THE K I NG ' S BUS I NES S
September, 1935
341
full of water colored with black ink. Fin ish filling with red gasoline. Clear gaso line may be colored with bulletin red, ground in oil, a color for paints. The head on this jar will be red, and the heart black.) Lesson: These two jars look very much alike, with the exception of the heads and hearts. They remind me of two kinds of people who attend church. (A lighted flashlight back of the jars will give better visibility.) As God looks at people who have heard about Christ’s death on the cross for them, He sees them in the same condition as you see these jars. The heart in this jar is black, while the head is red. It reminds me of people who have in the head the knowl edge of Christ’s cleansing blood, but have never received it into the heart. Many of you boys and girls have the knowledge in your head that Christ “was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our Lesson Text: Jer. 1:6-10; 26:8-15. Golden Text: “Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I com mand thee thou shalt speak” (Jer. 1:7). Outline and Exposition I. T he C hoice of J eremiah ( 1 :6). T he opening verses of this chapter should be considered as one thinks of God’s choice of Jeremiah. Jere miah had been known, sanctified, and or dained by the Lord even before his birth (vs. 4, 5). Some people do not like to con template the foreknowledge and foreor dination of God in dealing with His own, but without such foreknowledge and fore ordination, none would ever enter the Lord’s service (cf. 2 Tim. 2:19; John 10: 14, 26, 27; Eph. 1:4; John 17:11; 6 :37, 44). Having chosen men by sovereign grace, the Lord sanctifies them, or sets them apart, or separates them to the particular place and service for which He has chosen them (cf. 1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 1:7; Jude 1; 1 Cor. 1: 30; Rom. 7:18). And having sanctified, He then ordains, or, as the root of the verb indicates, he “gave” Jeremiah to be a prophet (v. 4). As a gift from-God, the prophet speaks to those to whom he is sent (cf. John 17:18; 20:21; Acts 1:8; John 15:27). But alas! The prophet is not al ways appreciated as being a gift from God. The natural hesitancy to step into the place which the Lord indicates is seen by Jeremiah’s answer to the call. Jeremiah felt he was but a child; he could not speak for God; hence, he would hold back from fulfilling the Lord’s purpose. Such treat ment of a call from the Lord is always presumption. The ability and fitness to BLACKBOARD LESSON
iniquities,” but you have never allowed His blood to cleanse your heart. Your head may know about His death for you, but if your heart has not been cleansed, it is still as black, in the sight of God, as this heart. When we look at the heart in the other jar, we see that it is red, reminding us of the blood of Christ which cleanses the heart from all sin. The head on this jar is clear. It is like people who, having heard the truth of Christ’s death, do not keep that knowledge in their heads only, but allow it to cleanse their hearts. A per son’s head is not clear until his heart has been cleansed by Christ. Let’s shake this jar and see whether we can change it. No, it still has a clear head and a clean heart. If a person has accept ed Christ as Saviour, his head will be clear and his heart cleansed by the blood of Christ, and no amount of shaking will change him. serve the Lord is never found in the one who is chosen, but in the One who chooses, that is, in the Lord Himself. God is ever calling, and the called are ever holding back. Those who fail to respond willingly come to know little or nothing of the sovereign choice, the full sanctifica tion, and the high place to which God calls. II. T he C ommission for J eremiah (1:7-10). Brushing aside Jeremiah’s objections, the Lord said: “Thou shalt go . . . thou shalt speak.” The place and the message were both from the Lord. Too frequently the messenger forgets that his place is not of his own choosing, and that his message is not of his own thought (cf. Matt. 28: 19; Acts 1:8; Jonah 3:1, 2). The messenger need not be afraid of the wrath of those to whom he is sent. He does not go alone; the Lord accompanies him. Jeremiah was encouraged by the ex hortation and the promise: “Be not afraid. . . . I am with thee to deliver.” It is cer tain there will be opposition from the world, but just as surely there will be the fellowship with the Lord who sends. The unanimous testimony of the Lord’s ser vants, especially missionaries, is that the Lord never seemed so near them as He did in times of danger (cf. Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5, 6). The messenger will be empowered. Jere miah testified that the Lord put forth His hand and “touched my mouth” (v. 9). When the Lord’s hand' touches human lips, the messenger is ready—without fear of man’s wrath or hope of man’s favor—to declare all that God would have him speak (cf. Psa. 40:3; 50:15; Acts 3:4-9; 4:1-4). Moreover, the messenger will have a clear message®*And the Lord said. . . . , Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (v. 9). How wonderful it is,that human lips may speak forth the very words of God! We are to give, not our thoughts but divine truths, not our science but Scripture, not our reasonings but the Lord’s words (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2; Acts 8:4; John 17:8; 12:49, 50). Finally, the messenger will have a spe cial purpose (v. 10). His work will be both destructive and constructive. He will be pulling down and building up, rooting out and planting. The wrong must be. cast out, and the right must be established;
It Was Because He Loved “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was” (John 11:5, 6). • It was because He loved! The cloud of sorrow dark and darker grew, The sisters thought of former days and knew When He would come—their loving trusted Friend — This strange disease would quickly have an end. Because He loved, He stayed away, His tender heart was saddened, too, that day. It was because He loved! They sent Him-word, and then sat down to wait, . He’d come to them, for them He’d not be late. The hours passed and still no word from Him, Small wonder that with tears their eyes grew dim. Because He loved, He stayed away, It seemed their anguished hearts would break that day. It was because He loved! The sor’owful watchers by the lonely tomb • Had neither light nor love to pierce their gloom. For strangers He had come and quickly healed, For them —no word—for them His lips were sealed. Because He loved, He stayed away. He shared their grief and tears with them that day. It was because He loved! Ah, sisters sad, for you a greater boon! Healing for them, for you — AN EMPTY TOMB! Would you have missed the sight that met your eyes, When He, the Lord of Life, bade Las’rus rise? Because He loved,He stayed away, He wished to grant a resurrection day! It is because He loves! Perhaps you, too, have prayed and prayed in vain, No answer to your cry He seems to deign. But faint not, He has heard, ’twill not be long, Your heart’s deep cry will change to viefry song! Because He loves, He bids you wait, He hears, He answers, and He’ll not be late. -—A lice E. S herwood .
OCTOBER 13, 1935 THE STORY OF JEREMIAH J eremiah 1:1-10; 6 :10, 11; 8:18; 26:1-24; C hapters 36, 37, 38
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