Arkansas State press., 1945-01-19
STANDARDS OF THE KINGDOM


LESSON Matthew 1910, 43'4a,
GOLDEN TExT-Blessed are they
which are prosecuted for righteousness
sake for theirs is the kingdom Of heav.
en.-Matthew $40.
A kingdom must have laws, and
here we have the laws for Christi
kingdom-the kingdom of heaven
which He shall one day establish on
this earth. In the Church we have
the Joy Of living as loyal subjects of
Christ, and hence these standards
are for our counsel and guidance.
The verses of this greatest of all
discourses are addressed to those
who have actually taken Christ as
King of their lives. These beatl-
tudes are not a substitute for the
gospel. They are not laws that the
unbeliever can keep and thus be
saved for this would be utterly inn
possible. Only he who knows and
has called upon the power and grace
of God in Christ can qualify to walk
as a citizen of christ's kingdom.
We note two things in this won
derful and instructive passage from
Gods Word.
I. The Character of the Follower
of Christ wv. 3-l0).
The eight characteristics of the
Christian here presented are worthy
of extended individual attention. but
we can offer only brief suggestions.
Blessed are the poor in spirit
speaks Of humility as a commend
able quality How contradictory the
present-day philosophy, which calls
for self-assertion and self-reliance.
But Jesus was not mistaken. The
way into the kingdom Of heaven is
not that of assertive self-sutliciency.
Blessed are they that mourn. "
The world does not believe that
statement. 1t shuns the house of
mourning. 1t tries without avail to
philosopher away the fact of sor-
row. The Christian. on the other
hand, feels with his fellow man and
shus receives a blessing. One can
really learn from sorrow.
I walked a mile with Pleasure:
She chartered all the way,
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
| walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne'er word said she;
But oh, the things l learned from hel
When Sorrow walked with me.
BLESSED are the meek" Povert,
Of spirit comes when a man right,
sees himself. and has sympathetic
touch with sorrow. Then he lin
herits the EARTH" because he tru
" comes to enjoy it as a place o
service and Christian growth, ant
not because he has deed to sin
gle foot Of Its soil.
TT is the hunger and thirst fo1
righteousness ". 81, and not thu
possession of it, that is blessed
(Plummer). Self satisfied people
know nothing of the glory OF having
their hunger and thirst satisfied b,
God.
We have here also the Christian
spirit of mercy which invites divin'
mercy; a purity OF heart, cleannes
Of mind, and sincerity OF purpose
which enable a man really to Sc
God even in this impure world; tina
Ehristlke spirit which makes him
peacemaker in a fighting world
res, that spirit which makes hin
ike the Master in sweetly bearin
lmjustihed persecution These in
deed are the marks OF the man VIII
follows Christ as King.
II. The Conduct of the Follower @
Christ wv. 43-48).
There can possibly be no more sc
we're test OF a man. Christian char
acter than the manner in which h
sreats his enemies. Many who pas
The other tests meet failure Cat leas
in parO at this point.
Il Is no easy thing to love you
I enemies, but it is the standard c
Christ, and He win enable us to liv
up TO it, Now is a good time t
put II into practice not only PEI
3onally, but nationally.
There can be no doubt that low
Tor the brethren will be more int
nate and satisfying experience be
cause they return our affection "
.g> Anyone can do that and enio
q. Enemies often return hatred 70
o sur loyc~-they persecute us w. al
But we are still 20 love them
/ That love must move us to trea
hem kindly ana to pray for then
Someone says, 1t can't be done
Yes, it can by the grace Of God i
I Christ, and it is being done
We need to exercise care lest W
/ iall into the easy habit Of speakin
with derislOn or scOrn Of the VI
/ cody that wicked, dissipate
aeighbor who hangs around tavern
and other questionable places. Ii
rs never condone their sin--that W
should hate-but may God help US I
love them and lead them 10 Chris
This lesson is indicated as bein
temperance lesson, The applies
zion can only be made Indirect.
but II may have value The use {