The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-03-31
Lesson for April 3

SERVING OTHER RACES
LESSON TEXT-Mark 7:24-37.
GOLDEN TEXT-God is no respecter of
persons. Acts 1924.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Lord of All.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Lord of All.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Showing Good viii to Other Races.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Practicing Christian Brotherhood Toward
AL Races.
"God is no respecter of persons
(Acts 10:34). He who by reason of
His infinite knowledge might well
draw lines of distinction between
them is loving and gracious toward
all, not willing that any should per-
ish, extending his mercy to men of
all conditions and all races. But
men, whose knowledge is so limited
that they cannot even rightly judge
the thoughts of their own hearts,
are quick to discriminate against
their fellow man because he is of a
different race, color, or social posi-
ton.
A leader in the Southern Baptist
church recently pointed out that
the number of heather in the world
has increased about two and a half
times as rapidly as the number of
Christians, which means that at the
rate of progress of missions during
the last generation the world has
become more heather at the rate of
six million a year, and now we
bn CT fry
Their. Because of financial depres-
sion we are recalling missionaries.
When the world is ablaze with sin
and God-denying political theories
we withhold the gospel it needs. 1t
has well been said that such STRAIT
egg is like closing the hospital be-
cause an epidemic is in progress.
Jesus had gone into Syrophenicia
and the region of Decapolis (look
them up on the map) to rest. But
the need of the Gentle people Ito
whom He was not at that time called
to minister) impelled Him to help
them also. Note how they were
stimulated to believe, how their
faith was tried, but triumphant.
The Greek woman and the man
Of Decapolis were led to believe in
Christ in two different ways.
l. By hearing about Jesus. The
woman 'heard of him" ". 25). Paul
says, Faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God"
from. 10:1O. Are we diligent in
season and out of season, telling the
story of Jesus and His love? If so,
men and women of our acquaint-
ance will hear of Him and be ready
to call on Him in the day of their
trouble.
2. By a personal meeting with
Jesus. The man was deaf; he could
not hear about Jesus, but he could
see Him. To him the Lord came
in person, and by the sign language,
related in verse 33, He stirred his
heart to believe.
II. Faith Tested.
/. By obstacles. The woman met
what seemed to be sharp rebuke
". 27), although it was no doubt
much tempered by the tender voice
of Jesus, and by the fact that He
did not use the word 'dogs" as the
Jews did in speaking of the Cen
tiles. He spoke kindly, and He
talked of the little dogs" which
were the pets of the household. But
her faith was greatly tried, just as
ours often is, not that it should fail,
but that its strength might be dem
onstrated.
2. By natural handicaps. Jesus
put no impeachment in the way of the
man, for he was already hindered
by nature. How often do we not
feel that in our very personalities
and bodies are those things which
hinder our full apprehension of the
grace of God. Shall we then give
up in Encouragement? No. The
man believed right through the
barrier of unhearing ears and
speechless tongue. We can do like
wise by the grace of God.
III. Faith Rewarded.
/. BY deliverance from the devil.
The woman's daughter was set free
because of her faith. Men and wom-
en- around us need to be delivered
from the devil. Perhaps you who
read these lines are in need of such
deliverance. "Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house" (Acts $500.
2. By deliverance from personal
limitations. The mans "ears were
opened and he spake plain"
". 35). What is the unfortunate
trait of personality, the handicap of
body or mind that holds you back
from accepting Christ as Saviour,
or, having done so, from the full and
free development of your spiritual
life? Faith in Christ cuts right
through the hindering inability. He
said to Paul, my grace is sufficient
for thee: for my strength is made
l