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THE KING’S BUSINESS
The way to take heed and to be absolutely safe is by, first of all, surrendering our wills absolutely and unreservedly to God (John 7 :17) ; second, studying the Bible itself (not Mrs. Eddy’s key to the Scriptures, or Rus sell’s books that he seeks to substitute for the Bible, or the substitute of anyone else) (Acts 20:29, 30, 32; 2 T i 3:13-17), and testing all teachings and claims by the Word of God; third, by constantly engag ing in definite personal work to lead others to a definite acceptance of Christ. Unless we do these three things we are bound to be led astray. We would not be “troubled” or in fear even though wars abound and rumors of war multiply, nor should we judge that the end is necessarily right at hand. These things and earthquakes and famines are only the beginning of the birth pangs of a new and better order of things, when Jesus shall reign. So our hearts should grow light and hopeful and not heavy and despairing when these things in crease (cf. Luke 21:28). Thursday, August 12. Mark 13:9-13. It is to ourselves that we should take first and especial heed (cf. 1 Ti. 4:16). Most of us are so busy taking heed to the doctrine and conduct of others that we fall into a snare ourselves. Persecution awaited the apostles and awaits us if we are faithful (2 Ti. 3:12). But we do not need to have any anxiety on that score; for it will be given us by the Holy Spirit what to say (and what to do) when the hour of trial comes. It is for the believer in such perilous times as we are now living in (and in all times) to live absolutely without fear (John 14:1; Phil. 4:6, 7; Rom. 8:28-38). What ever arises it is our part to prove steadfast, and if we really have faith in Christ we shall prove steadfast (Heb. 40:39 R. V.). Friday, August 13. Mark 13:14-23. This passage evidently has primary ref erence to the Jew, “in Judea,” and had its first partial fulfillment in the destruction of
of this character; there is little giving that really costs; but our giving does not count at all unless it does cost. The widow did not give a tenth: she gave all. It came of her want but it pleased the Lord. As she moved away, perhaps ashamed of the small ness of her gift, she little realized how it pleased the highest authority—God. The important question about our gifts is not do they win applause from men, but do they please God? Tuesday, August 10. ' Mark 13:1, 2. The disciples were greatly taken up with the external magnificence of the temple, “What wonderful stones, what wonderful buildings!” But the Lord knew that the real glory, that of God’s presence, had de parted from that wonderful structure and that therefore the structure itself was ut terly doomed. “There shall not be left here one stone upon another, which shall not be thrown down/’ He sadly and solemnly said. His prediction seemed absurd and impossible, but it has proved true to the letter. How we glory today in our won derful church edifices and cathedrals and institutes. Let us not boast. Is the real glory there ? Is God there ? A h! of many of our proud and matchless structures our Lord as He sadly shakes His head is say ing. “There shall not be left here one stone upon another, which shall not be thrown down.” Wednesday, August 11. Mark 13:3-8. Of much of the teaching of these verses we have already written in our Notes on Matthew 24, to which the reader is re ferred. The words of our Lord on this oc casion that especially need emphasis in our day are those found in verse 5, “Take heed that no man lead you astray.” The false teachers making great claims are arising thick and fast on every hand, those who escape the snare of one fall into the snare of another, and we all of us need to take very earnest heed lest we; too, he trapped.
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