574
T H E
K I N G ’ S
B U S I N E S S
September 1924
V. 5. The commission was at this time to Israel alone. The middle wall of partition was NOT YET broken down (Eph. 2:13-17). After the cross the commission widens (Acts 1 :8 ).— Torrey. V. 7. They were to live as guests in selected dwellings, two in one, and two in another, for a time, and their preach ing would take the form of familiar conversation on what they had seen and heard Jesus do and say.— Expositor’s Greek Test. “ These twelve Jesus sent forth.” It is very significant that “ these twelve” were among those to whom He had said: /“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few ; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into his harvest” DEVOTIONAL (Matt. 9:37, 38). We can not truly pray COMMENT for laborers to be sent forth (and not to J.. A. Hubbard really pray thus is to disobey Him) unless we ourselves are willing to be sent forth. “Here am I; send George,” is the thought and attitude of many, even if they do not say the words. If we are parents, we can not really pray Him to send laborers into His har vest, if we are not willing that our children be sent. It is said that in answer to an earnest appeal made by a pastor for volunteers for the field, his own daughter responded; whereupon the minister exclaimed: “Oh, daughter, I didn’t mean you.” We should feel highly honored of God when He calls us or our children into His service; and should do all we can to help rather than hinder the carrying out of His good, acceptable, and perfect will. We need not shrink back from answering His call for service because of our unfitness or insufficiency, for in these twelve chosen for the high office of Apostles we have strik ing examples of the truth stated in 1 Cor. 1:26-31. “Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called : But God hath chosen the foolish things of this world, to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound thé things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which art not, to bring to nought things which are.” Even the mighty servant Paul, with his great natural ability and superb training could honestly say: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as of our selves; but our sufficiency is of God. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Cor. 3:5, 6). As we study the characteristics of the twelve men whom Jesus chose and sent forth, we are struck with the great variety o t instruments of which He makes use. No two were alike, and each had his own work to do. As believers, we are members of His body, each having a specific function to perform. (See 1 Cor. 12:12-27). It should be our chief concern to be in complete subjection to Him, our glorious Head, moving according to His dictates. Then shall our lives be blest, others will be blest through us, and He will be glorified. Jesus Chooses Twelve Friends Matt. 10:1-8. Memory Verse.— “ Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matt. 10:8. Approach.— Show the children a candle, and if possible an electric bulb. Jesus said that whoever believed on Him should become a help, comfort and blessing to others. Is
this unlighted candle Or bulb of any use as it is? No, it can help no one. I might hold it in my ELEMENTARY hand in a dark room, but it would not Mabel L. Merrill help me to see. But let me light it, or turn on the electric light and how dif ferent it will be! When Jesus comes into our hearts he brings light and joy and peace. He shows us where to go and what to do. His Holy Spirit in the heart is like the electric current, He gives light and power so that we are strong and full of courage to do His will. His Spirit fills our hearts with Jesus’ love so that it is a great privilege and joy to work for Him. Prayer. Lesson Story.— Thelma, do you know of any sickness that no doctor can cure? Leprosy. Tell us about the leper in our story last week. What did we learn that leprosy was like? Yes, it is like sin, because it causes death if not cured, and there is only one person who can cure, and that one is Jesus. In some of the places the people would not believe that Jesus was God’s Son, even though He did many things that proved He was more than man, by the many miracles He did. There are many people in the world today who will not believe in Jesus. Then, in some of the towns, the people believed and many followed after Him. Jesus loved and felt sorry for the sick and suffering, people as they thronged about Him for help, but sometimes He had to rest a little while by Him self. After a while the Lord Jesus went away into a moun tain, where he could have a quiet place, and a chance to speak with those that He wished to have come close to Him. There it was that He Chose twelve men, and gave them the place of very close, special friends. The place of these twelve men was near Jesus, that they might hear His- words, .see his face, and learn of Him. He wanted them first of all to be with Him, that He might send them out to preach the good news of the gos pel. He would give them power to do some of the wonder ful things that He, Himself, had done. This would show that Jesus Himself had chosen them and had sent them out. When Jesus was on the earth he could only be in one place at a time/ He wished to send out these twelve friends, or disciples, so that the good news might be told in several places at the same time. Now these friends Jesus chose had names, and I know you all want to learn their names. It will be real easy to do so by teaching you this little song. “ Jesus had disciples twelve, and the Bible tells their names; First the fishers four he called, Peter, Andrew John and James. Phillip and Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the less, Thad'daeus and Simon too, Judas then so traitorous.” (The above words sung to following tune, (key of C.) GGEGCAG, FFDFAGE: GGECDCA, BBAGCDC.) How many of you like this song? I knew you would love to know the names of these special friends of Jesus, or dis ciples, for we will meet them all up- in Heaven, except Judas, who would not let Jesus come into his heart, and became a traitor. Now boys and girls, who will tell the glad news of the gospel now, since Jesus and the disciples are in heaven? Those who belong to Jesus. Yes, we are the ones to tell out the glad news to all we meet. What a beautiful work He has given us to do. Are we faithful in telling others of Jesus?
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter