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ession　of　His　love。　Teach　them　that　He　made　the　laws　which　govern　all　living　things；　that　He　has　made　laws　for　us；　and　that　these　laws　are　for　our　happiness　and　joy。　Do

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not　weary　them　with　long　prayers　and　tedious　exhortations；　but　through　nature's　object　lessons　teach　them　obedience　to　the　law　of　God。

As　you　win　their　confidence　in　you　as　followers　of　Christ；　it　will　be　easy　to　teach　them　of　the　great　love　wherewith　He　has　loved　us。　As　you　try　to　make　plain　the　truths　of　salvation；　and　point　the　children　to　Christ　as　a　personal　Saviour；　angels　will　be　by　your　side。　The　Lord　will　give　to　fathers　and　mothers　grace　to　interest　their　little　ones　in　the　precious　story　of　the　Babe　of　Bethlehem；　who　is　indeed　the　hope　of　the　world。

When　Jesus　told　the　disciples　not　to　forbid　the　children　to　come　to　Him；　He　was　speaking　to　His　followers　in　all　ages；to　officers　of　the　church；　to　ministers；　helpers；　and　all　Christians。　Jesus　is　drawing　the　children；　and　He　bids　us；　Suffer　them　to　come；　as　if　He　would　say；　They　will　come　if　you　do　not　hinder　them。

Let　not　your　un…Christlike　character　misrepresent　Jesus。　Do　not　keep　the　little　ones　away　from　Him　by　your　coldness　and　harshness。　Never　give　them　cause　to　feel　that　heaven　will　not　be　a　pleasant　place　to　them　if　you　are　there。　Do　not　speak　of　religion　as　something　that　children　cannot　understand；　or　act　as　if　they　were　not　expected　to　accept　Christ　in　their　childhood。　Do　not　give　them　the　false　impression　that　the　religion　of　Christ　is　a　religion　of　gloom；　and　that　in　coming　to　the　Saviour　they　must　give　up　all　that　makes　life　joyful。

As　the　Holy　Spirit　moves　upon　the　hearts　of　the　children；　co…operate　with　His　work。　Teach　them　that　the　Saviour　is　calling　them；　that　nothing　can　give　Him　greater　joy　than　for　them　to　give　themselves　to　Him　in　the　bloom　and　freshness　of　their　years。

The　Saviour　regards　with　infinite　tenderness　the　souls　whom　He　has　purchased　with　His　own　blood。　They　are　the　claim　of　His　love。　He　looks　upon　them　with　unutterable　longing。　His　heart　is　drawn　out；　not　only　to　the　best…behaved　children；　but　to　those　who　have　by　inheritance　objectionable　traits　of　character。　Many　parents　do　not　understand　how　much　they　are　responsible　for　these　traits　in　their　children。　They　have　not　the　tenderness　and　wisdom　to　deal　with　the　erring　ones　whom　they　have　made　what　they　are。　But　Jesus　looks　upon　these　children　with　pity。　He　traces　from　cause　to　effect。

The　Christian　worker　may　be　Christ's　agent　in　drawing　these　children　to　the　Saviour。　By　wisdom　and　tact　he　may　bind　them　to　his　heart；　he　may　give　them　courage　and　hope；　and　through　the　grace　of　Christ　may　see　them　transformed　in　character；　so　that　of　them　it　may　be　said；　〃Of　such　is　the　kingdom　of　God。〃




（518）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　57

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃One　Thing　Thou　Lackest〃


And　when　He　was　gone　forth　into　the　way；　there　came　one　running；　and　kneeled　to　Him；　and　asked　Him；　Good　Master；　what　shall　I　do　that　I　may　inherit　eternal　life？〃

The　young　man　who　asked　this　question　was　a　ruler。　He　had　great　possessions；　and　occupied　a　position　of　responsibility。　He　saw　the　love　that　Christ　manifested　toward　the　children　brought　to　Him；　he　saw　how　tenderly　He　received　them；　and　took　them　up　in　His　arms；　and　his　heart　kindled　with　love　for　the　Saviour。　He　felt　a　desire　to　be　His　disciple。　He　was　so　deeply　moved　that　as　Christ　was　going　on　His　way；　he　ran　after　Him；　and　kneeling　at　His　feet；　asked　with　sincerity　and　earnestness　the　question　so　important　to　his　soul　and　to　the　soul　of　every　human　being；　〃Good　Master；　what　shall　I　do　that　I　may　inherit　eternal　life？〃

〃Why　callest　thou　Me　good？〃　said　Christ；　〃there　is　none　good　but　One；　that　is；　God。〃　Jesus　desired　to　test　the　ruler's　sincerity；　and　to　draw　from　him　the　way　in　which　he　regarded　Him　as　good。　Did　he　realize　that　the　One　to　whom　he　was　speaking　was　the　Son　of　God？　What　was　the　true　sentiment　of　his　heart？

This　ruler　had　a　high　estimate　of　his　own　righteousness。　He　did　not　really　suppose　that　he　was　defective　in　anything；　yet　he　was　not　altogether　satisfied。　He　felt　the　want　of　something　that　he　did　not　possess。　Could　not　Jesus　bless　him　as　He　blessed　the　little　children；　and　satisfy　his　soul　want？

In　reply　to　this　question　Jesus　told　him　that　obedience　to　the　commandments　of　God　was　necessary　if　he　would　obtain　eternal　life；　and　He　quoted　several　of　the　commandments　which　show　man's　duty　to　his

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fellow　men。　The　ruler's　answer　was　positive：　〃All　these　things　have　I　kept　from　my　youth　up：　what　lack　I　yet？〃

