Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-05-02

LESSON TEAT-ISatah 5S:1-I.
GOLDEN TEXT-Seek ye the Lord
while he may be found. call We upon
him while he Is near.-Isaiah 55:6
Thirsty? A thousand signboards
will tell you what to drink to refresh
yourself. Most Of the suggestions
are there only to get your money,
and often their proffered lift 10
push downward and their refresh.
ment Is only a prelude to destruc.
ton. But they do declare that thirst
Is universally present. Throughout
the Bible thirst Is used to express
mans need of and longing for God.
He is a spiritual being made in the
likeness and image Of God and in
tended for fellowship with Him.
Never will he be fully satisfied until
he comes to God and meets his hun
ger and thirst with that (which 10
good"
The invitation Of Isaiah is present
ed under the figure Of purchase,
Come ye, buy" In carrying out
that thought we suggest that there
are four steps in buying and using
anything.
I. Listen ". -.
rHo, everyone that thirsteth"
This Is as Sturgeon says "the cry
Of salesman at fair" Amid the
confusing sounds and disturbing
sights surrounding his customer the
salesman must make himself known
and catch the interest Of his Gus.
toner. The latter must listen to the
offer and the recommendation Of the
things for sale.
This is an unusual offer. Isaiah
invites the buyer to make his pur-
chase without money and without
price" Does that mean that the
thing for sale is cheap or worthlessI
Far from 1t, for it is priceless. Sal.
walton is free for the sinner. but 1t
cost God the price Of His only begot.
ten Son. It Is because Jesus paid
the price Of redemption that we may
have 1t freely without cost.
II. Compare WV. 2-5).
A good shopper compares values
lest he make bad bargain or buy
that for which he has no real need
What IL the situation of the one who
Is invited to buy what God Offers!
He is q sinner who has been fool
ishly seeking to satisfy himself with
what the world has to offer. With
money he has tried to buy happi.
ness, contentment, recognition. The
bread Of this world win never satisfy
and the water Of this world only In.
creases ones thirst. (See John 4:
Is, 14)
Compare what God has to Offer
that which is good" that which
delights the soul ". q. Here Is
life ". 81 assured by the promise
Of One who made an Everlasting
covenant" with David, assuring him
OF His sure mercies." It results In
ultimate glory ". 81.
The one who honestly makes such
q comparison is quickly satisfied
that the time has come to
III. Buy WV. 6-9).
Penniless, the sinner may ''buy"
without money. He may call upon
God. for God has already called him.
He may seek God. because He Like
the good shepherd has been out seek
ing the lost sheep (Matt. 1879.
While man can certainly not save
himself, there are things which God
expects the sinner to do. First, be
is to seek the Lord" Where!
Right at your side, sinner, for The
is near" ". 81. Then when the sin
ner meets the Lord he is at once
conscious Of his sin. What shall
he do with it? Forsake it In both
thought and deed ". u and God
will "abundantly pardon" Observe
that men may by their sinful rejec-
ton Of Him bring themselves to the
place where they not only do not
listen to Gods call. but actually DO
not want to hear 1t. Seek ye the
Lord while he may be found" w. 81.
Nv. Enjoy wv. 10, III.
Some foolish folk buy things and
put them away where neither they
nor anyone else can enjoy them.
Some worry so much about the price
they paid or are so concerned about
the preciousness of the thing pur'
chased that they find no pleasure In
using it.
Salvation Is not a thing to be
hidden or put on a shelf. In fact
1t is not thing at all. but q life.
1t Is to grow. to bud. to blossom and
to bear fruit. How7 BY being ready
to receive Gods Word which comes
down like the rain from the heavens
refreshing, encouraging, and fructi'
fyirg the life of the believer.
Gods Word never returns to Him
void. He prospers it to accomplish
His own purpose. But pray tell me.
If we never study 1t or even read
it. how can 1t help our lives? We
grow in grace" only as we grow
lin the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ" III Pet. 3:10.
We grow In knowledge as we study
Gods Word. Thus we come to enjoy
olrY. fNhriafioVH lice