Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 172

10. What does G.o.d's word then become to the believer?

"Thy word was unto me _the joy and rejoicing of mine heart_." Jer. 15:16, last part.

11. Why are the Scriptures given?

"All scripture is given by inspiration of G.o.d, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: _that the man of G.o.d may be perfect_, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

12. How may the lack of wisdom be supplied?

"If any of you lack wisdom, _let him ask of G.o.d_, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; _and it shall be given him_." James 1:5.

13. In how many things may we ask help from G.o.d?

"Be careful for nothing; but _in everything_ by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving _let your requests be made known unto G.o.d_." Phil. 4:6.

14. What is an evidence of perfection?

"_If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man_, and able also to bridle the whole body." James 3:2.

15. What is the bond of perfection?

"And above all these things put on _charity_, which is the bond of perfectness." Col. 3:14. See Phil. 3:13, 14; Heb. 12:14.

16. How perfect would G.o.d have us become?

"And the very G.o.d of peace _sanctify you wholly_; and I pray G.o.d _your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless_ unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. 5:23.

Sowing And Reaping

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Jacob's Dream. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal.

6:7.

1. What does Paul say regarding sowing and reaping?

"Be not deceived; G.o.d is not mocked: for _whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap_." Gal. 6:7.

2. How is the same truth expressed by Christ?

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. _For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again._" Luke 6:37, 38.

NOTES.-A man's deeds, good or evil, usually return to bless or curse him. A farmer who sold b.u.t.ter to a village storekeeper and took sugar in exchange, complained that he was getting short weight. "Look here," said he to the merchant, "it seems to me you're giving me short weight sugar." "No," replied the storekeeper, "that cannot be, for in measuring out that sugar of yours I always use a pound of your b.u.t.ter as a weight."

"Good and evil come back.... G.o.d made the universe on the plan of the circle. Isa. 40:22.... We ourselves start the circle of good or bad actions, and it will surely come around again to us unless by divine intervention it be hindered. Those bad or good actions may make the circuit of many years; but come back to us they will as certainly as that G.o.d sits on the circle of the earth.... What a stupendous thought that the good and the evil we start come back to us! Do you know that the judgment-day will be only the point at which the circle joins, the good and the bad we have done coming back to us, unless divine intervention hinders,-coming back to us, welcome of delight or curse of condemnation?"-_T. DeWitt Talmage._

3. On what condition does Christ say G.o.d will forgive us?

"For _if ye forgive men their trespa.s.ses_, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespa.s.ses, neither will your Father forgive your trespa.s.ses." Matt. 6: 14, 15. See also Matt. 18:23-35.

4. According to what principle does G.o.d deal with men?

"With the _merciful_ Thou wilt show Thyself _merciful_; with an _upright_ man Thou wilt show Thyself _upright_; with the _pure_ Thou wilt show Thyself _pure_; and with the _froward_ Thou wilt show Thyself _froward_."

Ps. 18:25, 26.

5. How is the same truth again taught touching the wicked?

"As he loved _cursing_, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in _blessing_, so let it be far from him." Ps. 109:17.

6. According to what was judgment called upon Babylon?

"Recompense her according to her works; according to all that she hath done, do unto her." Jer. 50:29.

7. Why did Christ tell Peter to put up his sword?

"Put up again thy sword into his place: _for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword_." Matt. 26:52.

8. Why was the Papacy to go into captivity?

"_He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity_: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword." Rev. 13:10. See Lev. 25:10; Jer. 34:17.

9. What is to be the punishment of spiritual Babylon?

"_Reward her even as she rewarded you_, and double unto her double according to her works." Rev. 18:6.

10. What does the psalmist say will come to the persecutor?

"_His mischief shall return upon his own head_, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate." Ps. 7:16.

NOTE.-In his letter addressed to the Jews, dated Nov. 16, 1905, President Roosevelt said: "I feel very strongly that if any people are oppressed anywhere, the wrong inevitably reacts in the end on those who oppress them; for it is an immutable law in the spiritual world that no one can wrong others and yet in the end himself escape unhurt."

11. What befell Haman, who sought to slay all the Jews?

"So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai."

Esther 7:10. See Ps. 9:15.

12. If one would have friends, what must he do?

"A man that hath friends _must show himself friendly_." Prov. 18:24.