Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1946-04-12

Friendship calls for an exchange
mot OF gifts or possessions neees-
sorily, but Of service, love and fel-
lowship.
The friends of Jesus responded to
the warmth of His affection and the
appeal of His call, and they gave
themselves In life and service to
Him.
Many In the church have forgotten
that part of the friendship of Jesus
Christ They want to count Him as
their friend, they expect much Of
Him; but they give little or nothing
in return. Their love is cold. their
service Indifferent, their witness
powerless.
Not every one OF Jesus friends
Is called to be preacher or a
teacher. He needs those who will
be His faithful followers, just liV-
ing testimony without special office
or message.
To effectively present the contrasts
Of our lesson, we have arranged
the verses in slightly different Sc
quence. Among the friends of Jesus
I. Some Became Preachers mark
1:l6-20).
These men had met Jesus before
(John 1;35-5D, but now He was
ready to call them away from their
daily occupation as fishermen and
make them fishers of men,"
Such a change was not an easy
one to make. It meant the giving up
of an established earthly calling,
place in the community, home life
and family, for the service of the
Lord. That was to bring perseeu-
ton, ridicule. poverty and loneliness.
But "straightway they forsook their
nets"
Let the members of the church
and pastors be on the alert to sense
the call of God to young men and
women to the ministry and to the
field. and then let them do
everything possible to encourage
them on their way.
ii. Others Became Followers
MARK 10: 46, So.
When Jesus came by, blind Barti-
maeus began to cry. Jesus, son Of
David have mercy on me" ". 40.
Many around him tried to hush his
voice ". 48). but he cried the more.
Through that babel Of voices
Jesus heard him. stopped and sent
for him, and healed him. The ear
of our Lord is always attuned to
hear the cry of the one In need.
and His heart Is quick to respond
to his call He can hear the cry
OF the repentant sinner through all
the confusing sounds Of our day.
Bartimaeus became a follower"
Of Jesus. He probably had no posi-
ton in the church, no call to preach,
but what a testimony he had. (cf.
John 9:25).
Jesus needs simple, steady fol.
lowers. Men and women with
plain. effective testimony Of saliva
ton. The army OF the Lord Is not
made up Of generals and officers
only Perhaps we have more OF
them than we need,
III. Some Stayed at Home MARK
5;l8-20).
This striking story Of the deliv-
erance OF the mad man shows the
Importance OF testimony at home.
The people had asked Jesus to
leave ". III because In delivering
the maniac He had caused some
swine 10 go mad and run into the
sea.
These men needed a witness, and
the most effective possible word to
them would come from the deliv-
cred demoniac. He wanted to 90
with Jesus, but at the Masters word
he stayed at home.
Il is hard to leave home and loved
ones TO 50 affair to witness for Jesus
Christ, but sometimes 1t Is easier
to speak for Him in a strange land
than a, home. Even Jesus found no
honor In His own city,
II you are called to witness for
the Lord In the small circle OF your
wn family or community. trust
God to make that word for Jesus
tremendously effective. He can do
III
~. Others Left Home and Busi.
ness Luke sgt, 28.
Levi-better known 10 us as Mat
thew was "a member OF that
dated group Of renegade Jews, who
served the Roman invader and
helped him in his cruel work OF
wringing extortionate taxes from
the people" earl l.. Douglass). AS
a result, he was rich and undoubted'
~ had a fine home and every de-
sirable material possession.
He had come TO know Jesus anc
Shen the call came suddenly to FOL
low Jesus, he did not hesitate; hi
did not stop to gather UP bill
money; he did not sell his house
but he stood up and left all, snt
followed Jesus.
II Jesus really means every
thing to a man or q woman Their
10 nothing In this world that cal
hold him back when Jesus calls
He 10 ready to 60 to the ends Q