December 1926
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
738
Suggestive Scripture Reference* For Class Hour Use Grace Maxwell A Central-Truth Text: Thy testi monies are the men of my counsel. Psa. 119:24 (marginal reading). The abiding Word of God: Matt. 24:35; 1 These. 2:13; 1 Peter 1:23, 25. Note also Acts 5:30, 39. “These words . . . in thine heart” : Deut. 32:46, 47; Psa. 37:81. The believer’s sword: Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12. Compare Jer. 23:29 and 2 Cor. 6:7; 10:4. The Christian will take heed how he handles the Scripture: 2 Cor. 4:2; 2 Tim. 2:J6; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 3:16; Rev. 22:18, 19. Hold fast to the Word: Deut. 4:9; John 8:31, 32; Titus 1:9. Note John 15:7 (2nd cl.). (If time allows—other Scripture: Deut. 4:6, 6; Jer. 15:16; John 14:24 (2nd cl.). m A Vital Truth Illustration, Selected by Rev. Albert Mygatt Says old ThomaB Fuller: “Lord, this morning I read a chapter in the Bible, and therein observed a memor able passage whereof I never took no tice before. Why now, and no sooner, did I see it? Is there not a thin veil laid over Thy Word, which is more rarefied by reading, and at last wholly Worn away?" In the “Green Room” at Dresden, where for centuries the Saxon princes have gathered their gems and treas ures until they become worth millions of dollars, may be seen a silver egg, a present to one of the Saxon queens, which, when you touch a spring, opens and reveals a golden yolk. Within the yolk is a chicken. P r e s s the chicken, and the wing flies open, dis closing a splendid gold crown studded with jewels. Nor is this all. Touch another secret spring, and you find bid in the center a magnificent diamond ring. So it is with every truth and promise of God’s Word—a treasure within a treasure. The more we ex amine it, the greater riches do we find. But how many neglect to touch the spring.—From T b e Illustrator, 1912. How To Read and Study The Bible Deut. 6:4-9; 2 Tim. 3:14-17. Golden Text: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. Approach: If I should a s k how many have a Bible in the home, no doubt every one would answer, yes. It is possible to possess a Bible, and yet the Bible not to possess you; 1. e. control you. It can ELEMENTARY not be a lamp unto Mabel L. Merrill our feet unless we 4 . give it a place in our hearts. Arnold gives us the fol lowing story: A boy in a printing office received from the foreman a list of Scripture questions and answers to be set up and printed; After working a few minutes he asked the foreman, "Shall I follow copy?” that is, set It up just as it is written. “Certainly,
(4) Jesus set His Beal to the Bible as the very Word of God. (6) The Bible evolves the only satis factory plan of salvation. (6) The Bible has stood the test of the ages. (7) Taught the Scriptures f r o m a child, Timothy became a trust worthy disciple of Christ. If our lives are to be used in any adequate way in the service of God we m u s t maintain unwavering con fidence in the Divine Word. We must believe that it is what DEVOTIONAL it purports to be, the COMMENT very Word of God. Wm, A. Fisher There can be no al lowance for possible error or Inclusion of fallible opinions of the human writers. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” How otherwise may we determine what is and what is not inspired? Having conceded its Divine origin, reason requires that we yield ourselves to its authority. Where it forbids, we should shun. Where it enjoins, we should embrace In every department of our lives we should seek to regulate our conduct by its precepts. Should we perchance find ourselves in any measure out of harmony w i t h its teachings, we should hasten to bring ourselves into hearty accord with its declarations and demands. We should not attempt to minify its message. Where it condemns we should not con done. And above all, when it is the object of attack, we should not give an easy acquiescence to its critics. A Christian may not with impunity hesitate to “declare the whole counsel of God,*' not alone with regard to its condemnatory clauses, but also as to its “exceeding great and precious pro mises.” One may prove to be a veri table false shepherd by failure proper ly to warn the erring, but one may also fall far short of a commendatory ministry by withholding from hungry hearts the riches of truth compre hended in the pages of Holy Writ. As ambassadors for Christ it is en cumbent upon every true child.’of God •to broadcast as widely as possible the message of saving grace contained in the Sacred*Word. Only thus may we discharge the obligation imposed upon ns by the last Injunction of our Lord. The burden of responsibility for the salvation of men rests upon us until they have refused our reconciling mes sage. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Shall we make ineffective (that great sacrifice by a failure fully to respond to His ap peal to carry the Good News even "to thff uttermost parts of the earth”? * “The word of God is not bound.” It will accomplish its purpose in the lives of men with our co-operation. God has chosen to work through us as His instruments. Without our loyal help the loving efforts of a gracious Father may be measurably curtailed. Let us lend glad wings to the Word of Life, that it may go forth as a bearer of eternal joy and blessing to those who sit in darkness, bringing comfort and hope to counties^ thou sands for whom Christ died.
16), and the Christian home should be a place where the Word of God and the work of God should have a holy, happy place (Prov. 6:22): « W k n th on co e a t. It ahall lea d thee» when thon »leepeat. It ahall h eep thee» and when th on aw ah ea t. It ahall ta lk w ith thee.” (2) THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH, 2 Tim. 3:14-17. “The holy scrip tures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation,” v. 16. Paul was Timothy’s spiritual father, and knew of his home life. He tells us clearly that Timothy’s new birth had Its foundation In a well-grounded knowledge of the Wo r d of God, as taught him by his mother—his Jewish mother, Eunice; she had been taught by her mother, Lois, and In them there was the unfeigned faith (2 Tim. 1:5): “ W h en I ra il to rem em bran ce t h e u n - fdarned faith that In In thee. w U ch dw elt llrnt In th y arrnndmother t o l l , m oth er Eunice» and I am peranaded th at in thee alao.” Now Paul says: “Evil days are com ing; there will be perilous times; but continue In the faith; faith l o t h * things which thou hast learned. What Timothy learned as a child gave him faith in God’s Word. Faith in the Scriptures was used of God to open his eyes to the truth of salvation through faith which is In Christ Jesus. The best time to teach the Scriptures Is when the child is young, when the mind Is Impressionable; and the Bible stories are the best in the world to interest the young mind and to awaken a real faith in the cross of Christ. Well said Queen Elizabeth: “I walk many times in the fields of the Holy Scriptures, where I pick up the good liest herbs of sentences by pruning; eat them by reading; digest them by musing; and lay them up at length in the high seat of memory by gather ing them together; so that, having tasted their sweetness, I may less per ceive the bitterness of life.” If you are teaching a class of little ■ people, urge upon them the acceptance of Christ now; if young people, find out how many are Christians, and you will find almost always that those who are Christians have been taught in their homes a b o u t God's love and Christ’s death. Ask the older people when they accepted Christ and you will find that the bulk of them were converted before they w e r e twenty years old, and were the children of Christian parents. A home that has a Christian father and mother—the real kind—is a healthy, happy home, from which issue the sterling young men and women whom God uses to sow yet other seed—the seed of the Word—into the hearts of their own children (2 Tim. 3:16, 17): - “ A ll .c r lp ta r e Is * i « B b y In sp lrs tlo « o f God, and la profltable fo r d octrin e, fo r re p ro o f, fo r co rre ctio n , fo r In stru ction in rlnhteouan esst ____- . «T h a t tke man o f G od m ay be perfect* thoroiifchly furn iahed unt6 a ll M • ° • w a rIre* PRACTICAL POINTS (1) P u t the Bible in its proper place— first. (2) The need of the family—the Bible and the bended knee. (3) The wisdom of the wise is found in the Word of God. .»
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