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[Continued from Page 19] this point draw to the right to within 1 Inch of the right side; then down the right side to within an inch of th e bot tom; and then over to the starting place. This will leave an opening 4 inches deep. The corresponding opening for the up per part-of the “B” will be 1% inches deep. Round the comers on the right side, and make a notch even with the cross bar to give more the appearance of a "B.” Cut out the two inside open ings. Color the front of thé “B” gold and the back black. Color the inside red from the top to the bottom of the oenter upright and 8 inches each way from tiie center on the middle cross bar.) LESSON: What do you think this golden "B” might stand for t We will let it remind us of the "B” of opportu nity. The world says, "Be famous, be rich, and be popular.” The Lord says, "Be saved, be happy, and be useful.” This "B” contains more than you realize. I will cut it in three places to see what is in it. [Cut the bottom bar where it joins the upright, the middle bar 8 inches from the fold, and the top bar where it joins the upright. Turn both “E’s” over, showing one to be white and1 the other black.] See, we have a red cross and two -Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples» It Is impossible bnt th a t offenses will come: bnt woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 I t were better for him th at a millstone w ere hanged about his neck, and he east into the sea, than th a t he should offend one of these little ones. 8 Take heed to yourselves: If th y brother trespass against thee, rebuke him ; and If he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven tim es in a day turn again to thee; saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 11 And it came to pass, as he w ent to Jérusalem , th a t he passed through the m idst of S am aria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain vil lage, there met him ten men th a t were lepers, which stood a fa r o ff:' . 18 And they lifted up their voices', and said, Jesus, M aster, have mercy on us. ■14, And when he saw them , he said unto them . Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it cam e . to pass, th at, as they went, they w ere cleansed. 15 And one of them , when he saw th a t he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face a t his feet, giving him thanks: and he w as a S am aritan, BLACKBOARD LESSON
please.” Our Lord Himself did not hesi tate to displease many with whom He dealt. The expression means, rather, to "cause to stumble” (cf. v. 2, R.V.), or to “awaken doubt,” In the-.mind of one who would otherwise trust the Lord. The “little ones” are those who might be shaken In their faith, or, by the words and actions of other disciples, given cause for stumbling. The guard against such offenses is that spirit of love which considers the other person rather than one’s self (cf. Rom. 13:10). Forgiveness is also exercised by ijb - * selfishness (vs. 8, 4). Forgiveness, ,fUll and free, is required of the disciples of the Lord. If a brother should' sin against one, he is to be rebuked; that is, the sin is to be brought to his atten tion, and he is tp be admonished con cerning it. Should the offender repent, forgiveness is to be granted freely and fully, irrespective of the manifestation of subsequent faults. We are to be "for giving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven” uS (Eph. 4:32). I t is the spirit of selfishness , that hinders this kind of forgiveness, and selfishness is not of God, but of the devil. H. G ratitude (11-19) Our Lord passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee on His way to Jerusalem. On the road, He was met / by ten lepers. Their disease was deep- ; seated, incurable. According to the law, these sufferers must stand afar off from other human beings. But in their help lessness they appealed to Jesus, crying out, "Have mercy on us.” That was all they asked, mercy. The words, "afar off,” speak also of the sinner’s position before God. It is the lack of rec ognition of sin that accounts for the failure to appeal to God for mercy. The Lord Jesus gave aid to the lepers a t once. No one ever cries to Him for mercy without having it supplied in fullest measure. These lepers recog nized His authority over even physical disease, they believed in His power, and they obeyed His word. These three spiritual activities combined will meet the need of every human being. One of the healed lepers turned back to give praise to Jesus for the healing (vs. T5, 16). He came to worship, and with a loud voice he glorified God. "And he was a Samaritan,” the object of de rision and scorn on the part, of the Jews, but the object of grace on the part of the Lord. The measure of our under standing of our need will be the meas ure of- our depth oft gratitude to God for the healing we receive (cf. Lk. 7: 47, 48). I t is the depth of the under standing that enhances the gift of grace. Ingratitude was revealed,by the other nine lepers (vs. 17-19). The passage implies that Jesus was surprised that only one leper returned to give Him thanks. The Lord gives the healing,
"E’s.” The cross is red, reminding us of the cross on 'which Christ shed His blood for a lost world. One of the "E’s” is white and the Cither black. They re mind us of two eternities. We will put the white one up above the cross, rep resenting the eternity of those who have been made ready for heaven by accepting Christ [Pin on a black board.] The blttek "E” reminds us of another eternity—the eternity of those who have never accepted Christ and are lo st The Lord Jesus tells us about these two eternities in Luke 16. Between them there is a great gulf fixed, so that none can cross over. We should be wise, knowing that there are two eternities, and we should make preparation for living with Christ by accepting' Him as Saviour. 17 And Jesus answ ering said, were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found th a t returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. *1!) And he said unto him, Arise, go thy w ayi thy faith h ath m ade thee whole. LESSON TEX T : Lk. 17:1-4, 11-19. GOLDEN- TEX T : “Be ye kind one to an other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake h ath forgiven you* (Eph. 4:82), i DEVOTIONAL READ ING : Psalm 100. Outline and Exposition I. F orgiveness (1-4) F o r g iv e n e s s is exercised by love (vs. 1, 2). There will always be certainty that offenses shall be given; This fact Is Inevitable, because of where and what Christians are. They are In the world, opposed by the flesh, and tempted of the devil. But the Chris tian’ must exercise care in order that offense may not be given needlessly. His thoughts must be under the Lord’s direction, and his heart must be in right condition, because out of the heart the thought comes, and behind the thought is the character. If the heart be right, the mind will be right also, and the ac tions and words will be in line with these two. Some people interpret this saying of our Lord as meaning that no displeas ure is to be given to another individual, but this seems to be an extreme view. To "offend” does not mean to " FEBRUARY 16, 1941 JESUS TEACHES FORGIVENESS AND GRATITUDE L uke 17
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