The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-07-26
LESSON FOR JULY 20
oBEYINc GOD.

'DEVOT1ONAL READANG-Jonn Ao.o-A'
PRIMARY TOPIC-Loving God and do
| ing his will.
LESSON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 4:1S-22;
INTERMEDIATES, SENIOR AND
ADULT TOPIC-Obedience To whom?
| Why? How?
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Chron-
icles 1915; Psalms 1O3:17-1S; Matthew 5:19;
| John 15:12-14; I John 1886, II.
Obedience is vital part Of our re-
ligion. The obedience of the Chris
tan Is not legal but filial. Eternal
life is not secured through obedience,
but obedience is the tangible evidence
that one possesses 1t.
|. The Call Of the First Disciples
(Matt 4:18-22).
1. BY whom-Jesus Christ ". 1877.
Jesus is the Son Of God. Since he
is equal with God, he has the right to
call. Those who hear his call should
render instant and hearty obedience.
2. The circumstances Of their call
". 49,.
The call came to them while they
were busy with their business inter-
ests. God always calls men who are
vitality engaged in some business, not
those in idleness.
8. The nature Of ". 19).
It was a definite call, in that def
mite men were called into definite
service.
az To follow Christ. We must fol-
low Christ before we can serve MIN.
ONLY Christians can do Christian work.
| We should follow him to be like hlm'
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 as that In which
they were engaged. They had been
fishing for fish; now they are to De
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 eaten
men to make them alive and feed
| them.
4. Response to Christ1s call wv. ~
22).
(1) They left their business inter-
ests Immediately.
(2) They not only left their busi-
ness, but James and John left their IA
ther also. Following Jesus sometimes
means turning ones back upon Dusl-
ness interests and dearest friends ana
relations. Regardless of what 1t
costs, the true disciple Will rem
der instant obedience to the call
of Christ, because ne has right 10
call us, and we can trust his w1soom
to not call until he has need.
II. The Motive for Obedience (John
IA :22-24).
The grand motive actuating obedl-
ence is love to Christ. The PROOF tnat
we do love him is that we obey him.
Even when we may not be conscious
of unusual outgoings Of the affection
the conclusive evidence that we love
Is that we obey. Keeping his COM
mandments means such regard Tor
them that we highly treasure them as
something precious. The reward for
such obedience is to have Chrlsts
PRAYER for us to God to send his Holy
Spirit upon us (John 4:16, I'D. Then,
too. the Father will love- us, and ne
and the Son will take up their abode
with us. This abode is not temporary
but permanent.
III. The Kind Of Obedience That
Counts Games 1 :22-2O.
/. The obedience of deeds wv. "
24).
Hearing Gods Word viii do no good
unless 1t is accompanied with obedF
ence. Hearing and not doing is as
futile as beholding ones face In
looking glass and forgetting what man.
ner of man he is. Calling Christ LORD,
and not doing what he says, will avail
nothing Matt. 7:21, 22). To pretend
TO know God and not keep his COM
mandments is to lie Il John 2:4).
2. The obedience of perseverance
". 25).
We should not only look into Gods
Word and admire its PROJECTIONS, but
steadfastly and persistently do the
things required. Only those who thus
persevere shall be blessed in their
deeds.
8. The obedience Of speech ". 20.
The one who has genuine religion
will control his tongue. Just as the
pbysician Outlines 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.