Christ　looked　into　the　face　of　the　young　man；　as　if　reading　his　life　and　searching　his　character。　He　loved　him；　and　He　hungered　to　give　him　that　peace　and　grace　and　joy　which　would　materially　change　his　character。　〃One　thing　thou　lackest；〃　He　said；　〃go　thy　way；　sell　whatsoever　thou　hast；　and　give　to　the　poor；　and　thou　shalt　have　treasure　in　heaven：　and　come；　take　up　the　cross；　and　follow　Me。〃

Christ　was　drawn　to　this　young　man。　He　knew　him　to　be　sincere　in　his　assertion；　〃All　these　things　have　I　kept　from　my　youth。〃　The　Redeemer　longed　to　create　in　him　that　discernment　which　would　enable　him　to　see　the　necessity　of　heart　devotion　and　Christian　goodness。　He　longed　to　see　in　him　a　humble　and　contrite　heart；　conscious　of　the　supreme　love　to　be　given　to　God；　and　hiding　its　lack　in　the　perfection　of　Christ。

Jesus　saw　in　this　ruler　just　the　help　He　needed　if　the　young　man　would　become　a　colaborer　with　Him　in　the　work　of　salvation。　If　he　would　place　himself　under　Christ's　guidance；　he　would　be　a　power　for　good。　In　a　marked　degree　the　ruler　could　have　represented　Christ；　for　he　possessed　qualifications；　which；　if　he　were　united　with　the　Saviour；　would　enable　him　to　become　a　divine　force　among　men。　Christ；　seeing　into　his　character；　loved　him。　Love　for　Christ　was　awakening　in　the　ruler's　heart；　for　love　begets　love。　Jesus　longed　to　see　him　a　co…worker　with　Him。　He　longed　to　make　him　like　Himself；　a　mirror　in　which　the　likeness　of　God　would　be　reflected。　He　longed　to　develop　the　excellence　of　his　character；　and　sanctify　it　to　the　Master's　use。　If　the　ruler　had　then　given　himself　to　Christ；　he　would　have　grown　in　the　atmosphere　of　His　presence。　If　he　had　made　this　choice；　how　different　would　have　been　his　future！

〃One　thing　thou　lackest；〃　Jesus　said。　〃If　thou　wilt　be　perfect；　go　and　sell　that　thou　hast；　and　give　to　the　poor；　and　thou　shalt　have　treasure　in　heaven：　and　come　and　follow　Me。〃　Christ　read　the　ruler's　heart。　Only　one　thing　he　lacked；　but　that　was　a　vital　principle。　He　needed　the　love　of　God　in　the　soul。　This　lack；　unless　supplied；　would　prove　fatal　to　him；　his　whole　nature　would　become　corrupted。　By　indulgence；　selfishness　would　strengthen。　That　he　might　receive　the　love　of　God；　his　supreme　love　of　self　must　be　surrendered。

Christ　gave　this　man　a　test。　He　called　upon　him　to　choose　between　the　heavenly　treasure　and　worldly　greatness。　The　heavenly　treasure　was　assured　him　if　he　would　follow　Christ。　But　self　must　yield；　his　will　must　be　given　into　Christ's　control。　The　very　holiness　of　God　was

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offered　to　the　young　ruler。　He　had　the　privilege　of　becoming　a　son　of　God；　and　a　coheir　with　Christ　to　the　heavenly　treasure。　But　he　must　take　up　the　cross；　and　follow　the　Saviour　in　the　path　of　self…denial。

Christ's　words　were　verily　to　the　ruler　the　invitation；　〃Choose　you　this　day　whom　ye　will　serve。〃　Joshua　24：15。　The　choice　was　left　with　him。　Jesus　was　yearning　for　his　conversion。　He　had　shown　him　the　plague　spot　in　his　character；　and　with　what　deep　interest　He　watched　the　issue　as　the　young　man　weighed　the　question！　If　he　decided　to　follow　Christ；　he　must　obey　His　words　in　everything。　He　must　turn　from　his　ambitious　projects。　With　what　earnest；　anxious　longing；　what　soul　hunger；　did　the　Saviour　look　at　the　young　man；　hoping　that　he　would　yield　to　the　invitation　of　the　Spirit　of　God！

Christ　made　the　only　terms　which　could　place　the　ruler　where　he　would　perfect　a　Christian　character。　His　words　were　words　of　wisdom；　though　they　appeared　severe　and　exacting。　In　accepting　and　obeying　them　was　the　ruler's　only　hope　of　salvation。　His　exalted　position　and　his　possessions　were　exerting　a　subtle　influence　for　evil　upon　his　character。　If　cherished；　they　would　supplant　God　in　his　affections。　To　keep　back　little　or　much　from　God　was　to　retain　that　which　would　lessen　his　moral　strength　and　efficiency；　for　if　the　things　of　this　world　are　cherished；　however　uncertain　and　unworthy　they　may　be；　they　will　become　all…absorbing。

The　ruler　was　quick　to　discern　all　that　Christ's　words　involved；　and　he　became　sad。　If　he　had　realized　the　value　of　the　offered　gift；　quickly　would　he　have　enrolled　himself　as　one　of　Christ's　followers。　He　was　a　member　of　the　honored　council　of　the　Jews；　and　Satan　was　tempting　him　with　flattering　prospects　of　the　future。　He　wanted　the　heavenly　treasure；　but　he　wanted　also　the　temporal　advantages　his　riches　would　bring　him。　He　was　sorry　that　such　conditions　existed；　he　desired　eternal　life；　but　he　was　not　willing　to　make　the　sacrifice。　The