March, 1936
THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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NOTES on Christian Sndeavor B y M a r y G . G o o d n e r
APR IL 5, 1936 HOW GIVE OURSELVES TO CHRIST? A cts 2:41, 42 Meditation on the Lesson
selves to Christ, and describes what those early Christians actually did. “ Laid on Thine, altar, O our Lord divine, Accept our gift this day for Jesus’ sake. We have no jewels to adorn Thy shrine Jior any world-famed sacrifidl to make; But here we bring within each trembling hand These wills of ours, a thing that seemeth small; ' And Thou alone, O Lord, canst under stand How when we yield Thee these, we yield Thee all.” / S uggestive B u lle tin -B oard S logans Christ is King of all or He is, not King at all. On Sunday morning it often is a debate between ought and auto. No_ one ,ever can come to his best who is satisfied with the second best. Doran’s Ministers’ Manual. II. ■ B ond S ervice ; “A bond slave, o f Jesus Christ" (Tit. 1 :1, literal translation). .Thou art my King, O Christ; I am Thy slave; Since Thou hast bought me, I am all Thine ow n ; It is for Thee to reign; I would not crave A single right before Thy royal throne. If thus I be from every gift debarred, Let me not slack, nor .in my service faint; Helps for the Leader I.
If Thou shalt smile, be this my great reward; If Thou shouldst chide, I would not make complaint. Nor would I seek to know the why or how, Since ’tis for Thee to ask whate’er Thou wilt. This I would choose,.;to’;.listen and. to.bow, And then to do, till task be all fulfilled. One only thing I beg, by Thy great grace, E’en as I serve—to look upon Thy face 1 — H en r y W . F rost . >; III. H undreds of Y ears T oo L ate One night a young man came into a gospel meeting earnestly inquiring, “What must I do to be saved ?” “You are too late,” said a friend to the anxious inquirer. “Oh, do not say that,” exclaimed the ■young man, .“ for I earnestly desire salva tion; I would do anything or go anywhere to obtain it.” “ I cannot help it,” said the other; “you are too late, for your salvation was com pleted many hundred years ago in the person o f Jesus Christ, and it is a finished work. All you have to do is simply to ac cept it; for you have done nothing, and can do nothing,.to merit salvation. It is a free gift to all who will accept it.” %xThe Prophetic News and Israel’s Watchman. IV. LlGHTHjf God never gives further light upon one’s pathway until the light which He has al-; ready given has been followed. •—L . L . L egters .
This graphic picture o f the early church challenges us to a like surrender. The program and plan of these zealous be lievers was complete. Let us observe the order. “They . . . gladly received his word.” Peter, in the power o f the Holy Spirit, had proclaimed the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour. Faith is' the first essential, and “ faith cometh by: hear ing, and hearing by the word of God.” Next we read: “They . . , were baptized.” Their acceptance of the rite of baptism was an outward sign of an inward grace, a witness to the new birth. Then, “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doc trine and fellowship,” The Lord Jesus had said, “If ye con tinue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Continuance was evidence of the reality of discipleship. Not only did these new converts continue, but they were “ steadfast” — unmovable — in their new belief. They were true to the faith. They were not “carried about with every wind o f doctrine."” ; They held -fast the faithful words the apostles had taught them; therefore they were able to enjoy delight ful Christian fellowship. Reading verse 46, we judge that this fellowship included frequent gatherings o f believers for the showing o f hospi tality, in one another’s homes. But it is quite likely that the “breaking o f bread” referred to in verse 42 applies ’ primarily to their remembrance of the broken body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God reminds believers: “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” Close indeed is the connection between these features: faith, obedience, steadfast continuance, loyalty to truth, fellowship, communion, and, last of all, prayer. In the lives o f these early Christians, faith came first, as always, and prayer, while named last, was like a golden cord which bound these qualities all together. The secret of the church’s growth and the harmony among the members was their simple dependence on God and their be lief in His Word, a faith that was fol lowed by implicit obedience. The Scriptures do not teach that the new; birth consis.ts in “giving one’s heart to God.” The unsaved soul must by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour: “ But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1 :12). Then immediately to the one who has entered this relation o f sonship comes the command: “My son, give me thine heart” (Prov. 23:26). A recent writer has expressed in verse the true way by which we may give our
T C h tj Jjving Christa The Easter praises may falter, And die with the Easter day; The flowers that brighten the altar In sweetness may fade away; But after the silence and fading, There lingers untold and un priced, Above all c h a n g i n g , al l shading, The love of the living Christ. —AUTHOR UNKNOWN.
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