THE K I N G ’ S BU SI N É S S first chapter of the Bible. “Let God” is the secret of a life of victory. It is not hard work for the sun to shine. We dd not have to manufacture the light. In order to have it shine in, we only need to open door and window. In order to have it shine out, we only need to keep ourselves in the love of God, and give Him the right of way. Phil. 4:5. Col. 3:15-16. Self-effort is a hindrance not a help. Strain and struggle inter fere with and interdict the Divine work ing. What light is to the material crea tion, love is in the moral universe. The Scripture statements, “God is light” and “God is love,” must he convertible terms. “The night has a thousand eyes, And the day but one; Yet the light of the bright world dies With the dying sun. The mind has a thousand eyes, And the heart but one; Yet the light of a whole life dies When love is done.” THURSDAY, Sept. 4. Matt. 7:13-23. Entrance to the Kingdom. The condition of entering the king dom of God is regeneration. John 3:3-5. The evidence of regeneration is an out ward life that corresponds to the Divine commands. Character and conduct are related as cause and effect. Judas had probably done with the other Apostles all the things mentioned in verse 22, and yet he was never regenerate. John 6:70, 13:27. Outward actions are of no consequence save as indicative of moral character and there is always the possibility of being deceived as in the case of Judas. On the whole and in the long run, men will act out what they are. No improvement in conduct can be looked for, without a radical change of character. Out of the heart are the issues of life. Therefore a man must have a new heart before he1can live a new life. This is given in regeneration. This applies to a nation as well as to an individual. Ezek. 11:19, 20. Another condition of entrance prescribed is a child-like spirit. Matt. 18:3. This, however, is one of the fruits of regener ation. Jesus is an eternal child, so- called in heaven today. Acts 4:27. The subjects of the kingdom must resemble the king. Their likeness to Him is a mark of their identity and a proof of their position in the kingdom. All chil dren are not child-like. If we become childish we are disqualified for kingdom blessing.
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FRIDAY, Sept. 5. Matt. 25:14-30. Service in the Kingdom. The parable of the talents is one of several which speak of the Lord as an absent Master. In this parable and also in the previous one of the ten virgins, there is a picture 'of His sudden return and the result when He finds that He has not been expected. That of the vir gins tells us what we are not to do. We are not to sleep as do others. Rom. 13:11. 1 Thess. 5:6. That of the tal ents tells us what we are to do. We are to trade for the Master, redeeming the time or buying up the opportunities. In both the judgment falls on those who have done nothing. There must be service at all times. The faithful servant must be ever work ing and watching, day and night so as to be ready when the Master comes. There must be service at the eleventh hour as in the morning. Late service is better than none at all. There must be work with all kinds of gifts and op portunities. The man with only one tal ent is just as much expected to double it as those who have five or two en trusted to them. Each one is to do his own task, not that of another, for the .Master has left to every one his work. The service must be done to the right master. The wicked husbandmen, doubtless, did the work of the vineyard well. They were called wicked because they kept the fruit for themselves, not because they were idle. Diversity of service is represented in many parables but the Master is always the same. The servants are not to work for themselves, but their aim and object is always that they may be profitable to their Master. The service of all will be recognized and rewarded by sovereign grace. SATURDAY, Sept. 6. Rev. 21:1-10. New Heaven and New Earth. Sin and shlvation both begin in heav en. This may explain why the heavens are not clean in the sight of God, Job 15:15, why the heavenly things them selves need to be purified,. Heb. 9:23, and why there must be new heavens as well as a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Isaiah 65:17. 2 Pet. 3:13. Rev. 21:5. He comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found. Scripture reveals a plurality of heavens. 2 Cor. 12:2. Heb. 4:14. The mundane heaven ensphering our globe and constituting with it that province of God’s universe upon which revelation
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