November 1931
513
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
What two interpretations may be given of the words, “the Lord’s day” ? Vs. 12-16. What is represented by the lampstands ? Show how, in the descrip tion of the Lord Jesus Christ, the words, “his hairs were white like wool,” denote perfection of wisdom ; “his eyes were as a flame of fire,” signify absolute holiness and penetration ; “his ' feet were as fine brass,” depict impartial judgment; “his voice as the sound of many waters,” ex press the almighty power of God ; “out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,” signify eternal justice and perfect exactness. Vs. 17, 18. Following this vision of the glorified Son of God, what did John do? What comforting words were spoken to him ? Into what three classifications were the scenes of the Revelation divided, and what did each include? What was John told to do? Golden T ext Illustration High up in the Alps, there is said -to be a little chapel, with some humble cottage homes nestling about it. The doorstep of the chapel has been worn hollow by the feet of generations of men and women who have gone in to seek God in the name of Jesus Christ. All the, cheer and hope and purity of their lives came from that source. And there are many such build ings, humble or grand, on the hillsides and in the valleys of earth. Acts of wor ship, in the name of Christ, and the ob servance of the Lord’s Supper are taking place on the first day of the week among all peoples. Everywhere are hospitals and asylums and loving ministries in the name of Christ. What mysterious power exalts that Name above every name? Is it not because He is God’s highest revelation to men? Through Him comes God’s touch and final word to us. He is to us, as to Tennyson—the “strong Son of God, im mortal Love.” He is the Living One, who has demonstrated the power of life over death. Memory Verse : “God himself "shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:3). Approach: Last week, our story was about Paul—how he had finished his work here on earth, and how he was ready and waiting to go to heaven to be “for ever with the Lord.” Lesson S tory : John was another of T h e Heavenly Home R evelation 21:10-23
BLACKBOARD LESSON
but no one knew that fact until He re vealed Himself. Who understands now that God is love? The heathen do not, for their gods are the personification of cruelty, hatred, and viciousness. They re quire their devotees to inflict injury upon themselves in order to appease the wrath that is to be expected. Where is the pagan god that manifests itself in love? Such a god is not to be found, because the mind of man simply refuses to recognize it. Yet even those who, for centuries, have had the revelation that God is love are frequently found lowering Him to na ture’s standard and thinking of Him as they think of any other so-called god— as the embodiment of cruelty and hatred. The most startling statement for the na tural man to hear is that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” Because God is love, He must re veal Himself. And to reveal Himself, it was necessary that He take the form of a servant and be found in fashion as a man, and dwell among us. This He did in the person of Jesus Christ, whose birth is cel ebrated at this season of the year. Verse 10 enlarges upon this thought by saying that God “loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” There were two great needs of man to be met before he could know God; first, there was the need for life, and second, there was the need for propitiation. Both these needs were fully met by the gift of God’s Son. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us.” According to the principle of natural law, God would be re quired to love us for some cause that He found in us. But before we ever heard of God or knew Him, or even before we had any inclination to hear of Him or to know Him, He loved us. And this love wherewith He loved us sprang from His very nature, which is love. What God has done for us, He has done in order to satis fy “his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins” (Eph. 2: 4, S). It was when “we were without strength” that Christ died for us, and in that death, the love of God was com mended toward us (Rom. 5:6-8). Then, being born of God, we reveal the life within, by the manifestation of love, re turning to Him the love which He pours out upon us. The life received by the saints, as the gift of God who is love, both compels and enables the saints to love. II. T he T ests (11-19). 1. The test of character (11-14). “If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” We ought to love. This is not a legal requirement, but a natural consequence. If the life is there, then love will be present. Just as one might say of a piece of machinery, if all the parts are present, if all are adjusted as they should be, if the power is supplied, then the ma chine ought to perform its proper work; that is, it is natural to expect it to do so. Just so, if God so loved us, if His life is within us, then we ought to love one another. Such action is in accordance with the nature to love. While no one has ever seen God, yet His life is manifest in every one who is born of Him, and in each one born of Him, His love abides and is perfected within (vs. 11, 12). The proof that assures us that we dwell in God and that God dwells in us is that He
anything we can even think about, and the most wonderful part of it is that we will be there forever with the Lord Jesus. We know that this is true, because the Bi ble tells us so. Do you wonder that Paul and John and the rest of the apostles were willing to suffer on this earth, when they knew that this wonderful place was waiting for them? And do you wonder that they were busy telling others about it and about how they could reach heaven? Since that time, many others have gone about telling that story. We, too, may read about it in the Bible. And then we must be God’s messengers and tell others about it. DECEMBER 20, 1931 The Supreme Gift of Love (Christmas Lesson) Lesson : 1 John 4:7-19. Golden Text: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11). * * * The main subject of the First Epistle of John is fellowship. This is set forth in a threefold way: fellowship with God who is light; fellowship with God who is righteous; and fellowship with God who is love. Our lesson is a part of the last division. I. T he T eaching (7-10). In accord with the general arrangement of the epistle, there is given, first of all, some great teaching, then follow certain tests which are to be applied to the doc trine. Here, the doctrine, or teaching, is that God is love, and the exhortation is given, “Let us love one another.” When one is born of God, the divine nature is imparted, so that the one born of Him will necessarily love. On the other hand, “he that loveth not knoweth not God.” In the days in which we live, it is not so startling to learn that God is love as it was when the words were first written.. From eternity to eternity, God is love, The Mission of Tears By F. H oward O akley Yes, a speck o f dust may blind thee, Be it dust o f mud or gold; It may cloud the clearest eyesight To all that kea/ven may hold. Yet our tears may clear our vision I f we read their meaning right; For their purpose is—our blessing, And their mission—clearing sight. —I ndian C hristian .
Jesus’ apostles who had worked hard for Him all his life. When he grew to be an old man, he, too, was looking for ward to the joys of heaven. W h i l e he was waiting for his time to come to share this bliss, John had a ■vision of what
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heaven would be' like. He l e a r n e d that “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” And because there will be no more sin, there will be no more sep aration from loved ones. And he learned that in heaven there will be “no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in i t : for the glory of God” will “lighten it.” Heaven will be more wonderful than
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