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Show II LIFE OF SERVICE, SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON (By G. F. Rassweiler.) As men and women behold the nobility no-bility of the life of Josub Christ in Its self-sacrificing ministrations to mankind, responsivo souls are filled with a desire to minister unto him also. Like Mary Magdalene out of whom were cast seven devils, nearts overflow with gratitude for blessings received and prompt to some service of love. Like Joanna, tho wife ot Chuza, steward in the ruler's household, house-hold, they wish to use positions of in fluence and resources of wealth on His behalf. How that little band ot faithful ministering women has grown to a multitude not only of worn en but of men and even of children Not being able to minister to Him in His flesh, they remember His words: Inasmuch as ye do It unto the least of these my brethren, ye do It unto Me," they eagerly turn to the Bervlct of humanity. Now they are to he round nursing the sick or wounded in cottage, or hospital, or battlefield Again they are feeding the hungry in crowded city slum6, in places swept by disasters, or In foreign lands parched with famine. Here they are ministering to childhood gathering them into orphanages, finding them homes, training them in schools for high achievement, or protecting them from evil There they are serving In the sanctuary, tending the altar oi the frankincense of prayer and praise or declaring the glorious news of His salvation And yonder they are sen Ing humanity by beating down the enemies of his moral or intellectual or physical or financial welfare And again they are ministering by clear Ing the way to the better day. But also there are those who wisn to follow but who hesitate. They do not cut loose with enthusiastic abandon, aban-don, and enter unreservedly into His service Like the scribe of old, they would like to serve Christ and follow His example, "But." "If." "Provided. They are conventional, like the scribes they love a stereotyped, undisturbed life with its daily program unbroken and everything fixed and 6et accord ing to their planning. Christ says to these that if they wish to follow Him they will have to be prepared to have their lives very much dls turbed They can't settle down static stat-ic anywhere or at any time either in thought or achievement In the path of His service they must be always on the move, breaking away from their former positions, readjusting themselves to new ideas and new con ditions, having their own little pro grams of life upset. On the road of Christian progress there is no tixed abode "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath nowhere to lay His head." Can you endure the restless, rest-less, disturbed strenuous life of u mo ral and religious pioueer? Others would follow WHEN IF ONLY BUT Yes, when I get some of these other things out of tin-way. tin-way. When 1 get my business in shape." "Just as quick as 1 get over this rush of work " "Just now I have more important claims upon me." Vnil Christ replies as he did to the man who would first go and bury his father, that there is no supe rior claim, that the question of his re latlon to God's Son is paramount and that nothing must be allowed to stand in the way to prevent it Family re lations are sacred, but even a father must not be allowed to prevent us from following Christ in the path ot love and godliness and service. But there is a service which so many overlook, and that Is the mil. i6try of sympathy and Fellowship We need a ministry to our physical ueeds but how we crave friendly comrade ship and love. Christ also longs for the fellowship of soul 6uch as Mary gave Him as she listened to Ihfl words, and entered ay in pathetically and intelligently into His plans and Ideas. There are so man practical people, so many welfare workers and impatient reformers who like Maltha Mal-tha get Impatient with those who spend some time In devotional fellowship fellow-ship with their Lord, eagerly ponder His word, and in delicious peace prostrate pros-trate themselves in submission ai His feet. These practical people protest that this is a waste of time Let's do something useful. Let us feed the hungry or change unfavor able conditions, or anything that will really get something accomplished But Jesus looks upon Mary and the multitude who like her sit at His feet to first learn His will and be in spired with His presence and the Mas ter says, "They have chosen the bet ter part," nn |