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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
April, 1935
tive toward the brethren. This “ love is very patient, very kind; it knows no jealousy; it makes no parade; gives itself no airs, is never rude, never selfish, never irritated, never resentful.” This “ love is never glad when others go wrong; it is gladdened by goodness, always slow to expose, always eager to believe the best, always hopeful, always patient.” Therefore follow after, seek strenuously, such light and such love, that our profiting may appear and appeal to all, that they may know assuredly we are among those who have risen with Christ. T h in k in g on the H eavenly P lane In the second place, since we share the risen life of Christ, we are to set not so much our affections as our minds upon the things that are above and not on the things upon the earth. Please note an important change in the word used. It is necessary to “ seek” certain things upon the earth which have to be faced in the sphere o f our daily calling. We can never afford to spoil our testimony by in efficiency or indolence. In the Epistle to Titus, the apostle instructs his “ son after the common faith” to exhort be lievers to be truly faithful and adorn the doctrine o f God their Saviour, even though they were slaves. How much more should this be exemplified in the lives o f us who are far more favorably circumstanced! In the realm o f the physical, our native sphere is earth, but in the realm o f the spiritual, we are risen with Christ in the heavenlies. It is possible only from that spiritual vantage ground to get a true perspective and to have a right perception o f things above and o f things below. Therefore we must not allow our minds and hearts to become engrossed or entangled in the affairs o f earth nor molded by its maxims and methods, seeing that we are strangers and pilgrims here, with our faces toward the sunrising! When the Holy Spirit’s fullness is our portion, this will be actualized in our daily walk and witness. It is therefore needful that our lives be under His complete control in
who was buried, and who rose again the third day accord ing to the Scriptures, as we take to heart the threefold ex perience which the apostle emphasizes in these opening verses o f Colossians 3. “ S eek . . . A bove ” In the first place, since we share the risen life o f Christ, we are to seek those things which are above. The message emphasizes the word o f the Lord Himself— “ Seek ye first the kingdom o f God, and his righteousness.” That word “ seek” carries the thought o f downright earnest aim and endeavor, so that it should be a burning passion with us— not half-hearted trifling, but whole-hearted thoroughness. This persistent pursuit is to be for those things which are above, where Christ is enthroned on the right hand o f God. Let us remind ourselves that God in the richness of His mercy and the greatness o f His love has made us to sit with Christ in the heavenlies, and that our citizenship is in heaven, from whence also we eagerly expect the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. As citizens o f that kingdom which is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, we should hold lightly to the things o f time and sense, and let it be seen that though we are in the world, we are not o f it. The holy dignity o f our high calling will mark all our contacts and conversations with others. Nothing whatso ever is to be tolerated which would interfere with the great objective o f our risen life in Christ—to seek with divine intensity the things which are well-pleasing unto Him. What a highly privileged people we are, to be risen with Christ and to have found in Him— God’s unspeakable Gift — our inestimable Treasure! Where our Treasure is, there will our heart be also, and life for us will be on the heavenly plane and plan. The sanctuary, not the street, is the refec tory of the soul, and the Holy Spirit is willing to impart the grace o f patient persistence as we eagerly, earnestly, enthu siastically seek the things that are in harmony with God’s will and Word. W e shall love the things He loves and long
order to our being kept spirit ually minded and in the enjoy ment o f our risen Lord’s life and peace. This puts daily life and labor on a high level and calls for our utmost for God’s highest. T h e commonplace tasks will be done uncommonly well, and the routine o f the or dinary will be seen as royal service for our coming King. D welling in G od In order that our aims and ambitions may be consistently on the plane o f the Eternal and not o f the earth, our minds must be set upon whatsoever things are true, and honorable, and just, and pure, and lovely, and o f a good report, remem bering the solemn truth that as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. The measure o f my love to God will be determined by the measure and manner o f my thoughts o f Him. G o d ’ s thoughts are to usward and are more than can be numbered, but are ever for our good. [Continued on page 1S3]
to live as He lived, ever seek ing the lost, that they might find in Christ their Saviour and their Friend. Two o f the outstanding things which are above, where Christ is, are light and love— not one without the other, never the second without the first. These are not attributes o f God like justice and mercy, but they are Himself— His es sential Being— His essence, all divine— pure and penetrating, unsullied and unlimited. We can never enjoy the best bless ings o f His love if we do not welcome His light. Only in light is unclouded fellowship possible a n d unimpeachable testimony practicable as the lamp o f the body is brightly shining because it is full o f light, having no part dark. Our risen life in Christ will be marked by the manifestation of the light which is in all good ness and righteousness and truth, while, in the realm of love, our attitude will be nega tive toward the world and posi
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