Junior Endeavor Topics By J. H. S.
selfishness, envy and distrust; and the great nations on earth are at this time fighting and killing one another in the most wicked and awful war that ever was. But Jesus is coming again and there shall be peace on earth and good will among men. Sunday, December 20— Luke 2:7-14. A New Year’s Text-Motto ( new year ’ s meeting ) 1. The Use of a Motto-Text. Every Junior would do well to choose a text for the coming year. We should seek to live a better and higher life next year than in the past. A chosen text will prove a great help to such as really try to realize it in prac tice. We may write it at the beginning of the new page number 1915, and try to imi tate it as we do an example in a copy book. Or we may set it before the eye as we make, a mark to for a longer jump. 2. A Life Motto. The text of today Paul seems to have made his life text. The marK he set before him was to fulfill the work to which Christ had called him. He made the "one thing," the first thing at all times to reach it as a runner to get a prize. What better text could one have than that? What I will venture to call the motto-text of the Lord Jesus was very much the same. It may be found in Psalm 40:8, or Hebrews 10:7. How would you like that? Both Paul and Jesus succeeded in living up to the text, for Paul at last won the prize (2 Tim. 4:7, 8) and the Lord said, "7 have finished the work thou gavest me to do” (John 17: 4). I have had1a motto-text of mine framed in my study for forty years. You can find it in John 2:5—Do you not think it a good one? 3. How to Choose a Text. It is well to have a text that fits yourself: Your particu lar fault—your besetting sin. (Heb. 12:1). Are you stingy? (Acts 20:35, last clauses). Are you ignorant of Scripture ? (John 5 :39). Are you neglectful of prayer? (1 Thess. 5:17). Would you be a winner of souls? (Prov. 11:30). Would you grow in grace? (Prov. 4:18 or 2 Peter 3:18).
Sunday, December 20.—Phil 3:13. “Good Will Toward Men” (CHRISTMAS MEETING) 1. God’s Good Will. When Jesus was born the whole world was ignorant of the true God. They thought that God was like themselves^—selfish, partial, hateful and cruel. The Jews should have known better, for they had the knowledge of God in their Bible, but it had not got into their hearts. They thought they were God’s favorites among all peoples, that He was fond of them and hated, as they did, the rest of mankind. Jesus came into the world not alone to die for men’s sin, but to make them know that “God is love,” that He loves all men but hates all sin, for it is just the opposite to love. God has good will toward all men. And His good will can be seen in Jesus (for what Jesus is God is) and in the good that He wills that we should do. You can find wonderful proof of God’s good will in John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:4-8. 2. We learn from the Bible that heaven is peopled with countless holy beings called angels. We learn, too, that though we can not see them nor know what is going on among them they can see us and know what goes on here, and delight to come and min ister to us (see 1 Peter 1 :10-12; Heb. 1 :14; 2 Kings 6:14-17). In our verses we see that they knew the Christ had come, the proof of God’s good will toward men and the reason why there should be good will among them. In this the angels showed their good will to men. So we see that all heaven loves and sympathizes with us. 3. Man’s Good Will. It is nearly 2000 years since the angels proclaimed God’s will that we should live in peace and good will. How is it with men on the earth ? Many have learned to show the kindness of God to one another; they have learned to for give one another, to love their enemies; they have established numberless charities,' •hospitals, orphanages, helps for the poor and outcasts, and, above all, missions for spreading the glad Christmas story. But on the other hand, the most are still living in
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