Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

THE SYNAGOGUE AT NAZARETH.

ESUS stood up in the synagogue of his native Nazareth,

JESUS

and held the sacred roll containing the prophecy of Isaiah. He unrolled the parchment till he came to the sixty-first chapter of the roll. Here he read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me." The Spirit had spoken to him; he felt its anointing. Behold, The Great Teacher. The work which Christ came to do for the soul is not the work of an hour or a day. It is the work of a life. Reverently to receive him as the Soul's Teacher, is the beginning of the work. The central word in this new Gospel is Love; for Gospel means glad tidings, and glad tidings without Love were impossible; for Love originated the tidings, and Love made them glad. Healing, sight, and liberty! gracious words these to rich as well as poor; to those at ease as well as those in trouble. Jesus does not come to take the place of God. He comes to take us by the hand and lead us to his Father and our Father.

[merged small][ocr errors]

DESPISEST thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and

longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

And if children, then heirs: heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to

come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that

ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans.

[blocks in formation]

THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

SEEK ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and

all these things shall be added unto you.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

[ocr errors]

Be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is

come nigh unto you.

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation;

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even

glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Solomon in all his

Matt. vi. Luke x. xii. xvii.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

FIRST seek the kingdom of God. It is a condition of soul,

by which we enter through the gate of a higher life. It means the enthronement of Righteousness, which is Right put into service. This is the soul's crown. But this kingdom will not come of itself; it must be sought. Seek it as a pearl of great price. Seek first what God has put first. Jesus would have his disciples seek and find this kingdom just where all the world never thought of looking for it, "The kingdom of God is within you." Jesus lays his ear reverently to the earth to catch the whisper of his Father's spirit that he hears on mountain-top or in the valley. Live by the day, as the birds do; trouble not about to-morrow; God is bending over you with messages of love. Do not feed the body and starve the soul. The soul must grow and be clothed upon in Righteousness through the Spirit of Christ within. He came and toiled and died to bring his kingdom into human hearts. This is His Salvation.

« AnteriorContinuar »