King's Business - 1930-02

103

T h e

K i n g ’ s

B u s i n e s s

February 1930

No matter from what standpoint we consider this question, whether economic, social, or religious, wherever the Bible goes it always and ever improves these conditions. Its greatest value is its trans­ forming power o f the lives o f people. * * * S ide -L ights "Joy Town.” —This is the name given to a village on the Congo by the natives, who spiritually “once were afar off,” but have been “made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Not only have they been saved by grace, but whereas formerly they were sunk in ignorance, and living in mud huts o f filth, they now occupy decent houses, can read and write, and are worthy exam­ ples of the transformation which the Gos­ pel brings about. The Bible has not come to the place in human interest which it 5occupies today because men have set their seals upon it, but because it has satisfied a human need, and received the tribute of a human faith. It is God’s Word, and men believe it. No book has been so attacked and persecuted in all the ages, but it is still the best seller on the market. They [the Scriptures] are a declara­ tion and testimony o f spiritual things. We accept them as the words of God Him­ self.— Wm. Penn. The Bible is equal to the wants and in­ firmities o f every human being. No other book ever addressed itself to the judg­ ment and moral sense of mankind so au­ thoritatively as does the Bible.-— Chancel­ lor Kent. The more profoundly we study this wonderful Book, and the more closely we observe its divine precepts, the bet­ ter citizens we will become and the higher will be our destiny as a nation.-^-/ Wm. McKinley. The Bible is a great fact in the world’s history, known alike to the prince and the peasant, the simple and the sage. It is perused with pleasure by the child, and pondered with patience by the philoso­ pher. Its Psalms are caroled on the school green, cheer the chamber of sick­ ness, and are chanted by the mother over her cradle, by the orphan over the tomb. Here, thousands of miles away from the land of its birth, in a world undiscov­ ered for centuries after it was finished, in a language unknown alike at Athens and Jerusalem, it rules as lovingly and as powerfully as in its native soil. To show that its power is not derived from race or clime, it converts thei Sand­ wich Islands into a civilized nation and transforms the New Zealand cannibal into a British shop-owner, the Indian warrior into an American editor, and the Negro slave into the president of a free African Republic. Is there any other book so 5generally read, so greatly loved, so zealously propa­ gated, so widely diffused, so uniform in its results, and so powerful and blessed in its influences?

5. Fellowship with God involves an­ swered prayer. 3:22; 5:14. 6. Fellowship with God involves as­ surance o f the Spirit. 3:24; 5:13. 7. Fellowship with God involves a right attitude toward false and true teachers. Chapters 4 and 5. Tradition says of John, the writer of this book: “Toward the very end of his life, when he was so infirm that he had to be carried to the church, and was too weak to preach, he used to say no more than this, ‘Little children, love one an­ other.’ His hearers, at last wearied of this, said, ‘Master, why dost thou always say this?’ He replied, ‘It is the Lord’s command, and if this alone is done, it is enough.’ ” * * * S ide -L ights Luther and the Evil One —-There is a legend of -Luther that, during a serious illness, the evil one seemed to enter his sickroom, and looking at him with a tri- umphant smile, unrolled a vast roll which he carried in his arms. As the fiend threw one end o f it on the floor, and it unwound itself, Luther’s eyes were fixed upon it, and to his consternation he read there the long and fearful record of his own sins, clearly and distinctly enumerated. That stout heart quailed before that ghastly roll. Suddenly it flashed into his mind that there was one thing not written there. He said aloud, “ One thing you have forgotten: the rest is all true; but one thing you h a v e forgotten—‘The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ ” As he said this the “accuser of the brethren” and his heavy roll of “lamentation, mourning, and woe” disappeared together. The president o f one of the largest banks o f New York City told that after he had served for several years as an o f­ fice boy in the bank over which he now presides, the then president called him into his office one day and said, “ I want you to come into my office and be with me.” The young man replied, “But what do you want me to do?” “Never mind that,” said the president ; “you will learn about that soon. I j ust want you to be in here with me.” “That was the most memorable moment of my life,” said the great banker. “Being with that man made me all that I am today.” What must the disciples have received by being with Jesus! 1 John 4:17, last clause, and 3:2—‘“ Be­ loved, now are we the sons o f God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be.” A prince who was traveling in the care of his tutor, asked how he ought to act un­ der such and such circumstances. “A l­ ways remember that thou art a king’s son,” said the tutor. Lady Powerscourt lay dying in her cas­ tle. A friend who was on intimate terms with her came into her bedroom, and said: “How are you today, Lady Powers­ court?” “ Very well,” she said, “very well; I will tell you what I have been thinking of. I have been thinking that one needs a great many Scriptures to live by, but you only need one to die by.” “And what is that, your ladyship?” “The

How to G et Joy “I am telling my ■friends about T he K ing ’ s B usiness not fo r any hope o f reward, but to have them get the joy that I am getr ting from the study of the best religious magazine printed ., I am doing all I can to get all of my friends to subscribe — J. R. M., Washington, D. C.

only Scripture that a person needs to die by is this: ‘The Blood o f Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin,’ and that verse never was sweeter to my soul than at this moment” (1 John 1 :7). —o— Isa. 30:21; Lk. 8:11-15 S uggestive O rder of S ervice February 23, 1930 The Value of the Bible for Non- Christian Nations 10 Mi This meeting could very well be made a stereopticon meeting, w_i t h _ slides showing the value of the Bible in non- Christian nations as evidenced by the work being carried on in such countries by your own denomination. If i slides are not available use photos or pictures cut out o f missionary magazines. Opening Songs: “The Morning Light is Breaking,” “ From Greenland’s Icy Moun­ tains.” Prayer by chairman o f missionary com­ mittee. Scripture Reading, Isa. 30:21; Lk. 8: 11-15. . Announcements and Offering. Special Missionary Number in song or reading. Leader’s Remarks. Talk by missionary on furlough if pos­ sible. Sentence Prayers, remembering espe­ cially the various mission fields. Closing Song: “We’ve a Story to Tell To the Nations.” Benediction. * * * T reatment of the T opic The value of the Bible for non-Chris­ tian nations is greater than that of any other book in the world in that the Bible, which is the inspired Word of God, re­ veals to all people the Creator of the uni­ verse, His love for all people, the people’s relationship to Him ; and as a result of the reading of the wonderful book, lives are completely transformed from lives of sin and degradation to lives of purity and holiness. '' • The Bible brings light where darkness once ruled in the minds of the people. It releases them from the shackles of Satan, giving them liberty in Christ. It gives the people an upward look to­ ward heaven and home instead of a downward fearful look to hell and Satan. Such transformation o f lives cannot help but have its effect upon the nation which these people represent.

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