Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-10-24
CHRISTIAN MOTIVES FOR
ABSTINENCE o


LESSON TEXT-Luke 1:13-16: 2:4O; 4:
4; 6:21, Is, 1915.
GOLDEN TEXT-For the kingdom of
God Is not meat and drink: but righteous
ness, and peace, and joy In the Holy
Ghost.-Romans A:f7.
Life is our most precious posses
sion. No intelligent person will
waste its heeting moments. nor de-
fer to a later season the living Of his
life to the best advantage. We live
now-today.
Nor is any thoughtful one ready to
let life slip by without its finest and
richest return of usefulness and
blessing, not only to himself, but to
others. International Temperance
Sunday affords us an opportunity to
show our young people that those
who indulge in intoxicants cannot
live such life.
We suggest that a satisfying life is
l. Useful duke 113-16).
John was to be born into life of
such blessed usefulness to God and
man that he was to be a 10y and
gladness"' to his parents, great in
the sight of the Lord" and instru-
mental in turning many of the chill
dren Of Israel to the Lord"
Such life is worthy of emulation
on the part Of every young man and
woman. What is the secret of it?
Undoubtedly, fine Christian parent
age had much to do with it. We
note that God began preparing this
great character generation before
he was born. Other elements also
entered in, such as rearing and
training, but most important of all
was the fact ". 15) that he was not
to be driven by the false stimulants
Of this world, but by the milling Of
the Holy Spirit Of God. No wine
nor strong drink" but being filled
with the Holy Ghost'-there, young
people, Is the secret Of a happy and
useful life.
ii. Normal luke 2:40).
These words stress the fact that
Jesus developed normally-physical-
ly, mentally, and spiritually. Let us
emphasize the need Of letting chill
dren develop and grow normally, for
we live in day of constant high
pressure, when even the life of a
child is not permitted to grow in its
God-intended peace and according
to the normal processes Of nature.
Give your boys and girls time, and
encourage them to grow normally.
Obviously, the use Of strong drink
can only hinder. make abnormal, or
destroy such normal growth. Let's
rule it out altogether and let our
people grow and wax strong in the
Lord.
III. Well-Balanced (4:4; 6:2l, 25).
Making life is more important
than making a living. The bread of
this world is not enough; we must
have the satisfying portion of fellow
ship with God. This we find in His
Word. Nothing material, social or
mental will fully satisfy the soul Of
man. His heart cries out for a mes
sage from God.
Intoxicants make men to laugh
when they ought to weep, give them
a false satisfaction which is followed
by an inexpressible hunger. They
are unbalanced individuals.
Why not be among those who,
knowing God and His Word, are in
telligent enough to laugh at the right
time, weep at the right time, and
who know how to choose that which
truly satisfies for time and eternity.
Nv. fundamentally Right (6:43-
45).
There is a false optimism which
would have us think we can sow to
the wind and avoid reaping the
whirlwind. Men are encouraged to
think they can waste their time and
their substance. taking irto their
bodies the destructive elements of
intoxicating liquors. and somehow
come out all right. Young people
are lured by clever advertising to
think 1t is socially correct and smart
to indulge, and that there win be no
evil effects. Such an obvious false
hood should not fool any keen young
man or woman.
The roots Of an evil life bring forth
corruption, for the heart of man
who follows after sin cannot bring
forth that which Is good. The kind
Of q person you are in your heart,
the things you do when no one sees,
the seeds you SOW in indulgent and
prohigate living = these determine
character and destiny for time and
eternity.
Just so, fine, noble and upright
thoughts and actions will bring forth
gloriously fine and useful lves--a
delight to God and man-well-bal-
anced = normally developed = not
only without a regret at the end of
LIES road, but finding there Gods
approval.