Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-07-25
LESSON FOR JULY %
,oBEYINe GOD.

LESSON TEXTS Matthew 1852: John
Kappa; James 1:22-H.
GOLDEN TEXT-1f We love me, We will
keep my commandments 14:15.
e DEVOTIONAL READING-John 15:S-17.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Loving God and do
ing his will.
LESSON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 4:1S-E;
James.1 :22-27.
INTERMEDIATE. SENIOR AND
ADULT TOPIC Obedience: To whom7
Why? How?
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-I chron-
icles 1918; Psalms 103:17-1S; Matthew $40;
John 15:12-14; John 1885, II.
Obedience Is a 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
(AIatt 4:1s-22).
1. BY whom-Jesus Christ ". 1S),
Jesus is the Son Of God. Since he
Is equal with God, he has the right to
cali. Those who hear his call should
render instant and hearty obedience.
s 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.
g. The nature of ". 1917.
1t was a definite call, in that def
mite men were called into q definite
service.
az 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 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 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.
A. Response to Christ's call wv. 20
22).
~ They left their business inter
ests Immediately.
icy They not only left their bust
ness, but James and John left their ia
Their also. Following Jesus sometimes
means turning ones back upon bust
ness interests and dearest friends and
relations. Regardless Of what 1t
costs, the true disciple will rem
der instant obedience to the call
of Christ, because he has right to
call us. and we can trust his wisdom
to not call until he has need.
1 II. The Motive for Obedience (John
| IA :22-24).
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 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 fol
them that we highly treasure them al
something precious. The reward fol
such obedience is to have Christ's
prayer for us to God to send his Holy
Spirit upon us (John 1916, 17). 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.
III. The Kind Of Obedience Thai
Counts Games 1:22-27).
| /. The obedience Of deeds wv. %
24).
Hearing Gods Word will do no goot
unless 1t is accompanied with obedi
ence. Hearing and not doing is a.
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 Cod
Word and admire its projections, blu
steadfastly and persistently do tn
things required. Only those who thu
persevere shall be blessed in thei
deeds.
3. The obedience Of speech ". 26)
The one who has genuine religion
will control his tongue. Just as tn
physician ofttimes can diagnose tn
physical condition Of the patient by Al
examination of the tongue, so TIL
moral and spiritual condition of tn
individual can be determined by tn
speech Of the individual. The on
who does not control his tongue prove
that his religion is empty and void.
4. The obedience of kindness ". %
Those who have received the kind
ness of God will manifest that kind
ness in their lives. This kindness wi
express itself in ministering to the fa
therless and widows.
5. The obedience Of purity of lif
". 27).