LESSON: There is a candle burning back of this cardboard, although you do not see the least bit of light from it. There is a way in which you can see the light without moving the candle, the cardboard, or yourselves. We will use this strange-looking mir ror. All you see of the mirror is a heart and feet. The heart is clear and reflects the light, but the feet are dirty and cannot reflect the light. This mirror reminds me of Peter when Christ wanted to wash his feet. He did not understand what Christ meant. When Peter refused, Christ
March 28, 1954 F riend to t h e E nd
OBJECT: A piece of paper 8 V 2 x 11 inches. (Fold each end to within inch of the middle, leaving a gap of 14- inch. In this space print the word “FRIENDS.” Open the flaps, and us ing the letters in the word “FRIENDS”, complete the following words, “SINFUL CHILDREN, SIN FUL MEN, SINFUL LADIES and LOST.” Color both sides of the flaps red, and fold them back before be ginning the lesson.) LESSON: This is a rather sad-looking piece of paper. It must be represent ing the condition of people before Christ came into the world. We read, “SINFUL CHILDREN, SINFUL MEN, SINFUL LADIES, LOST.” All people were lost, and that is the rea son Christ came and died on the cross, in order that they might be saved. There is only one thing to do when we realize that all people are sinful. We should tell them about Jesus and His power to save them and to take away their sins. You will notice that the flaps on this piece of paper are red, remind ing us of the blood of Christ which was shed on the cross for sinners. We will fold these flaps over the sinful men, women and children, and see what happens. We no longer see sinful beings, but we now see the word “FRIENDS.” Jesus once said, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatso ever I command you” (John 15:14). Another of God’s commands is found in Acts 16:31, “Relieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” People living today, who realize that they are sinners, should accept Christ as a personal Saviour, allow His blood to cover and cleanse their sins, and then, like the people of old, they will become the FRIENDS of Christ. Under the Parsonage Roof A New Baby Mrs. Althea Miller (see column at right) recently gave birth to her ninth child, a son, Mark Fremont. Mrs. Miller is the wife of a Brethren minister in Roanoke, Va. (For more about the Millers see Aug. King's Business, page 49.)
M ama, take me to the store with you, please, Mama . . .” ‘Can I go, too, Mama? I’ll help you carry the groceries . . .” And so down the line . . . Sharon, Paul Kent, Althea (ages 6, 4, 2), along with nine-year-old Dorotheann to help care for them. Mr. Storeman noticed us all troop into his store. “Is this col lection yours?” My mama smiled and said, “This is half of them but they are not a collection . . . they’re my offering.” Mr. Manager was puzzled a bit. “What’s wrong with collections? Don’t they help pay preachers’ sal aries?” This was Mama’s opportunity to explain. “A collection is most oft en a gathering of what’s left over, if there is anything. Or a giving of what one thinks he can spare. An offering is a presentation of one’s best with no thought as to any sacrifice involved. An offering comes from the heart of love; it could not be given grudgingly.” “Sounds good, Mrs. Miller. I never thought .of giving to my church in that light. You talk as though you believe that Christians should give to the Lord rather than to the church.” “That’s the idea,” Mother re plied. “An offering even of small amount, •substance or life, given to the Lord out of a heart of love will be multiplied to greater fruit than a collection of millions.” I couldn’t follow all this any longer so I sat down to color with Althea. That’s why I like this store. When the storeman came by he ruffled my hair and asked: “Are you going to be a preacher like your daddy when you grow up? Your mommie just -told me she wants all her children to serve the Lord.” I told him: “I’m going to blow a horn like Bob (16-year-old broth er) and preach for Jesus, too. Why don’t you preach for Jesus?” He didn’t answer, but as he walked away I heard him say: “Remark able family. Maybe a big family isn’t such a headache after all.”
said: “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” Then Peter was willing, and said: “Not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said: “He that is washed [R.V., “bathed] needeth not save to wash his feet.” Peter did not need to be converted again, but only to be cleansed from the defilement of the day. In Palestine, a servant washed the feet of the guests as soon as they arrived, just as we offer to take our guest’s hat and coat. The people wore sandals without stockings, and their feet became dusty as they walked along the roadway. Coming in close and frequent contact with the earth, their feet needed to be washed often. Among other things, Christ was teaching Peter that he would need frequent cleansings as he came in contact with the world. Christ had in mind the times when Peter’s thoughts would be unclean because of unclean words he would hear. He was also thinking of Peter’s tongue and the times it would speak unkind or unclean things. Not only did Christ want Peter to be clean in order that Peter might have fellowship with Him, bu,t He knew also that unless the uncleanness of the world were washed away, Pe ter would not be able- to reflect the light to a dark world. I will take this damp cloth and wash these feet, and I want you to notice how clearly they then reflect the light. We should ask Christ to cleanse us each day from the defile ment of the world, in order that we may have fellowship with Him, and reflect the light to those who are in darkness.
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