July 1928
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such a wonderful impression on the po litical, social, and religious development of the Island Kingdom. A converted Chinaman, visiting Amer ica, was greatly puzzled over the little difference he saw between professing Christians and men of the world. Speak ing of the matter, he said, “When the disciples of my country come out from the world, they come clear out.” This is what God requires of us—an out-and-out life for Him. Rev. Ernest Bourner Allen tells of an Italian who was converted in New York City. He returned to his native town and bravely confessed his Protestantism. Af ter much persecution he found a Protes tant pastor who aided him in starting a mission. He was refused a place to preach, was ostracized and threatened; but now he is an ordained minister, with a church of one hundred and' fifty mem bers. And these are the kind of men who dig up our streets and sell us bananas. Recently an (Italian woman, with all the earnestness of the woman of Sychar, ask ed of a Pennsylvania missionary making his first call, “What is Gospel?” ' Our neighbors are asking that—our neighbors near and far. Shall we whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high—shall we to souls benighted the lamp of life deny? August 5, 1928 Personal Conviction versus Following the Crowd. Acts 5:27-29. (Consecration Meeting) All honor to men. who are willing to sink- Half their present repute for the freedom to think; And when they have thought, be their cause -strong or weak, Will sink th’ other half for the freedom to speak. —Lowell. —o— . T houghts on th e T opic Read from verse 17 to the end of the chapter of the Scripture lesson in order to get the full significance of the words spoken by Peter in verse 29. This is the second time Peter and John are brought before the council of the Sanhedrin to give account of their preaching (see chap. 4 for fifst occasion). On both occasions they had the consolation of Jesus that the Holy Ghost would teach them in such an hour what to say (Luke 12:11-12). How easy it would have been for the apostles, to keep quiet and follow the crowd. But they had a conviction and to remain true to that conviction meant courage to speak boldly in spite of all opposition. The consequence was that they were thrown into prison. It looked as though they had made a mistake, but no, read on, -God miraculously delivers them from prison and gives them greater boldness to return to the temple, which was the center of persecution, and preach the words of life to hungry hearts. When the high priest called the council together again to determine what should be done to these men, they were greatly perplexed when they were informed that the prisoners were gone. Discovering their whereabouts, they sent for the apos tles and without force had them brought before the council again. The high priest
Jesus Christ grew in all the four quali fications required for true life: (1) Phy sical. The body needs development in strength, purity, and increasing capacity. (2) Intellectual. The mind requires in formation (knowledge) and the power to use it (wisdom). (3) Spiritual. Our relation to God is an essential point of life. The “spirit” in man enables him to have contact and communion with God. This growth is due to two things: the knowledge of the Bible in which God speaks to u s; and prayer, by means of which we speak to Him. (4). Social. “Favor with man” means that those around were interested in and impressed by him. His life testified to his qualities. To stand well with those around us is a valuable part of life. See Acts 6 :3, “hon est report,” also 1 Tim. 3 :7. There are the four elements of all properly con stituted life. July 29, 1928 _ Appreciating our Immigrant Neigh bors. Ruth 2:4-17. There is a destiny that makes us brothers, None goes his way alone, All that we send into the lives of others Comes back into our own. —Edwin Markham. —o— T houghts on th e T opic Kindness is seen to be one of the out standing characteristics of Boaz in the story of his meeting Ruth in our lesson this evening. We first note his kindness to his servants (v. 4), then his kindness to Ruth, a foreigner, is manifested in. verses 8-12, 14-16. It is a kind of good deed to say well; And yet words are not deeds. —Shakespeare. Oh, how much can be done for others by just being kind! To read the story of Boaz, the wealthy farmer, meeting Ruth, the poor outcast foreigner, and to note his deep humility and care for the poor, causes us to long for more of such living today. “Class alienation is our coun try’s greatest curse,” said Braden. How true that is ! America, as a nation, has always in the past opened her arms to the immigrant and shown possibly more kind ness to the foreigner than any other na tion on the face of the earth, for which reason God has greatly favored our land. May she always be known to show forth this kindness. “How may we show our appreciation to our immigrant neigh bors ?” First and always by showing them kindness, that kindness which looks for no return. F. W. Faber once said, “Kindness has converted more sinners than either zeal, eloquence, or learning.” How true! Let us, therefore, learn a les son from rich Boaz, that by being kind we can point the wanderer to the only true God, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Friend, deem it not an idle thing A pleasant word to speak. The face you wear, the thoughts you bring, A heart may heal or break. —Richards.
C hoice N uggets While holding meetings in Egypt among some soldiers, Rev. J. Stuart Holden once asked a big Sergeant in a Highland regi ment, how he was brought to Christ. His answer was : “There is s. private in our company who was converted in Malta be fore the regiment came on to Egypt. We gave that fellow an awful time. One night he camé in from sentry duty, very tired and' wet, and before going to bed he got down to pray. I struck him on the side of his head with my boots, and he just went on with his prayers,'“ Next morning I found my ■boots beautifully polished by the side of my bed. That was his reply to me. It just broke my heart, and I was saved that day.” A little word in kindness spoken, A motion, or a tear, Has often healed the heart that’s broken, And made a friend' sincere. —Whittier. Augustine, being^sked wjiat was the first article in the Christian -religion, re plied, “Humility” ; and what the second, “Humility” ; and what the third, “Humil- ity-” : T:\-e-.T 'V;,-;/ “Oh, but,” says one,” “how can it be ? I am a stranger.” Yes, a stranger; but Jesus Christ loves the stranger. “A pub lican, a sinner” ; but He is “the Friend of publicans and sinners.” “An outcast” ; but He “gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.” “A stray sheep” ; but the shep herd “leaves the ninety and nine,” to seek it. “A lost piece of money” ; but He “sweeps the house” to find it,” “A prodi gal son” ; but He sets the bells a-ringing when He knows that thou wilt return. Come, Ruth ! Come, trembling gleaner ! Jesus invites thee; accept the invitation. “At meal time come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and' dip thy morsel in the vinegar.”—Spurgeon. In these. days the “lost sheep of the house of Israel’\:'may be in your own home. Do you remember, the story of Sophie Brugman who had been praying to become a foreign missionary? One day she thought to' ask herself these ques tions : “Where were you born, Sophie Brugman?” “In Germany,” came the an swer. “Where are you now?” “In Amer ica.” “Well, are you not a foreign mis sionary? Now who lives on the floor above?” “A family of Swedes.” “And who above them ?” “Why, some Swiss.” “Who in .the rear ?” “Italians.” “And who a block away?” “Some Chinese.”' “And I have never said a word to these people about the blessed Jesus. I think it is no wonder I am not sent thousands of miles to the foreigners and'heathen, when I do not care, enough about those at home to speak to the ones at my very door.” In 1852, a young Hollander, Guido Ver- beck, emigrated to America, hoping to make his fortune in the land of promise. After some months he was taken seriously ill. For six weeks he suffered great pain and when he recovered he was almost a skeleton. His capital was exhausted in paying doctors and nurses. But the ill ness was the turning point in his life. He promised God that if restored to health, he would consecrate his life to service in the mission field. The vow was. kept. When the way opened, he re-entered school, and graduated from Auburn Sem inary in 1859. A few months later he was in Japan, beginning the labor which made
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