Evening star., 1918-02-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

life out of his own life. The devils
greatest aim is to keep people from be-
lieving the gospel by hardening their
hearts against the truth and light
Another peril that prevented the de-
velopment of the gospel is found in the
shallowness of heart and in the frlVoi-
Iity of life represented by the rocky
ground. where the underlying ledge OF
only slight layer of soil covered it.
The earth that covered the rock may
have been of the very best possible
kind of sof1, but nature, owing to its
shallowness made it germinate rap
idly, like hothouse, and the same con-
ditions which fostered a quick growth
prevented the roots from reaching down
into rich. moist soil, so that when the
sun grew hot the plant Wlthered away
Many enthusiastically receive the gos-
pei during a revival period. but be-
cause they are only moved by the shall
low appearance of the hour, hit the
trail amid the applause of the crowd
and then fail in the hour of testing be-
the end. The large number of trail
hitters" who endure to the end reveal
that they were moved not by the spirit
of man but by the Spirit of God.
One of the most subtle foes of Chris
tian development is the ''deceitfulness
of riches" which fools one. causing him
to neglect the spiritual life for pleas
ure. position and power. The soul
i "
the absorbing cares of this world, the
love of money or the desires concerning
worldly affairs will find that they are
like the unfruitful patch of ground
which is filled with thorns. Plants
oversh3dowed and deprived of moisture
by thorns become fruitless. The only
cure for such Il !f-hearted. hypro-
critical sort of life is complete con-
secration to Christ for His service. One
ought neverto allow the avocation by
which they obtain their daily bread to
become superior in thought to their
vocation by which they fulfill the func-
tions of theirsChristian life. The way one
hears the word determines its fruitfulness.
Development in agriculture is deter
mined by the condition of the soil
when the seed is planted. The Christ
found only a few of the number whom
He called ready to leave all to follow
T Him. 1t was SO then, as it is today.
Therefore Jesus warns men to take
heed how they hear One cannot under
stand Christ's word unless he is truly
prepared in heart for the reception of
the light of Gods word. The good
hearer receives with whole heartedness
the gospel because he understands it's
great spiritual message for him. His
noble and generous heart enables him
not only to grasp the meaning of the
gospel, but to hold fast to it with per-
sistent courage SO that he reaps the re-
wards of his hearing in a fruitful life.
The one who hears with eagerness
the word is like the good ground in
fruit bearing. The whble-hea rted hear
er applies his whole life with energy.
earnestness and efficiency to the work
of the Lord Jesus trying to promote
the kingdom of God among men. The
Holy Spirit honors such Christian en-
deavors with abundant increase. The
| life. rooted in Christ, will produce the
fruits of righteousness because the con-
secrated Christian tries to apply the
| principles of the Master to the solution
| of the problems of everyday life. Obe-
| dience to the teachings of Gods word
| will always bring success. Neglect will
| spell failure. One needs not only to
| receive with meekness the ingrafted
| word. which is able to save" their souls
| but to obey it's precepts at all times
| The parable divides the world into
| two classes, the fruitful and the un-
| fruitful, which proves that character
and destiny are determined by the man.
| ner in which one hears the word. Each
| of the three gospels that record this
parable closes it with the solemn words
| of Christ, who hath ears to hear. let
| him hear" revealing the fact that the
| issues of eternity depend upon mans
reception of Gods truth. Every indi-
vidual determines for himself the char
| acter of his life by his decision about
| Christ the word of God and the way he
follows His teachings