The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-12-26
Woe to Him Who
Causes Offense
Lesson January 2. Matt. Is:l.I

lesson January 2. Matt. ls:l-l.
Wheneveg the opportunity occurs
for people to enter the church with
colors flying and ncighbors applaud
Ing. there is u big influx I'm member
ship. People like TO get In the
band wagon" and they are also
quite willing, knowing that religion
Is the best thing in the world. TO ar
ccpt II for their very own when they
can do 30 without loss of dignity and
with tho approval Of thosc whose
high opinion they crave. There is
a great deal Of church Joining done
FOR the looks OF the thing" and at
the behest OF judgment when the
joiner has little or no conception of
heartfelt religion or OF taking up his
cross and following the Master.
There may be people who mean
what they say when they take the
church vows under these circum-
stances. but the natural inference H.
that they have a selfish and world
ly end in view. But take the time
when all his friends either oppose
the step or ridicule his new-found
piety and the man who turns his
face against the things of this
world and seeks real salvation is the
NIhu VI u tHrlstiall you can tNptCl
to do great things for his Saviour.
The SOrdid Viewpoint.
There is no reflection on the gem
uine piety OF the disciples. but It IL
certain they had an eye to the
'1oaves and fishes" They were anx-
ious for the advent OF the kingdom
OF heaven, but they expected that it
would bring them some honor and
dignity before men as charter
members" OF the new dispensation.
Hence the rivalry sprung. friendly
though IL might have been, as to
which Of them should be accounted
greatest In the kingdom. They had
not realized yet that the surest title
Of nobility was unselfish and loyal
service. and that perferment should
be based upon losing sight OF their
individual interests In the interest
OF the good of humanity All re-
ward is first earned by humility, and
second by obedience, and obedience
to the King OF all kings putting sell
fish ambition out OF the calculation
and concentrating all endeavor in
voived on love of God and his crea-
lures. For this purpose Christ set
a child before them as n model on
which to base their motives and a
guide to copy in humility and trust
fulness.
Leave All Behind.
We may be tempted to overdraw
this picture OF childish faith as n
key TO the kingdom. The lesson was
simply that the absence of selfish
pride and the unquestioning conf
dence Of a child in his parents was
the model to which the seeker OF
eternal life must conform before his
heart 10 In a condition to receive for
giveness and the blessing of the
Holy Ghost. No man can enter the
kingdom and bring his pride with
him. No man can enter the king
dom unless he has freed himself OF
worldly motives and purged himself
Of all doubt. Those who have to all
appearances accepted the terms of
the church with private reserva-
tions. or who have agreed to leave
off all their sinfulness except one or
two pet failings, have never been ac-
cepted by the Lord on high. He re-
quires an absolute unconditional
surrender. Let your wishes and am
bitlons be forgotten and merged into
and overshadowed by the will OF
God. God can exalt only those who
humble themselves. II Is a hard les
son for grown man to learn. but
It Ia Necessary. The child, with no
thought OF strife or jealousy. run
ming to Jesus with humble conf
dence In response to his call, was
made a living example to the disci-
pies then and to Christians for all
time.
How many Of us are guilty Of
causing some little one TO stumble