Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 166

1. When the ten spies brought back an evil report from the land of Canaan, what did Caleb say?

"And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, _Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it_." Num. 13:30.

2. What did the ten spies say?

"But the men that went up with him said, _We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we_." Verse 31.

3. What effect did this evil report have upon the people?

"And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and _cried_; and the people _wept_ that night. And all the children of Israel _murmured_ against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, _Would G.o.d that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would G.o.d we had died in this wilderness!_... And they said one to another, _Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt_." Num. 14:1-4.

4. With what words did Moses seek to encourage Joshua?

"And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, _Be strong and of a good courage_.... The Lord, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: _fear not, neither be dismayed_." Deut. 31:7, 8.

5. In his final charge to Joshua, what did Moses, speaking for G.o.d, say to him?

"And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, _Be strong and of a good courage_: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee." Verse 23.

6. After Moses' death, how did the Lord encourage Joshua?

"The Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, ...

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. _Be strong and of a good courage._" Joshua 1:1-6.

7. When Sennacherib, king of a.s.syria, came against Jerusalem, what did King Hezekiah say to Israel?

"_Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed_ for the king of a.s.syria, nor for all the mult.i.tude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: with him is an army of flesh; but with us is the Lord our G.o.d to help us, and to fight our battles." 2 Chron. 32:7, 8.

8. What effect did these words have upon the people?

"And _the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah_ king of Judah." Verse 8.

9. How did Josiah seek to promote the wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d?

"And he set the priests in their charges, and _encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord_." 2 Chron. 35:2.

10. By what message, through the prophet Haggai, did G.o.d seek to encourage the people to rebuild the temple?

"_Be strong, O Zerubbabel_, saith the Lord; and _be strong, O Joshua_, son of Josedech, the high priest; and _be strong, all ye people of the land_, saith the Lord, _and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts_."

Haggai 2:4.

11. What encouraging message has Christ left us?

"_Be of good cheer_; I have overcome the world." John 16:33.

NOTES.-A dispirited man, like a discouraged horse, is powerless to perform his task.

"What men need most in this world's struggle and strife is not usually direct help, but cheer.... Many men have fainted and succ.u.mbed in the great struggles whom one word of cheer would have made strong to overcome. We should never, then, lose an opportunity to say an inspiring word. We know not how much it is needed, nor how great and far-reaching its consequences may be."-_"__Week-Day Religion,__"__ by J. R. Miller, D. D., page 170._

Unity Of Believers

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Bethlehem. "That they may be one, even as We are one." John 17:22.

1. What relation do the Father and the Son sustain to each other?

"I and My Father _are one_." John 10:30.

2. In what does this oneness consist?

"I seek not Mine own will, but _the will of the Father_ which hath sent Me." John 5:30.

NOTE.-Their oneness, therefore, consists in their having the same mind, will, and purpose.

3. What did Christ pray the Father in behalf of His disciples?

"_That they may be one_, even as We are one." John 17:22. See also verses 11 and 23.

4. Why did Christ desire this oneness, or unity, to exist among His followers?

"That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: _that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me_." Verse 21.

5. By what did Christ say all men should know His disciples?

"By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, _if ye have love one to another_." John 13:35.

NOTE.-"G.o.d has united believers in church capacity in order that one may strengthen another in good and righteous endeavor. The church on earth would indeed be a symbol of the church in heaven if its members were of one mind and of one faith. It is those who are not moved by the Holy Spirit that mar G.o.d's plan, and cause division, and strengthen the forces of darkness. Those who are sanctified by the blood of Christ will not counterwork G.o.d's work, nor perpetuate division in the church. When there is disunion among believers, the world concludes that they cannot be the people of G.o.d because they are working against one another. When believers are one with Christ, they will be united among themselves."

6. How did Paul show his concern in this matter?

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, _that ye all speak the same thing_, and _that there be no divisions among you_; but _that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment_." 1 Cor. 1:10.

7. What was a prominent cause of division in the early church?

"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also _of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them_." Acts 20:29, 30.

8. What was already at work in the church in Paul's day?