plan and fret and
hurry and worry if Gods work
were our unaided task Unquestion-
ably His work would be better done
| if We should magnify His part in it,
For Gods service we may have God S
Spirit; why then worry about our
| weakness? Let us give the Holy One
| who has been sent to US as power,
| larger part in the work which is
! really His work and in which we are
| only helpers.
1t is possible for every Christian
I to become so established i'm Christ
! that nothing can shake his faith or
| his devotion God has made a way
for every disciple to be steadfast and
strong in allegiance to His cause He
means that we should all be entirely
| true, and we offend Him by lives that
| fluctuate and are unstable. Unfai1-
| ing faithfulness is the privilege of
every believer
Our best belongs to our Beloved. Sec
ond-rate gifts are an offense to love.
The Jew was required to give the first
| lings of his flock, and the lamb with
out spot or b1emish, as offering to
the Lord. No imperfect sacrifice