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February, 1935
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
NOTES on
B y M a r y G. G o o d n e r
MARCH 10, 1935 Crime Does Not Pay P salm 1 :4-6 Suggestions for the Meeting
them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify o f man; for he knew what was in man.” How sub limely simple are these words 1 Concerning our Lord’s understanding and compassion, Dr. J. Gregory Mantle says: “ To tell me that at the center o f the universe there is One who bears my bur dens and carries my sorrows; who knows the height and depth and breadth and length of human need and human experience; who came into the world to teach me that ‘compassion’ was the ruling characteristic o f God; who knows my name, my weak ness, my temperament, my surroundings; who is invested with universal authority, that He may exercise on my behalf the succor and strength I need, is to tell me something which is good news indeed.” Christ’s love and understanding are in finite. W e frequently hear that “a friend is one who knows all about us and still loves us.” If this statement could be true of an earthly friend, much more do the Scriptures tell us of our Lord’s great love for us. “He knew what was in man,” and yet He had compassion. “What a Friend we have in Jesus!” Well might Faber sing: U nderstood by O ur R edeemer Jesus’ whole ministry proved that He knew what was in human nature. Jesus knew that men would not understand1. No sign that He could give would be accepted. John tells us that it was only after the resurrection that even the disciples under stood. Jesus Christ did indeed know hu man nature, for He had deliberately taken it up to redeem it. He knows each one in dividually. He knows us altogether—our sins, weaknesses, sorrows, motives, im pulses, purposes, character. Is the knowl edge o f Jesus’ omniscience welcome to us, or do we dread it?—A. R . K ennedy . II. T he S ource of C ompassion A gentleman visiting one o f the hospitals for lepers in India, and wishing to test the nurse on duty, said; “ You must have a great deal o f enthusiasm for humanity to labor here among those awful cases of disease.” “ Enthusiasm for humanity, indeed!” re plied the nurse. “ That would not keep me here a week; but I do possess some of the compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is the reason why I am content to live and labor amid such surroundings.” It is the “love o f Christ” (2 Cor. 5:14) that is the motive of all true service for God. W e love lepers because He first loved us (cf. 1 John 4 :1 9 ).— P ickering . “ There is plentiful redemption In the blood that has been shed; There is joy for all the members In the sorrows of the Head. “For the love o f God is broader Than the measure o f man’s mind; And the heart of the Eternal Is most wonderfully kind.” Leader’s Helps I.
MARCH 3, 1935 The Insight of Jesus Christ M atth ew 9:36-38; J ohn 2:24, 25 Suggestions (or the Meeting Hymn—“Take the Name o f Jesus with You.” Hymn—“What a Friend.” Hymn—“His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” Prayer. „ _ Scripture—Matthew 9 :36-38; John 2 :24, 25. Quartet — “ Master, the Tempest Is Raging.” Leader’s Message. On viewing these two exquisite pen por traits o f our blessed Lord, one would feel that they should be named “ Compassion” and “Omniscience” respectively. W e find combined in these separated descriptions the two of our Lord’s attributes which are most comforting to the believer. ; W e rejoice in these aspects o f Christs character because we all need help. We might know some one who loves us and yet who is not able to help. Then, we might know some one who is able but is not willing—because he does not love. But here is One who is “ Strong Son of God, Immortal Love.” Because He is strong, He is able; because He is “Immortal Love,” He is willing. “ Compassion”—it is the key word of the life o f Jesus. It comes from two Latin words meaning “to suffer with.” No one can enter into the real heart and life of Christ without understanding that the one word that has always suited Him best is “ compassion.” “ Christ . . . his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree (2 Pet. 2:24). Why? He had compassion on us. “ The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6 ). Why ? The Father and the Son had compassion. He brews 5 gives us the picture o f the Lord Jesus Christ’s high priestly work. Just as He was compassionate on earth, He is “the same yesterday, and today, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8). The mercy that He showed to suffering, sinning humanity in the days of His flesh is extended to us today. Then the passage in John 2:24, 25 un veils to us the omniscience of our Saviour. “ But Jesus did not commit himself unto T H E B E A U T I F U L IN GO S P E L S ONG By Rev. George Bennard, the author of “THE OLD RUGGED CRO SS" “BECAU SE HE FIRST LOVED M E " “TELL M E H IS NAM E A G A IN " “CROSS-CROW NED CA LVA RY” “OUT OF TH E HEART OF GO D" “S E E K AND FIN D THE FU LLNES8 OF H IS LOVE FOR ME, FOR M E " “TH ERE IS NO OTHER SA V IO U R " “TH E SOUL’S RETREAT " “M Y BU RD EN S W ENT ROLLING A W A Y " Testimonies. Quiet Hour. Benediction—Numbers 6:24-26. Meditation on the Lesson
Hymn—“Day Is Dying in the West.” Hymn—“Give of Your Best to the Mas ter.” Prayer. Hymn—“What Will You Do with Jesus?” Scripture—Psalm 1—from memory, in concert. Duet—“Have Thine Own Way, Lordl” Testimonies. Leader’s Message. Hymn—“All Hail the Power.” Benediction—Psalm 19:14. Meditation on the Lesson This wonderful little psalm has been memorized by thousands of believers and should be learned by every Christian. In our passage for today, only the last three verses are mentioned, but we shall con sider the whole psalm, as only thus can we get the full significance o f these verses. Here we have contrasting portraits of two men—the godly man (vs. 1-3) and the ungodly man (vs. 4-6). Two great facts are emphasized. The righteous are blessed; the unrighteous shall perish. A strong con trast is made—that o f a living, growing tree, and of chaff which is subject to every strong wind. Every individual is like one or the other o f these pictures. The godly man is described as one who “walketh not in the counsel o f the un godly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in* the seat of the scornful.” W e see here a succession of steps toward a climax. First comes the walk, then the stopping to stand and listen, and finally the taking of a seat to fellowship with the opposers of God. But all of this the “blessed” man does not do. In the next two verses is presented the positive side o f this picture. “ His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Here we see pleasure, meditation, and continu ance in the law of the Lord—and they are set forth as resulting in blessedness. The result is told in verse 3: “He shall be like a tree” : planted, fruitful, fresh, vigorous, ever green, and prosperous. What a pic ture I But “the ungodly are not so.” When the world discusses the theme: “ Crime Does Not Pay,” the arguments are based upon the probability o f discovery or upon the criminal’s mental suffering from fear or conscience. But here God gives His esti mate of the two individuals and reveals the eternal destiny o f each. Who would want the last three verses o f this psalm to be a portrait o f his life? “The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” “Chaff” was use less stuff which no one wanted. By East ern modes o f winnowing, the chaff was ut terly blown away. Trees bring blessings; chaff is worth less. There are only two ways, and two ends. Christ in His sermon on the mount
“CAST ON HIM YOUR B U R D E N " “TH E BEA U T IFU L FO U N TAIN " “ IN TH E DAYS OF YOUTH”
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