The Glenwood post., 1923-02-01

1OAIIEN 1bA4-Enter INTO his 8ato6
with thanksgiving, and into His courts
with praise; be thankful unto him, and
bless His name.-Psalm 1904.
REFERENCE MATERIAL Chron.
2:10-6; Psalm 116:1-14; Matt 1s:H-sS;
Phil 4:6-7
PRIMARY ToP1c-A Man Who Was
Thankful
JUNIOR TOPIC. = Remembering to
Thank God.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-1ne Grace of Gratitude.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-C1,lAi.i~tI-~. Ai>--I1~a-A~ ->-<>---------
Jesus Is now on His way to Jerusa-
lem where He will be offered up for
the sins Of the people. 1t was fitting
that He should pass through the coun-
try of the Samaritans, for He was the
Savior Of all men. On this occasion
He came in touch with colony of
ten lepers, and His healing of them ex-
hibits the condition of human nature
and the workings Of His divine grace.
!. Their Awful Affliction ". 12).
They were lepers. Leprosy is con-
tagious disease which rots off the
members of the body and eventuates
in death. It may be unnoticed in the
blood of the person for years. 1t is
Of such foul nature that the one
thus afflicted is cast out from society.
This segregation was in accordance
with the Mosaic law (Lev. 13 :46). It
was kind of Naaman quarantine
measure. Leprosy has. always been
regarded as a type of sin, even at
times visited upon people for some
ci Evn MI fIrI oP Oh II
CI Kings 81; Miriam (Num. 12); Uz-
ziah (1 Kings 10 :5). Sin has come into
the world and flows from generation
to generation through the racial
stream, so that all are sinners (Rom.
5:12). Though sin may be hidden. it
eventually breaks out and destroys the
body. Evidences of this are seen on
every hand There is no need Of Bible
proof of its reality.
u. Their Cry for Mercy ". 13).
They were in great need. No hu-
man help was available. They had
somehow heard how Jesus had healed
. some lepers. Where there is real heal
ing it is bound to be noised about. This
aroused faith in them. Faith cometh
by hearing, and hearing by the Word
of God" (Rom. 10:1O. AS He came
their way they called for mercy. 1t is
the privilege of all sinners to call
upon Jesus Christ for mercy. Saliva
tion from the most awful sins will
surely come to all who cry unto Him
in sincerity.
III. Bidden to Go to the Priests
". 14.
Before the lepers were healed they
were to show themselves to the
priests, according to the Mosaic law
Uev. 14:1-32). AS they went.in faith
they were healed While God goes be.
fore in the work of salvation, yet He
demands of the sinner faith. Faith is
the cause of His action. Activity on
the sinners part is necessary so that
Gods grace can flow into him. Faith
expresses itself in action. BY this
means the divine power and human
need are united. The only faith need
ed is for the sinner to realize the heal
ing power of Christ, and as this is
acted upon there is the consequent in
crease which results in complete sal
walton. Cleansing is realized through
obedience.
~. The Gratitude Of the One wv
10, 16).
Perceiving that he was healed Of hi!
leprosy the Samaritan turned bacl
and with loud voice glorified God
He even fell down on his face ant
gave thanks. The one least expected
to show gratitude for this great mere!
was the one who sincerely expressed
it.
v. The Gratitude of the Nine wv
17-19).
Presumably they were Jews. Th
very ones who should have been mos
grateful did not show any apIrecia
ton. They were content to get mucl
from Christ without giving Him any
thing. He expects those who expert
ence His salvation to give Him thei
love and gratitude. The Lord is hur
when saved sinners go off with tn
blessing of salvation as though the
had stolen 1t. Many take all they cal
get from Christ and give nothing in re
turn. All the blessings of. Civilization
are ours through Christ, yet how fey
thank Him for them. The proportio
of those who are ungrateful for tn
blessings which Christ brought Is pei
haps nine to one. The fact that graf
tude was expressed by Samarlta
shows how often we are shamed b
the devotion of those less favore
than ourselves.
Finding God.