THE K I NG ' S B U S I N E S S
1282
of daily life, let him bear in mind th a t the highest worship which we can offer to God is th e simple recognition of His presence. It is not possible to be con stan tly in a physical a ttitu d e of prayer, yet the devout soul may be constantly in the spirit of prayer. When tem ptation comes th ere will be th e in stan t upward look to Him who is able to keen us from falling. When an unexpected pleasure enters our lives, it will be sec ond n atu re to offer up a silent word of grateful praise to th e Giver of every good and perfect gift. The human race may be divided into the friends and foes of Christ. One’s a ttitu d e to Christ determ ines his eter nal destiny. Christ has defined His friend s in John 15:14, “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.” Obedience to His Divine com mands is th e touchstone and te st c friendship. Conversely and by implica tion disobedience to His express com mands and disregard of His Divine ap proval is th e m ark of enm ity and ill- will. F riendship is not dem onstrated by lip service. “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not th e things which I say?” This was th e reproof of th e Mas te r to His enemies, clothed in th e garb of profession. A day is coming in which both friend and foe, stripped of every masquerade, will stand revealed. , M aith a received Him. This is one of th e few passages in the life of the Saviour in which we are perm itted to view Him in th e circle of His domestic life, in COMMENTS FROM which we see Him MANY SOURCES as a guest and K eith L. Brooks ' friend receiving hospitality, and by gentle words allaying angry feelings, which are so apt to spring up from the most triv ial causes and m ar th e peace of th e home.-—Horn. Com. v. 39. Mary, which also sat. The “ also” shows Mary, too, in her way was no less anxious to give Jesiis a fitting reception.— Camb. Bible. A t Jesu s’ feet. It m atters little a t the feet of v. 38.
(4) W hat was the secret o£ Mary’s quest? (Psa. 16:5, 6 ) ' (5) Is th ere a suggestion here con cerning God’s record of daily occur rences? (Mai. 3:16, 17) . (6) Why did th e Pharisees hate Jesus? (John 17:14) (7) W hat is the chief danger in public Christian life? (Luke 14:11; Matt. 6:5) (8) W hat is the chief danger in the private life? (1 Cor. 15:31) (9) ' W hat is the lesson you tak e to your h eart from these diverse stories? (1 Pet. 5:6) ^¡4. Bethany was a quiet re tre a t where th e Master ever found rest and com fo rt when wearied by long journeys or pursued by th e hatred of priests and Pharisees. Here as DEVOTIONAL the heavenly Guest and COMMENT confidential F riend, he F . W. F a rr found in the devotion of loving h earts the sympathy and understanding denied Him elsewhere. In John 12:1-3, Mary stands for fellowship, M artha for serv ice,and Lazarus for testimony. In John 11:5, th e Bethany fam ily is indi vidualized and named member by mem ber. How weak and trite th e statsm en t would appear th a t Jesus loved th e fam ily! How forceful and precious is the listing of the names one by one! One has well said, “Only in the sacredness of inward silence does th e soul tru ly meet the secret-hiding God. The strength of resolve which afterw ards shapes life and mixes itself w ith action, is th e fru it of those sacred solitary moments when we meet God alone.” Again, “We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion th a t no large, grow th in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take tim e to be often and long alone w ith God.” If one should say th a t he has no tim e for prayer and de votion on account of th e exacting duties
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker