Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-12
Sunday School Lesson
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

vancement Of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The secret Of true greatness is found
in the spirit that prompts men to
humble themselves like children TO
serve their fellowmen. The true
Christian forRets SELF He never seeks
great things for himself. He Is al
ways seeking to glorify the Father by
humbling himself to the level Of the
weak, imperfect and dependent child.
There ia no greater appeal that can
be presented to q modern country, that
has been built upon the preceptS of the
Christ, than the need Of the child.
We have seen 1t in the response Of
America to the Near East and to starry
ing children in China. 1t moved Her
bert Hoover in his efforts to feed the
women and children of Europe after
the war had taken from them the
protection of their husbands and faith
ers. His helpful ministry in those try
ing times has brought him to the place
Of eminence that he occupies today, just
as Jesus predicted.
Our greatest gain will always come
from our greatest sacrifices. The more
we seek to give and do for the Master,
the larger will be our reward. If like
child, we give humble, trustful and
loving obedience to the will of the
Heavenly Father, 1t will insure us proper
recognition and rewards from Him at
the Judgment of our works.
Christ's Devotion TO Children.
Jesus not only taught the IL his
views of the childlike characters, that
they ought to possess, but He delivered
a sermon upon their conversion and
care. He warned His disciples against
making it difficult for the children to
become like Him. Modern pedagogy is
following the Lords teaching In recog-
nizing the Importance of environment,
experience and education in the de-
velopment of a child's character. He
warned His apostles against the dan
ger of giving false conception of
Christianity through their disputing
over their personal desires to be recog-
nized and have positions of greatness
in His kingdom.
The parable of the shepherds care of
his sheep was one that Jesus may have
repeated more than once in His effort
to make clear His attitude toward
children who have gone astray. He in
sisted that it was not the will of the
Heavenly Father, that one Of these
little ones should perish. We need to
recall His message, lest we forget the
possibilities, promise and power that are
dormant in the life of every child. He
hao TO correct His apostles IN reference
to their attitude, when they sought to
prevent the parents from bringing their
children to Him to be blessed Jesus
condemned them for interfering with
those who desired that He should bless
their children when He was facing
Jerusalem and the crowd. Xavier, the
great missionary of the Roman Catholic
Church, who was willing to have his
sleep broken If a child called to see
him, was following the teachings of
Jesus Christ, who said, Suffer the lit
tie children. and forbid them not to
come unto Me, for to such belongeth
the kingdom of heaven. And he laid
His hands upon them"
Inasmuch as We do it unto one of the
least Of these, He held we did it unto
Him. We should therefore seek first to
win the boys and girls for the Master,
who loved them. Our greatest privilege
is to be permitted by the Lord to be an
instrument used by the Holy Spirit in
helping to save the souls of the boys
and girls of our day and generation.
frequently the child is the key to the
salvation of his parents. Let us put
forth every effort TO win the children
for Christ and His Church.