Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

up"sin."ness."goods"salvation."love (Col. 2:6; I John 2:3, 6; John 14:23; 15:10.We may indicate ourdaily love forHim by admiring and praising His sunsets or studying His history; knowing ofHis acts of creation and providence, buta sinner turned from the error of hisways is yet today the BEST evaluationof God's loveHis love of choice! To beused by God to assist in this act is tobring joy into Heaven itself (Luke 15:7).It would be one evidence of having themind of Christ (Phil. 2:5).These Israelites did not"set"themselves to refuse to love God but theirheart attitudes and insincere actions, firsttoward God as demonstrated in their sacrifices and worship, and second towardtheir fellow men as indicated in their divorces, were in sharp contrast to thisgreat love of God. They were judgingthemselves by the churches around themnot by God's law (Rom. 3:20). "Myis here painting a rich backMessenger"ground of God's love against which eventheir inward thoughts and lack of lovewould stand out in naked and ugly contrast in the next few chapters (Titus 3:3-8).FOR DISCUSSION1. Compare the message and purpose ofJohn the Baptist with the messageand purposes of "MyMessenger."2. Compare Christ's reception by thescribes and Pharisees with the attitudeapparent in the question of these people.3. If you were God's Messenger,what illustrations and references could youoffer to men who honestly questionedor sullenly demanded, that you proveGod's love.SUGGESTIONS TO LEADER1. Avoid profitless discussion of theDoctrine of Election.2. Pray that the Interpreter will help inunderstanding these words which Hehas written.3. Report briefly on the years betweenMalachi and John Baptist.W. M. S. DepartmentMrs. Ross Latimer, Editor,Prayer Hour, 1:00 P.M. MondayW.M.S. TOPIC FOR JANUARYMrs. Willard HarshTODAY OR TOMORROW"Boast not thyself of to morrow; forthou knowest not what a day may bringforth."Prov. 27:1How many of us awaken each morningDecember 29, 1954with the thought, "What will I do today?"instead of the challenge, "Lord,what wilt thou have me to do?" We tendto plan our day's work, pleasures, etc.,days, weeks, and even months in advancesometimes, and yet our text tells us thatwe "know not what a day may bringforth."Perhaps weare afraid of what theLord will call upon us to do. It mightmean that we would have to leave our"planned" work and go to visit the sick,or speak to someone about his soul. Itmight seek a leader in some youth temperance or church work. That is exactlywhat most of us need, to get us out of the"rut"of daily routine. How restful itwould be to fill our minds with spiritualthings rather than the cares of a day!Self-satisfaction must be the answerto the "Why?" of our careless attitude.Are the things that we are "laying(Luke 12:19, 20)ficial?worth while and beneAre you guilty of sitting back and insisting that others are more capable thanyou for teaching Sabbath School classesor Juniorwork'before you have eventried? Maybe you were once active inthe church work but are now inactive inevery phase of Christian work. The onlyexcuse you can give is, "I'm too busy."Busy with what? Clubs? Hobbies?Sports? TV programs?Yes, we are busy storing up pleasuresfrom every source. Are they "treasures"that will last? That will be of benefit toothers? That will help to hasten Christ'sKingdom upon earth?What if He should call us out of asound sleep? Would we be "ready"? Or,would we regret our procrastination ofthe important things of this life?Self-satisfaction is one of the sins ofthe American people. Are we going towait for "tomorrow" (which may nevercome for us) to realize the importance oflaying upture?worthwhile "goods for the fuIn James 4:13-17 we are warned thatour lives are a "vapor" and vanish away,and that "to him that knoweth to dogood, and doeth it not, to him it isFor most people the one big aim inlife is to "getgain."This is true fromthe working class to the millionaire. Fewthink to seek the Lord's will in their ambitions to "gain." Rather, they delightin attaining goals set up for themselves.The Bible says, ". . . all such rejoicingevil."is Can we say then that we shouldneither be too satisfied with our livesto-day,material things.nor overly-anxious for future inOne of the greatest Bible promisescomes from Matt. 6:33. If we put firstthings first in life, we are going to beagain""born Christians and will inheritthe Kingdom. It tells us to "seek ye firstthe kingdom of God and his righteousMaterial pleasures of this life,worldly possessions, worthless gains arenot mentioned, hence theymust not be ofprime importance.Christian ministers, missionaries, andlaymen must have heeded the Master'scall first, else theyan easier, more relaxingwould have soughttype of work.Their very lives must serve as constantexamples among those with whom theymeet if they are to convince the unsavedof the wonderful power of God in fulfilling His promises throughout Scripture.Perhaps it is a temptation for us tospend the Lord's money (the tithe) forsomething that we especially want ratherthan for the Kingdom work. How greatare the needs of such organizations as theNational Reform, American Bible Society, Home and Foreign Missions, TheChristian Amendment Movement, theChurch Budget, and other phases ofChristian work. Are these not "firstthings"?Shall we not examine ourselves to determine whether we aren't apt to be content with the life we are now livingwithin our own selves, our homes,andour communities, without bothering toreach out to help someone else to "layupof a spiritual nature. Let usmake God's will our will in our futurelives. May we cease putting off until tomorrow what we should be doing to-day!THE AGE OF DECISIONDr. Horatius Bonar once examined therecords of 253 converts who had comeinto his church. He found that over halfof them (138) had given their hearts toChrist under twenty years of age eightyfivehad been converted between twenty;and thirty;twenty-two between thirtyand forty; four between forty and fifty;three 'between fifty and sixty; and onlyone between sixty and seventy. Therewerenone who had been saved afterreaching the age of seventy.Someone has said, "Life begins atforty,"but only eight out of 253 couldsay their spiritual life began after theybecame forty. Every day that a persondelays the surrenderingof his life toChrist lessens the likelihood that he everwill do it. No wonder the Bible says,"Now is the day ofPentecostal Evangel.A Very Poor Substitute.Some brewers put out a circular which says: "Beermay be substituted for bread." An editorin Wichita, Kansas, added the commentthat "frequently it is also substituted forshoes, school books, clothes, meat, houserent, and furniture."Pentecostal Evangel.413