The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-11-14

GOLDEN !EAI-I am come mat they
might have life, and that they might have
II more abundantly.-JOhn 10.
Physical life and bodily vigor are
secondary in Importance to spiritual
life and health. Most people do not
believe that, but it is true. Never
theless our physical well-being is of
great importance, for it is evident
that the spiritual and mental side of
man can function in a physical
world only through a physical body.
That makes it primary concern of
man to keep his body alive and,
what is more, keep it as well and
strong as possible, an effective in
strument for the service of God and
man.
With his emphasis on the physi-
cal, man tends, when sickness
comes, to seek the help of man in
overcoming the difficulty. Soon they
find that only God is sufficient for
their need, and He whom they have
hitherto ignored is appealed to in
prayer. Men and organizations
quick to grasp an opportunity to set
themselves forward appear as So
called faith healers. We need to
stress the fact that men may come
direct to Christ who is concerned
about their bodies and their health
and that they may come without in
termediary, simply by faith in Him.
l. The Outreach Of Faith wv. 2-8).
Three things appear here and they
each have value and Importance.
l. Action wv. 2-5). The centurion
was good man and so kind toward
the Jews that he had built them
synagogue. Zone wonders whether a
Roman soldier of today would show
such a spiriD. He was compassion
ate, stirred by the illness of a slave.
He had a need which no man could
meet. Where should he turn? Some
one told him about Jesus. Blessed
and fruitful testimony! He acted in
faith and sent word to the Master.
He acted on his knowledge. Let your
faith also become active.
2. Humility wv. 6, y. Socially
and officially the centurion was far
above Jesus, but he recognized His
Lordship and knew himself to be I'M
worthy that Christ should enter his
house. True faith is humble. It
has nothing to do with the brazen
commanding of God which some
seem to regard as such a magnifi-
cent evidence of faith. Watch for
the mark of genuine and courteous
humility if you would find men and
women of faith.
3. Confidence wv. 7, 81. There is
nothing like this assurance of faith
anywhere; in fact, Jesus said He
had not seen it in all Israel. Know
ing the manner in which his COM
mands were carried out within the
realm of his authority and recog-
nizing Jesus as the Son of God, the
centurion without hesitation accept
ed His absolute power over sickness.
"Thank God! the centurion was
right about that Sickness is alb
solutely subject to the word of Jesus
and so also are demons, sea and
wind, and death itself duke 435,
36, 80; Mark 4:39; John 1143, Az"
bradbury.
ii. The Reward of Faith wv. 9-15).
First of all we note that faith in
God brings not only the Individual
but those round about him a real
l. Blessing ". 81. The faith of
this man delighted the heart of Je-
sus with great joy. He commented
on it and commended it to those
round about. The story Of it has
come down through the centuries to
stir us and stimulate us to belief in
Christ. Faith in Him brings bless
ing, not only to the immediate bene-
ficiary and at the moment, but lives
on in blessing to others. Do we
have that kind of faith? We also note
that it resulted in
2. Healing ". 10Y. Faith gets re-
suits because it releases the omnipo-
tence Of God. The young man was
healed at the word of Jesus, in re-
spouse to the centurion's faith. In
the closing verses of our lesson we
see also the
s. Raising of the Dead wv. 11-15)
The mighty and compassionate Son
of man met a poor widow from
whom death had taken her only stay
and comfort-a young man. She was
apparently too deeply stricken to
even call on Jesus for help, but one
can almost feel her faith leap to
His words, "Weep not" His divine
3 voice then reached into the next
world and called the young man
back to life. The day that had start
ed as the saddest and darkest in
her life closed as the most blessed
and joyful in her experience, be-
cause she had met Jesus.
Reader, have you met the tender,
loving, omnipotent Jesus? He wants
to be your Saviour, Lord, and ever
present friend. Will you let Him
into your heart? Now?