THE KING’S BUSINESS
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years that system has dominated in Mexico, Central America and South Atnerica— countries without a Bible. What is the fruit? Nothing but leaves. Put the test to your own life. Are you a nominal Chris tian or a fruit-bearing branch of the Christ Vine ? "The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner.” The golden text suggests the heart of this lesson. The whole theme is centered in the reception or rejection of Jesus Christ. The King Was in their midst. He had accred ited Himself by signs and wonders. He had filled the outline given in the Old Test ament by His own word and works. Yet they refused to accept His testimony and rejected His person. What is remarkable here is the fact that our Lord compels the chief priests and elders to pronounce judg ment upon themselves and condemn them selves to utter destruction. “What will He do unto those husbandmen?” Answer—He will miserably destroy those wicked men, verses forty and forty-one. They were builders of a spiritual temple, but they had T^JOTHING but leaves; the spirit grieves Over a wasted life. Sins committed while conscience slept; Promises made, but never kept; Hatred, battle, and strife— Nothing but leaves. Nothing but leaves: no garnered sheaves Of life’s fair ripened grain; Words, idle words, for earnest deeds. We sow our seed—lo! tares and weeds. Go reap with toil and pain Nothing but leaves. Lesson VII.—August 16, 1914 Golden Text,—Matthew 21:442.
omitted, disregarded, rejected the one es sential stone which was designed to hold together the structure. The person of our Lord was mean in their sight. When they saw Him, there was no beauty in Him. He made Himself of no reputation; took upon Him the form of a servant. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death (Phil. 2:718). The low estate of Christ was a stumbling block. David, the anointed king of Israel, was rejected but God lifted him up and made him the head of the corner. So God exalted Christ far above all principalities and powers and hath given Him a name which is above every name. The sin of sins is the rejection of Jesus Christ. Whenever the Gospel reaches a man, it becomes hence forth a prime factor in his life. He can never be the same man again. There is a compelling power in the Gospel; it is of God. No man can ever forget it, nor evade it. He must either be broken by its power and yield to its entreaties or be crushed for ever beneath its weight. So the cross of Christ becomes to all who hear its message a stepping stone by which they enter the gates of glory or a stumbling stone over which they fall into hell. “But unto you that believe He is precious." Nothing but leaves: memory weaves No veil to sever the past; As we return our weary way, Counting each lost and misspent day, We find sadly, at last, Nothing but leaves. And shall we meet the Master so, Bearing our withered leaves? The Saviour looks for perfect fruit: We stand before Him, humbled, mute, Waiting the word He breathes— “Nothing but leaves.”
Nothing But Leaves
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