Buckeye Valley News And Buckeye Review

IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
By HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST, D. D.
Dean of The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.
(Released by Western Newspaper Union.)

Lesson for October 1

Lesson subjects and Scripture texts selected and copyrighted by International Council of Religious Education; used by permission.

THE INFANCY OF JESUS
LESSON TEXT—Matthew 2:13-23.
GOLDEN TEXT—And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.—Matthew 1:23.

Looking forward to an experience in life which promises to be both interesting and profitable always brings a glow of expectation. Something of that spirit should pervade the Bible schools of our land as they begin a six-months study in the Gospel of Matthew.

Consideration of our Lord's life properly starts with the story of His birth, but we reserve that for our Christmas lesson. Today we stress the manner in which the Child Jesus was received into the world.

Men then as now, were either for Him or against Him. God had only one attitude, that of loving protection and preparation of His Son for His ministry.

I. Christ in the World of Men.

The world of today is far different from that of the first century, but the difference is all on the outside. Almost breath-taking have been the developments of modern civilization, but these have not changed the heart of man. He still fears and hates and fights and sins. His attitude toward Christ is unchanged. There are still only two classes of people in the world—those who have received Christ and are saved, and those who have rejected Him and are lost.

1. Against Christ.

How do men show their rejection of God's Son? Just as they did at His birth, by: a. Fear. Herod was afraid lest the coming of this one should result in the loss of his ill-gotten gains. His anger and fear made all Jerusalem afraid. b. Indifference. When the Wise Men asked where Christ was to be born, the priests and scribes knew exactly where to find the facts in the Holy Scriptures, but having done so, they relapsed into utter indifference. They had no interest in the fulfillment of the prophecy. c. Hatred. Herod poured out the violence of his heart by killing the first-born. He was the first of many who have raged against the Christ in futile anger. d. Sorrow. The tears of the mothers of Jerusalem but foreshadowed the weeping and wailing which characterizes Christ-rejection both in time and eternity.

2. For Christ.

Thanks be to God, there were those in that day who were for Christ and, like those who follow Him today, they showed: a. Spirituality. Men have marveled that the Magi knew of the birth of Christ. They must have studied the prophecies of the Word and been responsive to the teaching and moving of the Holy Spirit. Can we say as much for ourselves? b. Interest. Not content to know and to marvel, they shamed the priests of Israel by their persistent interest in this great thing which had come to pass. c. Love. They brought themselves in worship and they brought rich gifts from their treasures. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. d. Action. They came. They persisted until they found the Christ. Then they listened to God and protected His Son by not returning to Herod.

II. Christ in God's World.

Men had brought sin and ruin into the world. They had rejected His Son, but God still ruled and we see Him protecting, preparing, and fulfilling prophecy through His Son.

1. Protecting. Men may hate and seek to destroy God's Son. Satan may inspire them with ingenuity and cunning, but see how the Eternal One speaks to Joseph in dreams, how He prepares a place of refuge in Egypt and ultimately in Nazareth, where the boy Jesus may increase in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.

2. Preparing. God knows of the days of public ministry which are ahead and above all, of that day when on Golgotha's hill Christ was, in His own body, to prepare salvation for you and for me. God is not taken by surprise. He moves forward to the completion of His plan with the stately tread of eternity.

3. Fulfilling. God also sees to it that prophecy is fulfilled. We read in verses 15 and 23, "that it might be fulfilled" and in verse 17, "then was fulfilled." God's Word is always sure, for He makes it so. His infinite and eternal faithfulness guarantees the fulfillment of every prophecy, yes, and of every promise of His Holy Word.

Progress of Mankind

In my youth, looking at this man and that, I marvelled that humanity had made so little progress. Now, looking at man in the multitude, I marvel that they have advanced so far.—George Gissing.

No Love Without Service

It is as impossible for love to thrive without service as for a plant to grow without soil. Love feeds on what we give, not on what we get.