The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-03-10
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially for Readers of
The Republican by Rev. U. S.
Wright, D. D.
SUNDAY, MARCH IS. 1927


Matthew 2S:16-2O; Acts 16:5-15
Go we therefore, and make disciples
of all the nations.
THE IMPERIAL AUTHORITY.
That was momentous gathering
somewhere upon the hills of Galilee.
1t was the tryst to which the risen
Christ had called His followers and
He kept that word. Paul says that
there were five hundred or more but
it is possible that the count was not
altogether by numbering. But there
was crowd drawn by obedience, by
curiosity, by the word of others of
what was to happen and they met
Jesus. There were doubters among
them evidently upon the fringe of the
followers. Certainly it was not
among those who had been intimately
connected with events during that
Easter week. Jesus never fails to
meet those who wish to meet Him
whatever the motive. He is always
willing to keep tryst with men.
Then He took command of the sit
uation with the assertion that all
authority had been given unto Him
in both Heaven and earth. Certainly
somebody must be in command of this
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verse. No ship can find it's way un-
guided nor can a train run without
orders from some source. Jesus de-
clared Himself the engineer for the
most complex machine that has ever
been known. And because He has
power He has authority, for power
creates both it and responsibility.
Newell Dwight Hills said, "God gov
erns matter by force, animals by fear
and man by fear or love. We may
take Him at whatever level we
choose" But He governs. And
while love is His preferred method
with men He still governs. 1t may
seem that there should be swifter
pace but He must work thru human
folks-very human folks. And like
Alice in Wonderland playing croquet
and finding the wickets moving where
they pleased, God must play His game
with human wickets moved many
times by other things than the desire
to please Him. Yet He rules and out
of darkness the world moves toward
the dawn
THE IMPERIAL PROGRAM.
1t would be very strange if our
Lord had no program toward which
He moved. His goal is the complete
rule of the world by the spirit of
love. His whole pressure was toward
the setting up of the Kingdom in the
hearts of those who were willing to
have it come to pass. Very far are
we yet from the rule of righteousness
in all things but in just the fashion
that wherever a citizen of the U. S.
IS there is part of the government
protected by its flag, so whether a
real Christian is there is also the rule
of God and a part of the Kingdom.
The necessary succession to the ex-
preston of authority was a command
linked with its power. go, make
disciples of all nations" was the
final word of the King. There is no
consultation; no discussion is pos
sible; it is the order of the King of
all worlds. Whatever opinion we
may hold concerning racial equality,
of the ACCESSIBILITY of missionary ac-
tivity, of the possibility of social
justice in all cases, there is but one
thing for us to do and that is to obey
our orders. If there is any mistake
it is not ours but Gods. And there
is but one attitude if we refuse and
that is the attitude of rebellion
against the King. We are breakers
of His command. We are challeng-
ers of His authority. Upon ship
board it is called mutiny and in the
words of an old captain, There can
be but one commander on board this
boat" And the next step is the
disciples, the bringing them
to the open confession of allegiance
in baptism, the teaching them to OBJ
serve "all that l have commanded
you" Pretty teachers aren't we if
we refuse obedience ourselves! The
whole missionary Kingdom enterprise
is bound up in our accepting the OBJ
legation of that first word, go ye."
After that is the slow process of Gull
tivation of the will and the instruc-
ton in the ways of the Kingdom.
THE IMPERIAL PRESENCE.
Notice the conjunction. Leaving
out all intervening phrasing it reads,
go and I am with you" No man
goes alone upon Gods Grand And
no one stays in company of going
God. For He is on the march and if
we would have His comradeship we
must march with Him. No sitter-still
no one whose heart does not travel