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May, 1937
THE K I N G ' S BUS I NESS
Philip was prompted by the Spirit to go and join himself to this chariot, which be longed to an Ethiopian eunuch, a man of position and authority, who was returning from the celebration of the feast of Pente cost at Jerusalem. He had left Jerusalem not truly satisfied, and as he traveled he was reading aloud from the prophecy of Isaiah in that wonderful Messianic portion, the fifty-third chapter. Philip opened con versation with him by asking, “ Understand- est thou what thou readest?” With admirable docility he replied, “ How can I, except some man should guide me?” Being “instant in season,” Philip “ opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” He showed him that Jesus Christ was the Messiah which was prophesied in Isaiah. Could a more satisfying dramatic climax than this be imagined? Can one find romance and adventure in the Word of God? It is unexcelled in its realistic characterization, its vivid action, its suggestive setting, and above all, the deep, eternal satisfaction which it offers its readers, if they, like the eunuch of our story, will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all their hearts. Have you learned that the Bible is a living Book? This would be a fitting'time to empha size the importance of Bible study. Have some of these tributes to the Bible read at your meeting: I thoroughly believe in a university edu cation for both men and women, but I be lieve a knowledge of the Bible without a college course is more valuable than a col lege course without the Bible. —W illiam L yon P helps . T o every man who faces life with real desire to do his part in everything, I ap peal for a study of the Bible. No book of any kind ever written has so affected the whole life of a people. — T heodore R oosevelt . The Bible is a book in' comparison with which all others in my eyes are of minor importance, and which in all my perplexi ties and distresses has never failed to give me light and strength.— R obert E. L ee . If everything else in our language should perish, the Bible alone would suffice to' show the whole extent of its beauty and power.— T homas B abington M acaulay . The Bible is the one book of which no intelligent person who wishes to come into contact with the world of thought and to share the ideas of the great minds of the Christian era can afford to be ignorant. All modern literature and all art are premeated with it. A boy or girl at college without a fair knowledge of the Bible is an ignora mus.—C. D. W arner . II. N ew R ealms to E xplore Young people whose, search for romance and adventure in good reading has failed to include well-written missionary biography have impoverished their lives and ■have missed an important source of personal en Helps fo r the Leader I. R ecognizing the B ible ’ s W orth
richment and inspiration. Have you been stirred by the stories of Pandita Ramabai, John G. Paton, William Carey, Hudson Taylor, and David Livingston? Are you ac quainted with Pastor Hsi, the proud and bitter Confucian scholar who by Christ’s power was delivered from opium slavery and in turn led many hundreds of his fel low Chinese opium addicts to trust in the living Saviour? Can you see the dynamic Mary Slessor of Calibar riding her bicycle along trails in West Africa, “mothering” the blacks of a great region, controlling them far more effectively than could any government official, and fairly loving them into the arms of Christ? At the Christian Endeavor meeting, bring a few brief dra matic incidents from missionary literature, and show your group these miracles that God has wrought.— S elected . JUNE 20, 1937 HOW TRUE TO LIFE ARE THE MOVIES? P hilippians 4:8; 1 J ohn 2:15-17 Meditation on the Lesson Pilate’s ancient question is still current today: “What is truth?” The Lord Jesus conclusively answered that query by declar ing that He was the Truth—the complete embodiment of all that is true and sincere and honest. Much that passes for truth to day does not have its origin in Christ and does not come up to the divine standard of veracity; therefore, in reality, it is false hood. God is our authority, and His Word is our measuring rod. In order to ascertain the real worth of any human product, we must not ask, “ How true to life is it?” but, “How true to Christ is it?” Paul in our Philippian passage ex horts us to “think on” things that are true, honest, just, lovely, reputable, virtuous, and praiseworthy. It is true that sin in all of its hideous forms has permeated the world today, but a meditation upon sinful objects is not elevating and Christ-honoring. Thus we conclude that Paul is referring to those things which are true to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the essence and personifica tion of eternal truth. In our second passage, John gives a nega tive command: “Love not the world.” What is “the world” ? We are told in John 3:16 that “ God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” to redeem from eter nal destruction those that are in the world. But in the verses of our lesson we are warned not to love that world-system that is alienated from Him, not to love the. social organism of evil that prevents men from loving Him in return. Although we are to love the souls of men for whom Christ died, we are not to follow their cus toms, ideals, and standards, nor to covet their honor and seek' their fellowship. A Christian is in the world, but not of the world; if he becomes assimilated in the world of spiritual darkness, he is false to his Master. John further declared that “ all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Undeni ably the stamp of “the world” is upon the modern movie; lust and pride are featured
C H R I S T I A N S ! Do you know that in Taian, Shantung, China, a large Christian orphanage has been feeding and clothing destitute children and helpless old folks; teaching them the Gospel Hi a very practical man« ner for 21 years? You too can have a part in this faith work. Your prayers and gifts are gratefully received. For free booklet describing this work address: . H O M E O F O N E S I P H O R U S (American Office) 2811 N. Racine Ave., Drawer II, Chicago, Illinois
"Right on Time”— HP oday , with markets uncertain . and values all awry, the fortunate owners of Annu ity Con tracts with Wheaton College are wearing smiles of value-received satisfaction. For years-on-end, through wars and depressions alike, Wheaton's Annuity payments have always been promptly made — "Right on Time." During this period, Wheaton’s con sistent growth has conclusively proved the innate soundness of its principles. Founded in I860 with one small build- ing and a mere handful of students, Wheaton, through the years, has always stood sanely for the right things. Today it has attained a posi tion of national importance to Christian people. It draws its students from nearly every state in the Union and from many other countries. Its enrollment has more than tripled during the last • fifteen years; and increased more tha.n 20% in a single recent matriculatipn. No wonder Wheaton’s remittances are prompt, and her Annuitants confident and happy. Yon will be equally pleased —■ why not Clip the Coupon? Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. Please tell me, without obligation, how I may pro vide an income for life, for myself or a survivor. W h e a to n ( I b l f e n e MR. GEORGE V. KIRK, Vice Pres. * Box KB-537
**For Christ and His Kingdom'*
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