Y ou k n o w , the three words hardest to say in any language are: I am wrong. The mind is reluctant to admit the error of its conclusions. The heart rebels against higher authority. Poor Saul, his pompous journey was ended and his life’s ambitions fluttered down about him as a house of cards. Sensing the turmoil of Saul’s soul Jesus said, no doubt in tenderness, “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Now the figure is an Oriental one. The ox-driver wields a long pole at the end of which is fixed a sharpened iron with which he prods the animal. If the ox is rebellious and kicks against the goads, he will be injured and infuriated by the wounds he receives; but, if pa tient, the prodding will help him to go on his way. Now ofttimes this is a les son we must learn if we’re going to be servants of God and followers of Christ. An old salt once said to a young sea man who was rebellious, “Aboard a Man of War, son, there's just one choice — duty or mutiny.” So it is with the Gospel. Paul settled everything right there. He was Christ-conquered and what a change came! He entered Da mascus, not as a proud Pharisee, but as a stricken, blinded man, clinging to the hand of his guide. Paul never looked back when he said, “Lord what wilt thou have me to do?” He followed on to the day when the Lord called him into His presence. The real lesson of this is Paul’s obedience. As soon as he knew the Lord’s will for him, he obeyed. You know a good many of God’s professing people are children of dis obedience. I would like to have you learn, with me, some things about-people. There are four kinds of, children spoken of in
the New Testament. They are these: 1— wrath. Paul says that by nature we are all children of wrath. 2— dience about whom Paul comments as follows: “For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience” (Col. 3:6). "Horizons" How much of life we live in narrow valleys Hemmed in by self and bordered by our fear! How many hours we spend in bleak endeavor To find another Eden blooming here. When to the heights we see those footprints leading Of Him who has the power to make us whole . . . "Come up into the Mount of God," He whispers, "A n d find the far horizons of the soul." What other voice could breathe into our weakness The strength to rise as those made new again? What other name or footprint dare we follow Than His— who knows the deepest need of men? — Ruth Gibbs Zwall 3— Then there are children of the Devil who are apostate. They are never converted as far as I can find in the New Testament. They are false reli gionists. 4— A group listed as the children of We find the term, the children of There are also children of disobe
God. Here Paul describes them as “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26). That is to say those who have accepted Christ by 28
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