Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

another."gave His only begotten Son. . . And weare told to be like our Father in heaven.(2) It is the command of God. ". .. as Ihave loved you, that ye also love oneanother."(3) It is a source of joy andhappiness. This is not true of all kindsof love for the love of anything else firstin the place of God is sin, and sin isthe cause of misery and unhappiness. Butthis kind of love, first to God, and thento the brethren, creates lasting peace andjoy. It creates happy relationships, "Loveworketh no ill to hisneighbor."It is aforce opposed to selfishness and selfishness is the source of all evil and misery.(4) It is a means of overcoming problemsand troubles. "Perfect love casteth outlaw.""Love is the fulfilling of thefear."(5) It is a sign of discipleship, "Bythis shall all men know that ye are mydisciples, if ye have love one toWhat kind of love is it expected to be?Christ said, "as I have lovedyou."Hislove was an eternal love, without end.There is much superficial love or ficklelove today. One small incident betweenbrethren may change the whole face ofsome so-called loves, but that is notChrist's kind of love. Christ's love was anunmerited lovebestowed upon those utterly unworthy to have it by their ownmerits. We are to love more than justthose who love us, or those who dothings that please us. Love is not to bebased just on the action or character ofthe other party. If that were Christ's kindof love, we would all be without it.Christ's love was a sacrificial love. Anyreal love is sacrificial which is the puttingChrist's love was an unlimited love. Thisof others ahead of ourselves. Andis the kind of love we are to have towardour brethren.What does it mean to love the brethren? (1) It is to consider the other person's interests and welfare equal to ourown. It means careful consideration given to the other .person, his needs, ideas,etc. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor asthyself."(2) It means being glad inanother's blessings not envious. When abrother gets ahead of us in honor, wealth,position, if we love him we will rejoicerather than be jealous and peevish astoo many people seem to be. (3) It meansoverlooking faults in others even as wehope they will overlook ours. It is a sincere attempt to practice the golden rule."Forbearing one another in love." Wewill keepour irritations to ourselves andnot parade the faults of our brethren.(4) It means not striking back when weare offendedeliminating the spirit ofrevenge. "Dearly beloved, avenge notyourselves . . . Vengeanceis mine, I willrepay, saith the Lord." (5) It means seeking the company and fellowship of ourbrethren because that is what love does tous, attracts us to each other. (6) It meanspraying for one another.346JUNIOR TOPICDecember 19, 1954JOSEPH, a Type of CHRISTMrs. M. K. CarsonScripture references given below.Memory Verse of the Month: Proverbs3:5, 6.Psalms: Memory Psalms of this series.Psalms105:1, 2, 6, page 25755:12, 13, 17, page 14046:1, 6, page 118136:1, 2, 12, 13, page 334One of the beautiful things in thestory of Joseph is that in so many wayshe reminds us of the Lord Jesus Himself.Since in this holiday week we are thinking much of the coming of our Saviour,we shall take as our Junior lesson today,the ways in which Joseph is a type orpicture of the Lord Jesus,who came toearth so many hundreds of years afterJoseph lived and died. There are twentyparallels listed here, perhaps you maythink of others yourselves. The leadermight assign these parallels to differentjuniors the week before the meeting andhave each one reported on. Then at theclose of the meetingallow the juniorsto name as many parallels as they canfrom memory. In case this lesson in itsentirety might prove too difficult forthe smaller juniors, or too lengthy, twoBible puzzles are included for the sake ofvariety. The aim of the lesson should beto impress on the minds of the juniorsthe remarkable likeness between Joseph,one of the most lovable of the Bible characters, and our Lord Jesus, the One altogether lovely.(All of the Joseph References are inGenesis.)1. Joseph was the well-beloved son ofhis father. 37:3Jesus was the well-beloved Son of HisFather. Matthew 3:172. Joseph's father sent him, but he wasentirely willing to go. 37:13Heavenly Father sent Him, butHe was entirely willing to go. JohnJesus'17:53. Joseph's brothers did not believe inhim. 37:8aJesus'John 7:5brethren did not believe in Him.4. Joseph's brothers hated him without acause. 37:5, 9Jesus was hated without a cause. John15:255. Joseph's brothers plotted against him.37:19, 20brethren, the Jews, plottedJesus'against Him. Luke 20:13-146. Joseph was sold by his brothers fortwentyJesus was sold by a disciple for thirtypieces of silver. Matt. 26:15pieces of silver. 37:287. An innocent goat was killed to hide thesin of Joseph's, brothers. 37:31-34Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, waskilled to hide our sin. John 1:298. Joseph was accused of wrong he didnot do. 39:13-18Jesus was falselyaccused. Matt. 26:59-659. Joseph went about doing good.Jesus went about doinggood. Acts 10:3810. Joseph was forgotten by the butlerwhom He had helped. 40:23Jesus is forgotten by many whom Hehas helped. Luke 17:1711. Joseph was taken from prison by theking. 41:4Jesus was raised from the dead bythe Kingof glory. Eph. 1:19-2012. Joseph was given all power in Egypt.41:42-44Jesus is given all .power in heavenand earth. Matt. 28:1813. Joseph was in favor with God andman. 39:2-6Jesus was in favor with God andman. Luke 2:5214. Joseph saved much people alive. 50:20Jesus saves "whosoever3:16will."John15. Joseph knew all about his brothers.42:33Jesus knew what was in man. John2:2416. Joseph's brothers bowed to him andworshiped as the dream had foretold. 44:14; 50:18; 37:7-8Every knee shall bow to Jesus as itwas prophesied. Romans 14:1117. Joseph forgave his brothers. 45:4-5Jesus forgives all who confess theirsin. I John 1:918. Joseph prepared a place for hisbrothers near him. 47:11-12Jesus prepares a place for us thatwhere He is, we may be also. John14:219. Joseph's familyEgypt because of him. 45:16-20was accepted inWe are "accepted in the Beloved"Son. Eph. 1:620. Joseph is the onlycharacter in theBible of whom no sin is recorded.Jesus did no sin. I Peter 2:21-22Set down in order the first letter of thequestions. Theanswers to the followingresult will be the name of a famous Biblecharacter. Who is he?1. Who lived for three days inside agreat fish?2. From what citycome? Genesis 41:45did Joseph's wife3. Who was Joseph's great-grandmother?4. Who sold his birth-right for a bowlof soup?COVENANTER WITNESS