(2 Tim. 4:13) indicates that Paul was a student of the things of God to the very end of his life. Even while lan guishing in a damp prison he still de sired his books. Such a student of the things of God will always have a mes sage that is fresh from God’s throne. Helps for the Children The Things We Think About Acts 17:10-15; Phil. 4:8,9; 2 Tim. 2:15 Memory Verse: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report . . . think on these things” (Phil. 4:8). Paul and Silas were sent by their church to Berea to preach God’s Word. The Bereans daily searched the Scrip tures to see whether or not the things that these men taught were true. There were so many false teachers that the Bereans wanted to be certain that God’s Word was being truly preached. Two weeks ago we talked about the impor tance of studying God’s Word and hid ing it in our hearts. Last week we talked about the importance of prayer. Today we shall think of the importance of the things about which we think. All of these things go together to make a Christian life that is well pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our memory verse lists for us the things about which we should think as God’s children. It is true that we some times cannot keep impure and sinful thoughts from entering our minds and our hearts. We can, though, if we keep close to our Lord, keep these thoughts from staying in our minds and hearts. We can keep from enjoying them and causing them to stay in our lives. An ancient man said, “We cannot keep the birds from flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building nests in our hair.” So it is with our thoughts. They may enter our minds, but the Holy Spirit can quickly remove them and keep them from being enjoyable to us. As we study to show ourselves ap proved (well pleasing) unto God and pray each day, we shall find it easier to think upon the things which God through Paul commanded us to think upon. Those things that we see and hear are the things about which we think. Yield your eyes, your heart, your hands, your feet, every part of your body to the Saviour each morning, and you will find your thoughts well pleasing to Him.
Testament Scriptures to see if what had been preached to them was in accordance with the inspired record. They compared Scripture with Scripture and so arrived at the truth which satisfied their minds and hearts. Thus they merited the testi mony of being “more noble” than others who failed to possess such diligence and open-mindedness in relation to the truth. These believers provide a good example for all believers. God exhorts us to “prove all things” (1 Thess. 5:21). He does not want gullible believers who re ceive everything they hear without test ing its validity. Are you a Berean? The Exhortation of the Apostle Phil. 4:8, 9 Paul here exhorts believers to a proper thought life. “ Think on these things,” he says (v. 8). What things? Things true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report. Paul intimates that these things had been worked out in his own life, and therefore they ought to be exempli fied in the lives of all believers. Put all of these things together in their perfect expression and the face of Christ will be seen. It all adds up to this: every be liever ought to strive to be as much like his Lord now as it is possible for him to be, looking forward to that great day when the likeness shall be made com plete (1 John 3:2). Practical Commands and Teachings 1 Tim. 4:12-16 In this section of Scripture Paul the Apostle gives some sound advice to. a young man in the ministry. Timothy was told not to let any inconsistency in his living give cause for others to “ de spise” his youth. He must live above reproach. Some think that Paul meant that Timothy was not to be overcome with an inferiority complex because of his youth. No doubt both ideas are in cluded. Timothy’s life ought to be ex emplary in every respect. In plain words he is told some of the things unto which he ought to give attention. Moreover, he ought not to neglect the gift that God had given him (possibly the pastoral gift). Whatever this gift was he was exhorted to stir it up, to keep it alive, to make it useful. Then note especially the twofold exhortation of v. 16: “ Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine.’’ Before anyone can handle the Word of God with the greatest effect his life must be right. Sound doctrine needs to be backed up with sound living. An Exhortation to Study 2 Tim. 2:15; 4:13, 15 These verses teach us that God’s serv ants are expected to be students as long as they are in the service of Christ. The first passage teaches that Bible study consists in more than simple reading of the Scriptures. It includes such applica tion to the materials of the Word of God that there will be ability to present it in its right relationships and applica tions so that all of divine truth will be a glorious harmony. The second passage
Oct. 29, 1950 GROWING THROUGH READING AND MEDITATION Acts 17:10-12; Phil. 4:8,9; 1 Tim. 4:12-16; 2 Tim. 2:15; 4:13, 15 Pointers on the Lesson It has been said, “ Tell me the kind of books and magazines a man reads and I will tell you what kind of a man he is.” There is a great deal of truth to this statement. What a man reads controls his thinking and the Bible says that as a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). The lesson today stresses the importance of pondering the right kind of literature and hence the dwelling upon the right kind of thoughts. The Example of the Bereans Acts 17:10-12 Paul and Silas, in connection with the second great missionary journey, visited Berea on the Grecian peninsula. They ministered, as was their custom, in the Jewish synagogue. Here they came in contact with unprejudiced Jews who were willing to listen to the message of Christ’s ambassadors. Instead of clos ing their ears to their message they lis tened attentively. Then they unrolled their sacred scrolls containing the Old
T ffo ie BIBLE TK& te COLOR
INTEREST
S tC U tcC cV td L E S S O N S NURSERY thru ADULT New interest is shown, greater attend ance is gained, and the Bible is used, when schools begin teaching STAND ARD Craded or Uniform lessons. Ex amine Standard lesson quarterlies— weekly papers— home magazine. They are all true to the Bible, attractive, interesting, and reasonably priced. Write for Uniform or Graded samples for your department. TH E S TANDARD PUB LISH ING CO. 2 0 E. Central Parkway. Cincinnati IQ . Ohio
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online