THE K I N G ’S BUS I NES S watchful, (Acts 2:42; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6, 7). 8. “Distributing to the necessity of saints” (v. 13). Generosity. Be free with our gifts; supply the needs of the saints. (Acts 4:34, 35; Acts 9:39; 1 Cor. 16:1, 2; Gal. 6:10; Philemon 7). 9. .“Bless them which persecute you” (v. 14). Magnanimity. (Luke 6:28). “Bless them th a t curse you.” This is hard and takes the grace of God. (1 Cor. 4:12). 10. “Rejoice with them th a t do re joice, and weep with them th a t weep.” (v. 15). Show sympathy with all the saints. Be always glad for their pros perity. This, too, is sometimes hard, but it is essential. (1 Cor. 12:26; 2 Cor. 2:3; Phil. 2:26). 11. “Be of the same mind” (v. 16). Humility,—a great grace, and one to be earnestly desired. (Acts 4:32; 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 4:11-13). Now for our relation to the world: . 12. “Recompense to no man evil for evil” (v. 17). Charity,—a wondrous grace. (1 Thess. 5:15). 13. “Provide things honest” (v. 17). Honesty. We are to give no occasion to the adversary to speak evil of the followers of Christ. (2 Cor. 8:20, 21; Rom. 14:16). 14. “If it be possible * * * live peaceably” (v. 18). Serenity. We are to live in the sunshine; keep on smil ing. (Rom. 14:19; 2 Cor. 13:11; Eph. 4 :3 ). 15. “Avenge not yourselves” (v. 19). Submission. (Matt. 5:39; Luke 6:27-29; Prov. 25:21, 22). 16. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (v. 21). Vic tory,-^the crowning trait. Leave' things with God. It takes two to make a bar gain, and two to make a fight. Submit to God’s holy will and tru st Him to make a ll things “work together for good.” (Prov. 16:32; 1 Pet. 3:9). PRACTICAL POINTS (1) The mercies of God are so many
353
th a t they demand the dedication of our dll to Him. (2) The transforming power of the Spirit is manifested in our non conformity to the world. (3) You cannot be loyal to the Word, if you love the world. (4) If you are to have a heart for the good, you must have a hatred for the evil. (5) If you do not want to be tripped by evil, avoid the devil’s trap. (6) Don’t be a laggard in the business of the Lord. . (7) Here are thirteen words, which fit
well in fifteen verses: Hostile— toward sin. Honorable—to all. Healthy—in business. Hopeful—in all things. Hospitable—to all. Happy;—-'when cursed. Human-—toward all. Humble—in attitude. Honest—toward all.
Heavenly—in our relation to all. Harmless— toward our enemies. Helpful—in time of need. Heroic—in service.
v. 1. By the mercies of God. A liv ing sacrifice to God from us is demanded by the sacrifice of the living God for us.—Cook. Present your bodies. Lit erally “ y i e l d , ” COMMENTS FROM the same word MANY SOURCES. translated “yield” Keith L. Brooks in Romans 6. A threefold argu ment is here presented Why we should yield: 1. The mercies of God—grati tude to God demands it. 2. I t is accept able (2 Cor. 5 :9 ). 3. It is reasonable —we cannot produce a reason why we should not.-—BrookS. A living sacri fice. There were four offerings in Israel in which living bodies were presented to God—the burnt offering (Lev. 1:1-9), peace offering (Lev. 3:1-5), sin offer ing (Lev. 4:1-12), the trespass offer ing (Lev. 5:1-6). The offering with which the living sacrifice is here contrasted was the burnt offering.
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs