wn dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God. And
another also said, I will follow thee, Lord; but first suffer me
to bid farewell to them that are at my house. But Jesus said unto
him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is
fit for the kingdom of God.--Luke 9:57-62.

The way in which Jesus called his disciples shows that he felt he had a
big business in hand. It was a call to action, to conflict and loss, and
there was snap in it. Leaving their boats and nets doubtless seemed a big
proposition to these four fishermen; but they did it. Matthew had to give
up a government job with pickings. These five rose to their chance with
courageous decision, and their names are still borne by millions of boys
today. The names of the other three are lost to fame. One of them gushed
and Jesus cooled off his emotions. The second and third wanted to
procrastinate and hid behind social obligations. Note that epigram about
the ploughman. It is a splendid expression of intelligent and concentrated
energy. You can't drive a straight furrow while you "rubber." You've got
to "tend to your job."

Four of the first five are said to have died a violent death. Would they
have been wiser if they had looked out for Number One?

Third Day: The Futility of Talk

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is
in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy
name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I
never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth
them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon
the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the
winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was
founded upon the rock. And every one that heareth these words of
mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who
built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the
floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it
fell: and great was the fall thereof.--Matt. 7:21-27.

Jesus evidently felt deeply the emptiness and futility of much of the
religious talk. He was interested only in those emo