Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-07-25
LESSON FOR JULY 28
oREYlNG GOD.

LESSON TEXTS Matthew 4;1S-22; John t
14:22-2i; James 1:22-27
GOLDEN TEXT-If We love me, We viii /
keep my commandments 14:15.
| DEVOTIONAL READING-Jehn il SIT. I
PRIMARY ToPIC--Iovlng God and do |
/ ing his Will
! LESSON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 4:ls-22;
/ james 1921.
1NTERafEpIATE. SENIOR. AND /
/ Why? How2
/ ADDITIONAL WATERFALL chron- !
/ icles 16:15 Psalms 1o8s17-lS; Matthew 5:i9;
John 15a2-i4; / John 2;s-s, H.
Obedience is a vital part Of our re-
! Igion The obedience OF tile Chris
tian is not legal but flials Eternal
+ life is not secured through obedience,
i but obedience is the tangible evidence
that one possesses II.
/ l. The Call OF Che First disciples
! (Matt 1922.
l. BY vhom--Jesus Christ " 49,.
Jesus IS the son Of God Since he
Is equal with God, he has the right TO
cal. Those who hear his cali should
render instant and haarty obedience.
i ., The circumstances Of their call
/ &. 49,,
The cali came to them While they
were busy with theh. business inter-
ests. God always calls men who are
vitality engaged in some business, not
those in idleness.
/ 8. The nature Of (v.>19).
1t was definite call. in that def
mite men were called into definite
service.
"a To follow Christ. We must fol-
low Christ before we can serve him.
Only Christians can do Christian work.
We should follow him to be like him,
in order to win others to him.
~ To win men for hlm-"Fishers
of men," Christ calls men into work
of the same character as that In which
they were engaged They had been
fishing for fish; now they are to be
fishers of men, When Christ calls
men he does not call Them to lower
service. This is a fine case Of promo
ton. Men catch fish to Kill and feed
upon them, but Christ's disciples catch
men TO make them alive and feed
! them.
4. Response to Christ's cali (vv. 20
22).
ID They left their business inter-
ests Immediately.
(2) They not only left their bust
ness, but James and John left their IA
ther also. Following Jesus sometimes
2 mems turning ones back upon bust
: mess interests and dearest friends and
i relations. Regardless Of what It
: costs, the true disciple will rem
der instant obedience to the call
Of Christ. because he has a right to
call us, and we can trust his wisdom
, TO not call until he has need.
H. The Motive for Obedience (John
IA :22-24).
The grand motive actuating obedi-
: ence is love to Christ. The proof that
r we dc love him is that we obey him.
e Even when we may not be conscious
t of unusual outgoings of the affection,
the conclusive evidence that we love
is that we obey. Keeping his COM
: mandments means such regard for
them that we highly treasure them as
. something precious. The reward for
such obedience Is to have Christs
prayer for us to God to send his Holy
i Spirit upon us John 1916 10. Then.
: too, the Father will love US, and he
: and the Son will take up their abode
G with us. This abode is not temporary
= but permanent.
Ill. The Kind of Obedience That
Counts Games 1 :22-27.
/. The obedie2ce of deeds (vw %
24).
I; Fearing Gods Word will do no good
n unlrss 1t is accompanied with obedi-
4 encn. Hearing and not doing Is as
fr.ile as beholding ones face In a
: looking glass and forgetting what man
! ner Of man he is. Calling Christ Lord,
and not doing what he says, will avail
!, noting Matt. 7:21, 22). To pretend
u to now God and not keep his COM
r M ndnents is to lie Il John 2:4).
d .. The obedience Of perseverance
e ". ~.
i We should not only look into Gods
It Word and admire its PROJECTIONS, but
a steadfastly and persistently do the
things required. Only those who thus
persevere shall be blessed in their
Deeds
II 8. The obedience of speech ". 26).
The one who has genuine religion
will control his tongue. Just as the
=. physician Outlines can diagnose the
III physical condition of the patient by an
II examination of the tongue, so the
moral and spiritual condition of the
III individual can be determined by the
II speech of the individual. The one
III who does not control his tongue proves
that his religion is empty and void.
4. The obedience of kindness ". 20
Those who have received the kind
ness Of God will manifest that kind
ness in their lives. This kindness will
express itself in ministering to the ia
iii therless and widows.