The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-11-17

SuperVisional, Chas. Il. Meyers, Denlson
Nov. 81. 1.-THE Twelve Commissioned
and Sent Forth" Matt. TO- Ills.
The disciples who We're chosen had
been with Jesus for some time hearing
His words, seeing His miracles and
manner of life. In our lesson today we
are told that He sent them out on mis-
sionary trips among, the villages Of
Palestine AS the Jews by their re-
lligious' EDUCATION and expectacy Of the
coming of the Messiah would most cas-.
lily be influenced by teachings based on
the holy scriptures. the disciples were
instructed to preach to them at this
time.
It will be remembered that when
writing about, the first recorded address
to the people by Jesus, called atten-
ton to the opening declaration being
The kingdom of heaven is at hand, +"
and in sending out the disciples at the
time related Of in our lesson, Jesus d.
rected them to make this thought the
leading subject of their talks among
the people. They We're told to heal the
sick raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,
cast out demons. They were to jour,
ney from village to village, living up
on the hospitality Of the people whom
they met. The hospitality of the, East
is one of the virtues of the inhabitants
and It would be customary, when stran.
gers came into a village that the hum.
BILE homes would be open for temper
airy stay at all times. The disciples
were told that if, however, at any home
they were not made welcome, tMey
We're to Withdraw and it is said that4a
would be melted aout to.
those who did not offer the usual cour.
tesy to them and who turned a deaf ear
Ito their words. In conclusion the dis
tciples were told that as they had free
ly received the gospel message they
should in like mannr freely give It.
The great lesson subject today is per.
sonal responsibility for the. spread Of
i the gospel. upon christians. Just now
the revival season Is upon many of the
churches of the land and pastor and
people are facing the duty and respon.
sibility Of spreading the gospel message
by word of mouth and personal work.
| It is no new problem which confronts
the christian believers, but one which
they have many times considered and
SO often failed to do their known duty,
iIf we waited to be perfect in Gods
sight and our own, before we; tried to
induce others to become christians, the
time for work would never come. So
many make the lack of perfection in
their lives an excuse for never speak.
ing word on behalf of the Master,
whom they believe they are serving.
The great preacher Paul said OF him
self. that he was a man of like
passions as the people whom he talked
to, and yet he was one Of the most sue
icessful missionaries for the cause. It
Ills, Of course, a problem as to the best
way to proceed. There are times when
1t is best to put forth strenuous efforts
and again such are inopportune. A
writer has well said satan has few
more effective agents than those per.
sons who would officiously .blunderbus
their way into other peoples Utmost
.life,' and this was well said. 1t IS a
problem what and how to do, but this
should not be put forth as an excuse
for never. doing anything. Jesus did
not speak to everyone He met. He
passed by many villages without enter
ing. There are times and seasons when
the best work can be done. However.
there is good opportunity if one is on
the lookout Those who have made
the VOW and Kept it to each day speak
to- some one about their religious life,
report that they have no difficulty in
doing this, and meet with courteous
treatment and surprising results.
y Every one of us should try MOTTO be
sponge in the world, ever absorbing
informal ton and good things and never
trying to be helpful to others along
these lines. All of us, can recall men
and women whom we have met who
are possessed of superior education and
wide information, and yet they never