THE K I N G ’S BUS I NES S
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whole-hearted — undivided affection — with willing obedience of the mind. It must be deep-seated. (Eph. 3:17-19). God must be first in the mind and have first place in the affections. God, revealed in Jesus Christ, makes possible to those who, by faith in Him, have His own nature, the fulfilling of this command (John 1:12): «B ut a s m any a s received him , to th em grave he pow er to becom e th e sons, o f God, even to th em th a t believe 'o n h is nam e.” The Word of God must have first place in our. hearts, for it is through the Word th a t He is made known to us. The Word should be hid in our hearts (Psa. 119:11). This will keep us from backsliding and apostasy and will help us to joyfully do His will. (Psa. 40:8). It will make us indifferent to the re proach of men, (Isa. 51 :7 ): «H eark en u n to m e, ye th a t k n ow rig h teousness, th e people in, w hose h e a rt is m y law ; fe a r ye n o t th e re p ro a c h of m en, n e ith e r be ye a fra id of th e ir re v ilin g s.” The Word of God is a family Book. It teaches parents how to live (Deut. 6:1, 2), and how to train their children. No Christian parent should depend upon preacher or teacher, no matter how true such may be to the Word of God, to be the sole instructor of their children in religious things. The first obligation is upon the parent, (Eph. 6 :4 ): “And ye, fa th e rs, provoke n o t y o u r ch il dren to w ra th , b u t b rin g th em up in th e n u rtu re an d adm onition of th e Lord.” Paul calls attention to a notable in stance of family teaching in 2 Tim. 1:5, and in the 21st and 25th verses of our chapter special instruction is given in what to say. The Bible is the children’s picture book, and no book has such a hold upon the heart and mind of the little ones. Parents are here directed to “talk Bible” to the children; to talk about the things of God; to give them good, sound doctrines as they grow up, so that they may be rooted and grounded in the truth. Parents should not only have family
Jehovah to Israel to listen to a great fundamental tru th concerning God and man’s relation to Him. The m e s s a g e is LESSON world-wide and age- EXPOSITION abiding in its scope. T. O. Horton F i r s t , jjjjjHconcerning God, (for that is the main issue always)-—-Who is He? He is One. There is but One. Israel’s danger is the ever-threatening danger— the danger of many gods. He is One, but One in Three, or Three in One. The title here is “Elohim” in the Hebrew and is plural in form. Herein lies the fundamental truth concerning the unity and trinity of the Godhead. He is the Eternal, Self-exist ing, Ever-existing God, and the com mand is “hear!”—Give ear to the great, eternal fact—“Th§re is one God.” (Deut. 4:35, 36; 6:4). God is a jealous God. He will not share His glory with another (Isa. 42:*8). There was none before Him, neither shall there be any to succeed Him, (Isa. 44:6) and the Lord Jesus calls Him “the only true God” (John 17:3). «And th is is life e te rn a l th a t th ey m ay k n ow th ee, th e only tru e God a n d Je su s ■Christ w hom th o u h a st sen t.” Having stated the fact concerning the oneness of God, we are then told what relation we should have to Him. God demands th a t He be loved, and our Lord Reiterates this as the first and great commandment (Matt. 22:37). This seems a hard demand of men and necessitates such a knowledge of God as would inspire love. God was dwelling with Israel, revealing Himself as a gracious God, but this command was designed to reveal to Israel His holiness and their sinfulness and their need of a blood sacrifice as an atone ment for their sins. The demand is for the love of the whole being of man—a supreme love— such as a Supreme Being deserves—the love of the heart, soul and might—
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