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THE KING’S BUSINESS *
thought, “I am debtor” to other men to proclaim to them the saving truth which God has made known to him, enters his mind and heart. How few are awake to this solemn fact. We meet every day men who are perishing for lack of knowledge of that very truth which we know. How often does the thought come to us and master us, “I am debtor to these men?” Oh, let us pay our debts. Paul felt that his obligation was not to any one class of men, but to all classes, “to Greeks and to Barbarians,” “to the wise and to the fool ish.” The man who has the Spirit of Christ knows rib classes. Paul was not a reluctant debtor who paid his debts because he must: he,was "ready to preach the Gos pel.” The word here translated “ready” means “eager.” He was also eager to do it up to the utmost extent of his ability, “as much as in me is.” Would that this expressive phrase, might ' sink into our hearts. Most of us are willing to do some thing, but how many of us can say "as much as in me is?" We ought all to be able to say it. We would do well to say to ourselves several times a day and every time we go to work, “as much as in me is.”
unto them some spiritual gift was that they might be “established.” Establishment in Christian life and character is attainable only through receiving spiritual gifts and these .are often ministered by one believer to another. At this point Paul’s deep and wonderful humility comes out in a beauti ful way. It occurs to him that it might look as though he were exalting himself above them by speaking of imparting to them some spiritual gift; so he explains that he has in mind a mutual benefit to be received “each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Note especially the R. V. of v. 12). This is no empty and insincere compliment on Paul’s part Paul, like every truly great man, expected to receive help from others, even the weak est, and not merely 'to help others. It is only the small soul that fancies, that others can receive from it, but that it cannot receive from others. There is nothing more comforting to a true believer, even one of Strong faith, than the faith of others. The church of Christ is a body and it is “fitly framed and knit together,” by that which “every joint (even the most insignificant joint) supplieth.” Wednesday, May 31 . Romans 1 : 13 . Paul had long desired to visit Rome. But the demands of the work elsewhere and the unmistakable leadings of the Holy Spirit had prevented him up to this time from carrying his wish into execution, (ch. 16:21, 22). But time and again his heart had turned toward Rome, that great cen ter of human life, with its teeming popu lation and world-wide influence. What he- desired to visit Rome for, was “fruit.” He was no mere sightseer or globetrotter. The constant cry of his heart was “more fruit.” So he wished fruit in those jn Rome, “even as in /th e rest of the Gentiles.” , Three words give us the secret of Paul’s untiring activity in preaching the Gospel, “I am debtor.” Having learned the saving truth for himself, put him under obligation to preach it to others wherever he could. It is a great day for any man when that
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