The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-01-13


saying, This man receiveth sinners
and eateth with them" 1t was to re-
buke this murmuring. by setting forth,
In contrast, the seeking love OF Goa
which goes forth 10 publicanS and SIN
ners, that Jesds spake the parallels or
the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the
lost man, or the prodigal son. In fact,
he draws a portrait of the murmuring
Pharisees In the story Of the elder
brother. As Mr.. Moody said. there
are still many OF him, for he finds sue
cessors in all formal rellgionists. VINO
have no sympathy with Gods JOY over
the recovery OF the lost.
First of all, such men find no JOY In
the service they themselves offer God
When the prodigal came home, the IA
Their called on those about him to
make merry. The parable goes on to
say: "Now his elder son was In the
field; and rs he came and drew nigh
To the house. he heard music and
dancing. And he called one OF the
servants, and asked what these things
meant" wv. 81, 26). Such merrimeIt
was foreign to his spirit. And so 1t Ia
always with formal religionists, for
the Joy OF the Lord is not theirs. John
Wesley was such an one even after
being ordained to preach. When on
his way to America as a missionary TO
the Indians, his ship ran into n dread
full storm. He was disturbed at the
outlook, and was amazed 90 hear a
company OF supplemented Moravian
Christians singing calmly and joyous
~ in the midst OF the storm. Even
their children Joined in the songs.
Wesley was forced to contrast their
conduct with his own feelings. The
| incident was an important factor In
leading him out OF life OF religious
bondage into the liberty OF the glory
of the children OF God.
Notice, too, the restraint between
this son and his father When he
would inquire as to the sounds OF
merriment I'm the house, he did not
ask his father, but went TO servant,
A life OF true prayer is impossible to
the formal religiOnist. He says pray.
ers, but this is not the same as pray.
ing. The prayers OF the Pharisees
were full OF vain repetitions, for like
the heather they thought they would
be heard for their much speaking. To
refer 10 John Wesley again. he never
prayed without n prayer book until
after he had come into the experience
of true child OF God. How different
is such restraint from "the holiness
and access with confidence" TO which
God invites u.s.
How beautiful 10 read: Therefore
came his father out. and entreatcd
him" ". 2S). II has been well re-
marked that this verse shows there
IS q gospel for the Pharlsees! God
loves the formal rellgionist quite as
much as the prodigal. And II he only
knew it, the formal rellgionist needs
the compassion and grace Of God quite
as much as does the prOdigal.
For, see the spirit exhibited in the
sons complaint, that the father had
never given him kid that he might
make merry with his friends" Evil
IDENTIFY his springs Of JOY were not In
his father but In his friends. And,
verify, the successors OF the elder
brother would not he happy even In
heaven. They would not find their
JOY there with the Father and would
not respond when the Great Shepherd
said: "Rejoice with me; for I have
found the sheep which was lost"
But did not the father say. "Son.
thou art ever with me, aud all that I
have is thine?" Yes, but he refers only
to earthly things; the living" he had
divided. True, II Is better not 10
squander our substance" OF body and
mind and possessions, in riotous liy.
ing, as did the prodlgal. But II is true.
also, that while correct life is better
than an irregular one, Il will not OF
itself secure heaven.
The best robe was graciously laid
on the repentant prodgars shoulders
The elder brother never wore IL. and
never will, until he recognizes the
dizziness Of his ragsl