Because Paul had let his light shine before the Ephesian elders, he could say, “ Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men” (Acts 20:26). We, as Christians, should be careful to have a steady true light, as did Paul, telling others constantly of Christ.
Rev. Elmer L. Wilder
Illustrated by Gladys Bowman
Mar. 16, 1952 G u id in g t o G o d
Mar. 2, 1952 G iv i n g a n d G l a d o r S e l f is h a n d S a d Objects: Two large rubber bands. (Put one in a slow oven until the elas ticity is killed.) Lesson: These two rubber bands look very much alike, but they are very dif ferent. A rubber band, to be useful, has to be willing to give. One of these bands does give, but the other refuses to give. We often find Christians who are just like these bands. Some remember the words of Paul in Second Corinthians 9:7: “ God loveth a cheerful giver,” and they give freely. Others are selfish and refuse to give.
Mar. 9, 1952 F l a s h i n g o r F a i t h f u l
Objects: A magnet, a large nail, a medium sized nail, a small nail, a pic ture of a home, a picture of a church and a red cross. (Mount the two pic tures on cardboard. Hide the cross be hind the church.)
Objects: Two electric bulbs. (On one paint a red cross. When connecting the other to the current, insert a current breaker, such as is used bn Christmas tree lights. This can be secured at a variety store.) Lesson: There are more lights on the streets of our cities than ever before in the history of our nation. In thinking of lights, it is well for us to remember what the Lord Jesus, the Light of the world, said about light. In Matthew 5:14,16, we read His words to His fol lowers: “Ye are the light of the world . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” One of these lights reminds me of those who hear and obey these words of Christ. This first one has a red cross and burns steadily. The second is like a disobedient person—it has nothing to remind you of Christ, and it lives a flashy life. Besides letting people see our good works, we •should let them see our Christ, just as this first bulb reveals a cross. Lost souls are dying without the Saviour because they do not know of Christ’s power to save. They may never know, unless we let our light shine for Him. This other bulb is not steady in giv ing its light. It attracts attention to itself and not to the cross of Christ. This bulb reminds me of the Apostle Paul on every occasion. At one particu lar time when he was speaking to the Ephesian elders as recorded in Acts 20:24, “ But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to tes tify the gospel of the grace of God.”
Lesson: These nails are so much like three people mentioned in the Bible-that I have named them after those people. Perhaps if I were to tell you who the smallest nail represented, you would be able to guess the names of the others. But first let me tell you that this large magnet represents the power of God. On one end of the table there is a home, and on the other end a church. The church is a good one, because it has a red cross, speaking of the gospel of Christ. The magnet touches the big nail, and the big nail touches the next in line, which in turn touches the small one. See, the power of God, working through the two larger nails, is taking the small nail from the home to the church where the gospel of Christ is preached. Now let me tell you that the small nail represents Timothy. Of whom do the others remind you? “ Timothy’s mother and grandmother.” Yes, doubtless, Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, were used of God to bring Timothy to a saving knowledge of Christ, for we Have Your Eyes Examined Now! DR. W. LA VERN SALTER DR. JOHN WM. SALTER Optom etrists 226 Story Bldg., 610 So. Broadway Los Angeles 15, Calif. TUcker 4855 Serving Bible Institute students and instructors since 1926
A little girl who could not yet talk plainly once tried to say, “ God loveth a cheerful giver,” and instead of saying “ cheerful” she said “ tearful.” There are many who act as though they thought God loved the tearful givers rather than the cheerful givers! This first rubber band gives willingly. When I try to stretch the other one, it breaks in pieces. I am reminded of Barnabas in our lesson this morning, who was willing not only to give of his money, but of himself as well. He was willing to help forward the work of the Lord in any way he could and gave willingly. Ananias and Sapphira, two other members of the early church, pretended as if they were giving wil lingly and giving all, but they were not. Their lives remind me of this sec ond rubber band which breaks in pieces when you try to make it give. God is pleased with our lives when we are cheerful givers, giving of our lives and our means to further the work of Christ. F E B R U A R Y , 1 9 5 2
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