p Dailj) Devotional Home Readings Connected with International Sunday School Lessons B j FREDER IC W . FARR , D . D.
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THURSDAY, SEPT. 1 . 1 Thess. 1:1 - 1 0 . Paul’s Message to the Thessalonians. The first epistle to the Thessalonians was th e first of th e twenty-seven books of th e New T estam ent to be w ritten. Its probable date is 52 A. D. May th ere not be a Divine purpose In th e chron ological order of these twenty-seven books? I t ds re a so n a b le -to suppose th a t th e Holy S pirit would direct th a t th e simplest and most elem entary Gos pel teaching should be given first. Milk for babes comes before m eat for men. This epistle is chiefly occupied w ith the second coming of Christ. Two presumptions may be en tertained in view of th is fact. One is th a t th e doc trin e of th e second advent of Christ is elem entary and alphabetic in its ch ar acter and the other is th a t it is th e best teaching to give young converts as a safe-guard against backsliding and as a means of grow th in grace. This dis poses of th e objection th a t advent teaching- is too ab stract and abstruse for ordinary apprehension. FRIDAY, SEPT. 2. 1 Thess. 2 :1-12 . Paul’s Method with the Thessalonians. So far as we know P aul was only perm itted to spend two weeks in Thes- salonica before he was driven out of the city. Acts 17:2. Is it not probable th a t he would utilize th is brief period of tim e to th e best possible advantage in in stru cting th e in fan t church in the things th a t were prim ary and funda m ental? We have his own testimony th a t such was th e case. We are not le ft in ignorance concerning th e subject m atter of his teachipg. His two Thes- salonian epistles are mostly devoted to th e exposition of th e second coming of Christ. In 2 Thess. 2:5, h e calls to remembrance his verbal setting forth of th e same teaching when he was w ith them . W e’ know therefo re w hat doc trin e s P aul considered as of th e highest importance. Those present day preach ers who, though professing to believe in the doctrine of th e second coming, seldom or never speak of it, can hardly be said to follow th e P auline precedent.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 8. 1 Thess. 4 :13 -18 . A Comforting Assurance. This passage gives th e clearest teach ing of the second' coming w ith the order of its events. There is th e descent of the Lord from heaven and th e resu r rection of the dead from th e grave. Is th ere opportunity between verses 16 and 17 for recognition and reunion? Shall we who are alive see our loved ones, th e holy and blessed dead, before we see Him? It is possible since He does not come to earth. Both th e risen dead and th e tran slate d living are caught up to meet Him in th e air, united to th eir glorified Head forever. P aul bids us com fort one ano th er w ith these words. Can anything be more com forting in th e hour of bereavem ent th a n th is as surance? This is our au tho rity for talking, singing and praying about the second coming. How can we get or give ' any com fort by keeping silence about it? SUNDAY, SEPT. 4. 2 Thess. 3 :1-18 . A Strong Encouragement. The little company of believers won to Christ by th e preaching of Paul in. Thessalonica were subjected to trials of exceptional severity. P au l’s le tte rs were w ritten to pu t h eart and .hope into them In th eir “much affliction.” He ex horted them to w ait patiently for the Saviour. The Thessalonian church was probably composed of working people. P aul was a working m an'him self capable of giving them good advice. Indu strial discontent, strikes and lock-outs are as old as th e world. In verse 11 Paul seems to have in mind the ancient Greek counterpart of th e modern “walking delegate.” In 1 Thess: 4:12, he ad monishes them concerning th e ir a tti tude toward the general public, “ them th a t are without;.” W hat revolutionary changes th e world of labor would be hold and enjoy, if th e teaching of the C arpenter of Nazareth and the counsels of the tent-m aker of Tarsus could be recognized and followed! MONDAY, SEPT. 5. Acts 17 :16 - 2 1. Paul in Athens. The burning zeal of P aul will not per m it him to re st while h e 'a w a its the
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