THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S “ N ow I b e s e e c b y o u , b r e t h r e n , b y th e n a m e o f o u r L o r d J e s u s C h r is t, t h a t y e a ll s p e a k t h e s a m e th i n g , a n d t h a t th e r e b e n o d iv is io n s a m o n g y o u ; b u t t h a t y e b e p e r f e c tly jo in e d t o g e t h e r in t h e s a m e m in d , a n d in th e s a m e ju d g m e n t.” Such unity will be fru itfu l (John 15:8) “ H e r e in is m y F a t h e r g lo r if ie d t h a t y e b e a r m u c h f r u i t ; s o s h a ll y e b e m y d is c ip le s .” (4 ) GLORIFICATION. “And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them ” (v. 22). Glorification is th e goal of disciple- ship. It is th e full fru ition of th e work of th e Lord fo r us, hy us, and th rough us. The bud is glorified when it bursts forth into a fully developed flower. We are now in th e bud of Christian life. The flower is for th e hereafter. The disciples could no t fully appreci ate th a t which was given to them. They were to be glorified in th e ir unity here (v. 22), “A n d th e g lo r y w h ic h th o u g a v e s t m e I h a v e g iv e n th e m ; t h a t t h e y m a y b e o n e , e v e n a s w e a r e o n e .” and they were to be glorified by sh ar ing His glory h ereafter (v. 24) “ F a t h e r , I w ill t h a t t h e y a ls o , w h o m th o ti h a s t g iv e n m e , b e w i t h m e w h e r e I a m ; t h a t th e y m a y b e h o ld m y g lo r y , w h ic h th o u h a s t g iv e n m e f o r th o n lo v e d s t m e b e f o r e th e f o u n d a tio n o f th e w o rld .” It was a glorious Gospel th a t saved us (2 Cor. 4 :4 ) ; it was a glorious lib erty into which we entered (Rom 8: 21) ; it was a glorious Spirit th a t en tered into us (2 Cor. 3 :8 ), We are called to glory (2 Pet. 1 :3 ) ; to have glorified bodies (Phil.. 3:21) a t His glorious appearing (T itus 2 :1 3 ). We are to abide in glory forever (Rev. 21: 23). How are we to manifest th is glory? (2 Cor. 3:18) “ B u t w e a ll, w ith u n v e ile d f a c e , b e h o ld in g a s in a m i r r o r th e g lo r y o f th e L o rd , a r e c h a n g e d f r o m g lo r y to g lo r y .” The Word is th e m irror. Look in it. Behold Him. Dwelling upon the divine person and work of Christ, our h earts and m inds filled w ith God’s thoughts, living in th e conscious pres ence of th e Spirit,— our ch aracter is
768 b o d y , b ein g : m a n y , a r e o n e b o d y ) s o a ls o is C h r is t. * * • B u t n o w a r e t h e y m a n y m e m b e r s— y e t o n e b o d y .” A beautiful illu stration is given in Psa. 133: “B e h o ld , h o w grood a n d h o w p le a s a n t i t Is f o r b r e t h r e n t o d w e ll t o g e t h e r in u n it y . I t i s li k e th e p r e c io u s o in tm e n t u p o n th e h e a d , t h a t r a n d o w n u p o n t h e b e a r d , e v e n A a r o n ’s b e a r d ; t h a t w e n t d o w n to th e s k i r t s o f h is g a r m e n ts , A s th e d e w o f H e rm o n , a n d a s t h e d e w t h a t d e s c e n d e d u p o n th e m o u n t a in s o f Z io n ) f o r t h e r e t h e L o rd c o m m a n d e d th e b le s s in g , e v e n lif e f o r e v e rm o r e .” T rue Christian unity is like th e frag rance oi precious ointment. The anoint ing of th e Spirit sanctifies th e whole man. The unity of sanctified men is like the dew of heaven satu ratin g th e a ir w ith heavenly moisture, refreshing the plants and trees th a t each may ful fill its own mission,— all blessed w ith th e same light, heat, dew and rain ; no jealousy, no grieving th e Spirit of God, but each one yielding all glory to God. Men should rem em b er-th eir common life, th e ir common heritage* th e ir com mon destiny. The tie which binds be lievers together is stronger th a n any earth ly tie, of fam ily relationship, of societies or lodges. I t is a blood tie. (Acts 20:28; Eph. 2:13-22) There must be a visible attestation of tru th th a t th e world may know th a t we belong to Him (John 13:35) “ B y t h i s s h a ll a l l m e n k n o w t h a t y e a r e m y d is c ip le s , i f y e h a v e lo v e o n e t o a n o th e r .” T rue Christian unity will be mani fested in a Unity of sp irit (Eph. 4 :3 ). ' : « E n d e a v o r in g to k e e p th e u n i t y o f th e S p ir it in t h e h o n d o f p e a c e .” Unity of faith (Eph. 4 :1 3 ). “ T ill w e a i l c o m e in th e u n i t y o f th e f a i t h , a n d o f th e k n o w le d g e o f th e S o n o f S o d , u n to a p e r f e c t m a n , u n to th e m e a s u r e o f th e s t a t u r e o f t h e f a l n e s s o f C h r is t.” Unity of h e a rt (Acts 4:32) “A n d t h e m u l tit u d e o f th e m t h a t b e lie v e d w e r e o f o n e h e a r t a n d o f o n e so ul* ” Unity of love (Col. 2:2) “T h a t t h e i r h e a r t s m i g h t b e c o m f o rte d , b e in g k n i t to g e t h e r in lo v e , a n d u n to a l l th e r ic h e s o f th e f u l l a s s u r a n c e o f u n d e r s ta n d in g , t o th e a c k n o w le d g m e n t o f th e m y s te r y o f G o d , a n d o f th e F a t h e r , a n d o f C h r is t.” I I I s Unity of mind (1 Cor. 1:10 )
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