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be “meditation”—that quiet, inward as similation of truth for one’s own sake. No Christian worker is able to function ef fectively who does not make use of his God-given opportunities to obey this in junction. “Take time to be holy”-B‘medi- tate upon these things.” Helps for the Leader I. T h e P risoner ’ s D eliverance An Englishman in a Portuguese prison, while serving a life sentence, was Visited by a fellow countryman, who subsequently sent the criminal some novels with which to relieve the monotony of his existence. These books brought him no relief, but between the leaves of one of them he found what had been left there by accident —a sermon preached by Charles Haddon Spurgeon in Exeter Hall, entitled, “Salva tion to the Uttermost.” This message was blessed to the prisoner’s soul, and on being visited by another Englishman, he sent word to Mr. Spurgeon, telling him how different things had been since his perusal of the discourse. “Give attendance to read ing” (1 Tim. 4:13), but see that that read ing is “right” (Psa. 19:8).— S elected . II. P rescribed by t h e S pec ia l ist Some years ago a lady went to consult a famous New York physician about her health. She was a woman' of nervous tem perament. She gave the doctor a list of her symptoms, and answered his questions, only to be astonished at his brief prescrip tion at the end: “Go home and read your Bible an hour a day; then come back to me a month from today.” And he bowed her out before she could protest. At first she
fish, we cannot prevent ourselves from be coming so. If they are unclean and evil, our character and conduct will inevitably be shaped by them. It is true of every in dividual that “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). Charles Kingsley declared: “Think about yourself; about what you want, what you like, what respect people ought to pay you, and then to you nothing will be pure. You will spoil everything you touch; you will make misery for yourself out of everything which God sends you; you will be as wretched as you choose on earth.” And, on the other hand, loving thoughts will produce loving acts; and a generous kindly way of regarding others in our own minds will bring us to a generous kindly treatment of them in daily life.— S elected . JUNE 28, 1936 YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR READING 1 T im o t h y 4 :1 3 -1 6 Meditation on the Lesson Paul’s first exhortation to Timothy in our passage is : “Give attendance to read ing.” ' As the injunctions following this one suggest, the reading of the Scriptures was doubtless Paul’s primary thought. And today, as then; no sounder advice can be given to any Christian than ‘“ Give atten dance’ to reading God’s Word.” The world now offers so much other material for reading that the Christian must learn to choose. As Solomon said, “Of making many books there is no end.” If he were among us today, he could say
the same concerning our newspapers and magazines. Faced with the present be wildering array of printed matter, each Christian must stop, look, choose. One test might be, “Will reading this book or magazine help me to glorify God in my body and in my spirit which are His (cf. 1 Cor. 6 :19, 20) ?” If the answer is “yes,”; then—though many will think this too ex acting a standard—it will be a worth-while book for me to read. Remember, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Returning to our Scripture lesson, we find that Paul mentions “exhortation.” Exhortation occupies a very necessary place in Christian living. We are urged to “exhort one another daily” (Heb. 3 :13), and to “be able . . . to exhort” (Tit. 1:9). Reading comes before exhortation, how ever, for we must know God’s will through His Word, and we must be able to give forth His words in humility. “Doctrine” is next in Paul’s list. Some individuals decry doctrine and say, “Don’t talk about doctrine; it is too hard and stiff and cold.” But they only display ignorance. In a living Christian faith; “doctrine” is the backbone, the spinal column. Nobody admires a jellyfish. Strong Christians give attendance “to doctrine.” -“ ‘Doctrine’’ as used in Scripture means “teaching.” Later in this passage, Paul urges: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; con tinue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” Thus we see the importance Paul placed upon doctrine. “Meditate upon these things; give thy self wholly to them.” Besides “reading,” “exhortation,” and “doctrine,” there must
America’s Neglected Childhood 27,000,000 do not attend Sunday School (two out of three); 10,000,000 of the 13,000,000 in Sunday School are never evangelized. These are the tragic facts. The sin of their neglect is upon us, His people. Matt. 18:6, 10-14. The Children’s Home Bible Class program is being used of God in a marvelous way to meet this need. It is organized in many cities, and must be extended nation-wide quickly. God has raised up “The Child Evangelism Fellowship,” in this icrisis hour. - i ---------------------------------- 4- An Appeal to the Lord’s People: Our great need just now is money to carry on this important work of evangelizing the childhood of America. We appeal to you, dear child of God, to help—and to do it now! THE CHILD EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP President—REV. PAUL W . ROOD , D.D., of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles Vice-President—REV. D. L. FOSTER , of the Moody Bible Institute General Director—REV. J. IRV IN OVERHOLTZER ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4- Send all gifts to C. B. Whitwell, Treas., 558 South Hope St., Los Angeles, Calif.
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