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THE KING ’S BUSINESS
Sunday, April 12 Why I Am Glad to Be Alive —Eccles. 11:9; Rom. 8:11
ing are due to appetite. If it were not for hunger and thirst we should not seek our food, nor enjoy it if we had it. . A man without appetite is sick. Said one to a beggar, “ You have an appetite, but no din ner; I have dinner, but no appetite; you are better off than I am.” 2. The More Blessed Appetites. It is a low order of creature that is satisfied with food and drink. Paul speaks of men “ whose God is their belly” (Phil. 3:19). There is food for (1) the Mind.- We may hunger and thirst for knowledge, that is a good appetite, and we should, if necessary, eat less that we may know more. There is (2) the Heart. W e are hungry for love, “a little bit,” but, better, a great deal of love. And (3) the Soul. It is soul appetite Jesus speaks of. Blessed is the one whose soul is hungry and thirsty for righteousness. Then one is "in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3*John 2). His conscience is hungry to "Get right with God;’’ his mind to know “the truth ¡¡” his heart for the love of God (Rom. S:5) ; his whole being for virtue, purity, faith, hope and love. It is of all this that the Bible speaks (Isa. 55:1; Job 23:12; John 4:34). 3. “ Filled.” Thank the Lord again, for He has given no appetite without its satisfaction. If there is hunger or thirst, there is food and drink. Righteousness is provided in Jesus (Rom. 3:22), and in “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11). Jesus is our bread (John 6 :4) ; the Spirit our drink (John 7:37, 39) ; , so is the Bible (Matt. 4 :4 ). God gives the Son, the Spirit, the Word to them that hunger for righteous ness, 4. Have You This Hunger? A fable tells That the lion gave a feast and invited the beasts. He killed an ante lope and laid it before them. The ass had no appetite for such royal food and said, “Have you ho grains?” God’s best things do not satisfy worldly natures. There is a good prayer in Proverbs 30:8; and the best thing to seek in Matthew 6:33.
1. The Wonder of Being Alive. Wonder, (1) a lew days ago and you and I had never been seen, heard or thought of in all the wide world; ( 2 ) yet here we are! having come out of nowhere (but n o ; out of the hand and heart of God—Ps. 100: 3; 139:14-17); (3) a few days more and (unless Jesus comes—1 Thess. 4:13-19) we shall not be (here), the places that know us now shall know us no ■more forever” (Job. 20:9). What do you think we are alive for? (Eccles. 12:13; Rev. 4:11; Rom. 14:7). 4. Why Are You Glad to Live? Let the leader elicit answers, comment on them, and show that the most joyous life is in joy in God, and giving joy to others. 5. The Joy of Living Forever. How would you answer Job (14:14)? What proof have we (2 Cor. 15 :l- 8 ; John 11:25). How do we know that our bodies will be as real as now? (Luke 24:36-43). Since once we lived not, but now live, is it so strange that we should live again? If you enjoy life now, would you not en joy it to live forever? Will it be. more joyous to live then? Why? How about yourself? (1 Tim. 6:12). Sunday, April 19 The Bible Men and Women I Want to Imitate—Heb. 12:1 1. Imitation. See that the Juniors know the meaning of “ imitate.” Illustrate it. A little boy put on his father’s coat and hat. The moth er laughed heartily but the father was very sober for, he said, “ The boy I see is going to imitate me; see how he walks as I' do; oh, how carefully I shall have to live.” 2. Who Are the .Bible Men and Women? Ask the children to name some of them. Write the names on the blackboard. Now ask one and another which they wish to be like. Then why.? what did such a one say or (Concluded on page 179)
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