Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-11
Sunday School Lesson

Of parallels that taught the nature OF
the kingdom Of God.
Socrates saw that the teachers real
work was the implanting of an idea,
like a seed In the ground. Jesus be-
licrcd Ia His message and His apostles.
He saw the result Of His work develop
Ing throughout the centuries. for the
Kingdom of God was spiritual organ
ism, growing from the Divine seed that
He planted in the hearts and lives OF
His followers. He knew that the tested
seed, the word OF truth" the "incQr-
r,iptible seed" by which souls were be-
gotten to God. would produce spiritual
life that would live and abide forever.
The life was in the seed, not in the
soil. All men were capable Of receiving
life from above. although no one was
capable OF Developing spiritual life out
OF himself.
The reception of the Divine seed Is
essential to our obtaining the spiritual
/ life from above. The parable OF the
soil pictures mans attitude TO the gos-
pei. Unless we have been prepared b.
the Holy Spirit working upon our Wills
and jntellects to receive with meek
ness the migrated word which Is able
10 save" our souls. We will not have the
attitude that will secure for us saliva
ton The wayside nearer. like the
hard path OF the farm. shuts out the
gospel. His worldiness. sensuaity. and
sin absolutely prevent His acceptance
of Gods offer Of salvation. Satan
seeks TO keep men from hearing the
gospel BY hardening their hearts against
The truth. No wonder Jesus warned
men TO take heed how they heard.
The parable Of tbe soil divides the
world into two classes. the fruitful and
the unfruitful, which proves that ou'
character determines our destiny. The
most subtle foe that any Christian
faces r. the "dcceitfulness OF riches.
which fools ono to neglect the spiritual
lfc for pleasure. position and power
n one allows anything 10 take rrece-
ftence over seeking first the kingdom Of
God and His Righteousness. he has m
right to be called a Christian. II w
allow ANYTHING to interfere with our
putting first our duty 10 Christ anf
obedience 10 Him. VIC will fail TO ful'tl
the functions Of true Christian. The
200 ground hearers heard with eager
ness the word They apply with energy
carncstness and efficiency all their tai
enis IN advance the Kingdom Of Ciof
among men. Their attitude to thu
message Of Christ was the hope for
the progress Of the kingdom.
The Kingdoms Progress.
The seed contained life II would
grow without favor II IL was plnntef
In soil. for It would develop according
10 the laws Of nature 1t grows when
II Is planted because the earth IL NJ
ted 10 make IL grow II develops he
cause nf it's possession ef life The farm
er. having planted his seed. waits
with faith and patience for Its growth
Jesus could wait for centuries for the
sure victory to His cause. because the
seed Of the religion that lie planted
IN mems minds was fltted To their souls,
exactly as the seed snwed by the farmet
was iitted for the soil In which II wa$
planted The spiritual life. being tn
highest form Of all life, takes the long
est for development
The Irresistible trend Of modern CIV
iliyation that has moved all nations
toward higher and better conditions.
had It's beginning IN the small hnnd of
Christians who we're trained hv the
| ord ,Iea,is To carry on Its work n es-
iahlishing His Kingdom. Every civic
movement that seeks IN uplift human
nv has It's germs In Christian teaching
The Pan. American Conference In Ha~
vana and the treaties for peace among
nations are the natural development ~
the spiritual Influence NJ Christianity,
manfesting itself In the international
affairs OF men aud nations When
Jesus taught that God WAS love 1t was
a new conception to men, but today II
IL accented M an axiom by many,