Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 11, Number 9, DeMotte, Jasper County, 16 January 1941 — IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY CHOOL Lesson [ARTICLE]

IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY CHOOL Lesson

By HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST. D D.

Dean of The Moody Bible Institute f of Chicago. (Released by Western Newspaper Union.V

Lesson for January 19 Lesson subjects and Scripture texts selected and copyrighted by International Council of Religious Education?; used by permission. > r > . THE SLIGHTED INVITATION LESSON TEXT—Luke 14:15-24 GOLDEN TEXT—Come; for all things are now ready —Luke 14:17. Actions spfeak louder than words. What a man says is important, but it is his life which determines whether we accept his words as true. In spiritual things men have too often professed to follow Christ but failed to do His will. It is the business of the church to press home the necessity of an acceptance of Christ as Saviour which also makes Him the Lord of our life. I. Pious Words (v. 15). We do not know whether the man who said, “Blessed is he that eateth bread in the kingdom of God,” was expressing the sincere longing of his; heart or merely making a bit of pious conversation. Jesus had just been dealing with some rather disconcerting matters (vv. 1-14). On such occasions there is* usually someone on hand to spoil the effectiveness of the admonition by uttering some religious platitude which will direct conversation into more comfortable channels. Even though, the man was sincere, he'had evidently hot made any preparations to be present at that great feast. This appears from the story Jesus related in response to his words. 11. Poor Excuses (vv. 16-20). It is not enough that we know that God has prepared a place of blessedness, nor does it suffice, to speak approvingly of God’s invitation to come; we must accept. God graciously bids all men to come; but all too many, while willing to admit the desirability of coming and admiring it as the ideal thing to do, begin to make excuses. Observe that the men gave excuses, not reasons. There is a great difference. Note also that the excuses were poor ones. One had a new possession—a field—which he “must go out and see.” The second had a business matter to care for—trying out oxen he had bought. The third had a personal affection he wanted to foster—a new wife whom he could not leave. The fact is that none of them wanted to come, and these were but excuses. What man buys a field without seeing it, or oxen without trying them? And we agree with Dr. Morgan that the one who had married a wife “was the most foolish of all. Why didn’t he take her with him? Just excuses.” Reader, what excuse is keeping you from accepting God’s invitation? ». 111. Urgent Invitations (vv. 21-24). Those who reject God’s invitation hurt only themselves, for He will find guests to fill the banquet hall at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Let us not fail to observe that it is the duty of the Lord’s servants (and that means every born-again Christian) to be diligently about the business of urging men to respond to God’s call. Let us beware that we do not miss that point by uttering some pious platitudes about soulwinning, and then failing to do anything to reach others. It is the first business of every Christian who reads these lines to be engaged in personal soul-winning. If you want to do it and do not know how to start, I shall be glad to send you free, a copy of “Lessons in SoulWinning,” by Dr. Will H. Houghton. The important matter is that we get busy giving out these urgent invitations. It is the first business of the unconverted to accept that invitation. Dare you refuse? In one of his last meetings in Kansas City, Dwight L. Moody graphically portrayed the invitation referred to in our lesson. In closing his message he pointed to the wall of the auditorium and seemed to be writing out a reply to the invitation. He first wrote a note declining, the final words being, “I pray thee have me excused.” He said, “Would you sign that, young man? Would you, mother? Would you come up to the reporter’s table, take a pen and put your name down to such an excuse? I doubt if there is one here who would sign it. It is a loving God inviting you to a feast and God is not to be mocked. Go play with the forked lightning, go trifle with pestilence and disease, but trifle not with God.”