Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-28
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
For Dec. 81. Luke IL.
BY DIR. MARION MICH. HULL

ton should be for the Kingdom OF
God, rather than for the things
that men ordinarily seek first
things to eat and wear; and showed
them that if God cared for the
ravens and for the lilies OF the
field, He would certainly care for
them who are made in His image
and who are His children.
He gave them instructions which
appeared very drastic. He told them
to sell everything that they had
and give aims, and to lay up treas
ure in heaven instead of on earth,
be ever Watchful, ever realizing that
their Master may return any time
to call them to account. BE "
therefore ready, for the Son of Man
cometh at an hour when We think
not.
AIertness
Peter, with his usual impulsive-
ness, interrupted Jesus here to ask
if He was speaking to them or to
others In another parable He
answered them saying that the wise
steward was the one that knew
his Lords will and took no chance
on not being ready when his LORD
would return.
He then showed them that to
follow Him was no easy matter, but
that it would require such loyalty
that frequently households would
be divided, for He came not to send
peace but the sword. He was en-
tering upon a warfare against sin
that would require every ounce of
energy that each soul could COM
mand.
Then He turned to the people say
ing that they could tell what kind
of weather they would have by the
sky. He did not understand why
they could not discern the signs of
the times.
This message seems peculiarly APP
propriate for the close of the ol0
year and the beginning of the New
Year; for as we look back we mus
be conscious of the fact that during
the past year we have not trusted
our Lord, who cares for us as He
cares for the sparrOWs and who
cares for each so much that even
the hairs of our heads are number
ed; He misses each one that comes
out. May we not rest in the assur-
ance during the coming year that
He is ours, and that He cares for
us more than we can possibly i'm
agine?
AS we look back over the past
year also, we shall have the con-
fession to make that we have been
guilty of the sin of coVetousnesS.
We have not sought first things
first, but the supreme purpose ut
our lives has been to accumulate.
We have been more concerned about
our clothes than about His king
dom; about our food than about our
Father. We have been seeking to
lay up treasure on earth, to build
larger barns, to have a little easier
time, to enjoy more of the luXuries
of life and all this time we have
been thinking that we have been
wise when God said: Thou foolish
one, where shall all these things be
when you are taken away? We are
tying our hearts to earth instead Ut
strengthening the cords in heaven.
Instead of laying up treasure here,
why not there during the coming
year?
Isn't it true that we have taken
the chance that our Lord would de.
lay His coming? We have known
His will. yet we have not been
watching for Him. He has been
most gracious to- us in postponipg
the day Of His return. If we look
about us. as we see the signs of
the times. shall we not enter the
New Year with the hope that our
blessed Lord may return any NC
ment to give us the reward of serv-
ice rendered in His name to pro
mote each according to His faithful
ness, and to give us the unspeakable
pleasure of dwelling in His presence
always?
May 1 be permitted to make this
personal testimony-That the hope
of my Lords return at any moment
has been and is the greatest inspira
ton to holiness Of life and service
that [ have ever had? Looking for
Him to come any moment will spur
you on too to active service, will.
restrain you from known sin, and
will Constrain you to do His will
IN His power that you may not TO
ashamed before Him at His appear
ing.