Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-02-01


with praise; be thankful unto him, and
bless His name.-Psalm 1904.
REFERENCE WATERFALL Chron.
2s.lo-e: Psalm Ils:l-l4 Matt 1s2l-ss:
Phil 4:6-7
PRIMARY ToPIC-A Man who was
Thankful
JUNIOR TOPIC = Remembering to
Thank God
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
-IA4e Grace of Gratitude.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-cuitivating the Habit of Gratitude.
Jesus is now on His way to Jerusa-
lem where He will be offered up for
Inc sins Of the people. 1t was fitting
that He should rass through the coun-
try OF the Samaritans. for He was the
Savior of all men. On this occasion
He came in touch with &C 'ony of
ten lepers, and His healing of them ex-
hlbits the condition Of human nature
and the workings of His divine grace.
J. Their Awful AffIiction ". 12).
They were lepers. Leprosy is con-
tagious disease which rots of the
members Of the body and eyentuates
In death. 1t may be unnoticed In the
blood of the person for years. 1t il
of such a foul nature that the one
thus afflicted is cast out from society.
This segregation was Iii accordance
with the Mosaic law (Lev. Is :46). 1t
was a kind of Naaman quarantine
measure. Leprosy has always been
regarded as type Of sin, even at
times visited upon people for some
sin. Examples, the leprosy of Gehazi
Gil Kings 81; Miriam (Num. 12); W.
ziah Gil Kings Is :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, il
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.
III. Their Cry for Mercy ". 49,.
They were in great need No hui
man help was available. They had
somehow heard how Jesus had healed
some lepers. Where there is real heal
ing il is bound to be noised about. This
aroused faith in them. Faith cometh
by hearing, and hearing by the Word
Of God" (Rom. 10:17J. AS He came
their way they called for mercy. 1t is
the privilege of all sinners to call
upon Jesus Christ for mercy. Saliva
ton from the most awful sins will
surely come to all who cry unto Him
in sincerity.
III. Bidder to Co 70 the Priests
(v. 14).
Before the lepers were healed they
were to show themselves to the
priests, according to the Mosaic law
Uev. Ii 1872. 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.
w. The Gratitude of the One wv.
Is, 49,.
Perceiving that he was healed of his
leprosy, the Samaritan turned back
and with loud voice glorified God.
He even fell down on his face and
gave thanks. The one least expected
to show gratitude for this great mercy
was the one who sincerely expressed
it,
v. The Gratitude Of the Nine wv.
17-19).
Presumably they were Jews. The
very ones who should have been most
grateful did not show any apLTecia-
ton. They were content to get much
from Christ without giving Film any
thing. He expects those who expert
ence His salvation to give Him their
love and gratitude The Lord is hurt
when saved sinners go off with the
blessing of salvation as though they
had stolen it. Many take all they car
get from Christ and give nothing in re-
turn. All the blessings of civilization
are ours through Christ, yet how few
thank Him for them. The proportion
of those who are ungrateful for the
blessings which Christ brought is per
haps nine to one. The fact that graft
tude was expressed by Samaritan
shows how often we are shamed by
the devotion Of those less favored
than ourselves.