Helps for the Children Everyone Is Important Memory Verse: (Jesus said) “ I have called you friends” (John 15:15). One day the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ asked their Lord: “ Who is great est in the kingdom of heaven?” The Saviour called a little child to Himself and told the disciples that unless they were converted and became as humble as a little child, they could not even enter the kingdom of Heaven, much less be the greatest in it! Those who hum bled themselves as a child would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven, He said. Whoever received such a little child in His name, was truly receiving Him! Those who offend or cause such a child to sin, would be better off dead than to receive the judgment of God for their sin. To show how very important each person is to our Lord, He told a story of a man who had lost one of his hun dred sheep. The man left the ninety-nine sheep in the fold and went out into the mountains to find the one that was lost. There was great rejoicing when the lost sheep was found and returned to the fold safely. The Lord Jesus said: “ Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” Sometimes those who are considered important in the eyes of men do not pay much attention to children or to those who are poor or sickly. Only those who are wealthy or influential are important to them, it 'seems. Are you not happy that we have a God, a Saviour, who loves each person in the world just as much as every other person in the world? Several times God’s Word Uses the word, “Whosoever”—that means everyone and anyone. The Lord Jesus Christ died for all and He loves all equally! Boys and girls are just as im portant in God’s sight and just as much needed in God’s work as are men and women. He answers their prayers, heals them, and helps them daily just as much as He does those who are older. If some *great” person comes to your town or into your home, you are greatly pleased if he talks with you and “ pays attention” to you. How much more pleased we should be that the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, calls us His friends, those whom He loves and for whom He cares! When an older earthly friend takes time to visit with us and be with us, we try to do something to show our love for him. Surely, our main desire after we become a child of God, should be that our every word and action, and even our every thought should be well pleasing unto Him! Page Twenty-seven
Pointers on the Lesson H omer A. K ent , T h .D.
Helps for the Children A llison A rrowood
Lesson material is based upon out lines of the International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education; used by permission.
July 1, 1951 THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL Matt. 8:1-4; 18:1-6, 12-14
to impart forgiveness and divine life to any sinner who will yield himself to Him. You will note that the Lord did not refer the poor leper to the match less sermon He had just preached (chs. 5-7) and tell him to abide by its rules and so he would gradually improve. Healing came by the direct power of the Son of God. So it is with any sinner. He receives remission of sin by the direct application of the blood of Christ to his heart and, immediately upon re ceiving Christ as Saviour, the healing virtue is realized. This is possible in the life of any sinner, for “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). Man Is Given a True Conception Of Values Matt. 18:1-6; 12-14 “At the same time” that Jesus had been talking about His forthcoming be trayal, death, and resurrection (17:22, 23), His disciples seemed to be concern ed about a selfish matter as to their relative position in the kingdom of Heav en (v. 1). They did not appear to be so very much concerned about the suffer ings of Christ. Rather, they were con cerned about themselves. “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (R.V.). It was then that Jesus set a child “ in the midst of them” (v. 2) and showed in what true greatness consists. “How does a child come into being? By being born, of course. And to enter into the kingdom of the heavens, to enjoy eternal life . . . one must be converted, turned about; one must be born again” (Eng lish). Then, too, there must be humility and dependence, such as children mani fest, ere there is any greatness in God’s sight (v. 4).
This is an introductory lesson to a series to be studied this quarter on the general subject of C H R I S T I A N TEACHING ON HUMAN RELA TIONS. This first lesson sets forth the value of the individual in the sight of God and in the light of Christ’s redemp tive work. The lesson begins with the basic fact that man was created in the image of God. Genesis 1:26,27 plainly declares this and is included in the Scripture selected for this week’s les son, though not included in the printed portion. Even though man has sinned and God’s image in him has been par tially defaced, yet God still loves him and seeks his salvation and welfare. Man’s Worth Is Without Exception Matt. 8:1-4 The Lord was willing to “ touch” even a leper (v. 3). Leprosy is a most loath some disease and men shrank from con tact with those who possessed it. Lepers were considered unclean and were com manded to cry “Unclean, unclean!” when men came into their presence so that others would not be contaminated (Lev. 13:44, 45). Yet when the Lord Jesus came in contact with the leper of our lesson He “ put forth his hand and touched him” (v. 3). We have in this incident a lesson on the compassion and power of Christ in relation to human weakness and frailty. But we also have a lesson on Christ’s willingness to save the souls of men. For leprosy in the Word is a type of sin. The leper of this story may well be considered a representation of all man kind, lost in sin, and subject to spiritual death. As the Lord responded to the leper’s petition to make him clean with a quick “I will,” so He is always ready JUNE, 1951
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