The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-07-25
LESSON FOR JULY 20
oBEYlNG GOD.

DEVOTIONAL READING-John l5:S-i7.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Loving God and do
Ing his will.
LESSON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 4:lS-22;
James l:22-1.
INTERMEDIATE. SENIOR AND
ADULT ToPIC-Obedlence: To whom?
Why? How7
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Chron-
icles 1918; Psalms lcGlT-ls; Matthew 5:l9;
John 15:12-14; l JohE 2:3-6, H.
Obedience is vital part of our re-
llgion. The obedience Of the Chris
tlan is not legal but filial. Eternal
life is not secured through obedience.
but obedience is the tangible evidence
that one possesses 1t.
I. The Call OF the First Disciples
Matt 4:1S-22).
]. by whom-Jcsus Christ ". 1S).
Jesus is the SoL of God. Since he
Is equal with God, he has the right to
call. Those who hear his call should
render instant anG hearty obedience.
2. The circumstances of their call
". 1S).
The call came to them while they
were busy with their business inter
csts. God always calls men who are
vitality engaged in some business, not
those in idleness.
g. The nature Of ". 19).
II 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.
(2) To win men for him-"Fishers
of men," Christ calls men into work
Of the same character rs 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 call wv. 20.
22).
(1) They left their business inter-
ests Immediately.
(2) They not only left their buSl-
| ness, but James and John left their Ia
ther also. Following Jesus sometimes
means turning ones back upon bust
ness interests and dearest friends and
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.
u. The Motive for Obedience Gohn
ii :22-2D.
The grand motive actuating obedi-
ence Is love to Christ. The proof that
we do love him is that we obey him.
Even when we may not he conscious
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
Spirit upon us (JOhn 14:16, ~. Then,
too. the Father will love us, and he
and the Son will take up their abode
with us. THIS abode is not temporary
but permanent.
~. The Kind Of Obedience That
Counts (James 1:22-2O.
/. The obedience Of deeds (vv. o.
2D.
Hearing Gods Word will do no good
unless II Is accompanied with ohedl-
ence. Hearing and not doing Is MS
futile rs beholding ones face In n
looking glass and forgetting what man
ner of mun he is. Calling Christ Lord,
and not doing what he says, will avail
nothing Matt. 1921, 22). To pretend
10 KNOW NtOu anu ilVt htNp MS N'lH
mandments is to lie q John 2:4).
9. The obedience Of perseverance
". 25).
We should not only look into Gods
Word and admire its perfections, but
steadfastly and persistently do the
tbings required. Only those who thus
persevere shall be blessed in their
deeds.
3. The obedience of speech ". 26)
The one who has genuine religion
will control his tongue. Just as the
physician ofttimes can diagnose the
physical condition Of the patient by an
examination Of the tongue, so the
moral and spiritual condition of the
individual can be determined by the
speech of the individual. The one
who does not control his tongue proves
that his religion Is empty and void
4. The obedience Of kindness ". 2O
Those who have received the kind
ness of God will manifest that kind
ness in their lives. This kindness will
express itself in mlnlstering to the fa'
therless and widows.
5. The obedience of purity of life
". 27.
The Law of God enjoins upon his
children not only purity Of life, but
abstinence from all appearance of evil
The one who has been made partaE'
er Of the Divine nature keeps himself
from the sins of the world. 1t means
his separation from the things of the
world which corrupt.
Brotherhood.
Brotherhood should be as high as
fA,