The next time you find yourself reading, ask yourself these questions: Is this strengthening my character, or slowly, subtly undermining it? Does this raise my ideas and sensi bilities, or does it accustom me to worldliness and sin, until I gradually lose my protest and feel that some tilings are not so bad after all? Does it make me a better Christian? In reading this am I exhibiting high standards or low standards in my mental food and entertainment? Does my choice indicate refined or cheap tastes? Is this reading leading my mind along the way of least resist ance; does it put my mental powers to sleep as a sedative, making me mentally lazy, and unfitting me for real thinking, or leave me with a little feeling of pollution, or a sense of wholesomeness and well-being? Do I feel as though I have had a mental bath or as though I needed one? Does it increase my relish for the Bible and good, solid reading, or does it dull that relish and make such reading appear tame and uninteresting? Is it the best kind of reading I could be doing at this moment? What we read mirrors our character. —From “Mountain Trailways for Youth” by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, published by Cowman Publications.
“Give attendance to reading, . . .” (I Tim. 4:13.) T e l l m e what you read, and I will tell you whether you are becom ing like the strong oak that stands deep-rooted, ready for the sudden storm, or like the flimsy tumbleweed that is rolled across the fields by every caprice of the wind. I will tell you whether you will grow as the straight, tall fir tree grows, or be like the little garden shrub that never grows at all, or never casts any cool shade. I will always know if your leaves are green and your fruit faith ful like the tree planted by the rivers of water, or dry as the sagebrush on the desert; whether you are tender and fragrant like the rose, or prickly and bitter like the thistle. When the importance of good liter ature is urged upon them, people often say, “ I just haven’t time!” Some excuse themselves in what they read by saying, “ But this is perfectly in nocent and harmless.” No doubt it apparently may be, but is it positive ly helpful? In reality much of the so- called harmless reading matter in many of our homes is harmful in the very fact that it is not helpful. It consumes quantities of time and in terest and brain room without giving much eternal quality in return.
you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” The world has witnessed many banquet scenes, but none comparable to that scene when the watching redeemed shall be made to sit down at the wed ding feast and be served by none other than the One Who loved them and gave Himself for them. In concluding, let us notice: He hath appeared to put away the pen alty of sin; He doth now appear to put away the power of sin; He shall appear to deliver from the presence of sin. Again: He hath appeared as our atonement, He doth now appear as our advocate; He shall appear in His advent. We look back to Calvary; we look up to our High Priest; we look forward to the coming King. Faith, joy and hope. He hath appeared for our justification; He doth appear for our sanctification; He shall appear for our glorification. He hath ap peared as Prophet; He now appears as Priest; He shall appear as King.
Send to Prayer Time, The King’s Business maga zine, 558 So. Hope, Los Angeles 17, California.
whose Sunday school enrollment has grown steadily from about 100 to nearly 400 in just six years.
The actual experience of Minnetonka Community Church, Minnetonka Mills, Minnesota
M r. Robert Jacobson, Sunday school Superintendent says. . .
“ ...Gospel Light Lessons have stimulated a greater interest in the study of God’s Word ...” “ After carefully examining various Sunday school lessons we found that G ospel L ight ’ s complete program of closely-graded Bible lessons offered the best solution to our particular problems. I’m personally convinced that G ospel L ight Lessons have stimulated a greater interest in the study of God’s Word among all our students . . . and teacher turn-over has been virtually eliminated. “ Our Sunday school has had wonderful results since switching to G ospel L ight Lessons in 1952 —and our attendance has increased from about 100 to nearly 400.”
Mr. Robert Jacobson Sunday school Superintendent
DECEMBER, 1958
21
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker