THE KING’S BUSINESS
1108
pressive and impressive way, show their utter separation from it and its impending doom; they were not even to let the dust of the city stick to their feet. Thus they were to testify to it (cf. ch. 9:5) of God’s abhorrence of its deeds. If men will not have the Gospel, we should pass on (cf. Acts 13:51; 18:6). But their unbelief would not invalidate .the truth; “the King dom of God had come nigh” whether they would receive it and accept it or not. Friday, December 10. Luke 10:12-16. Great privileges do not save or exalt unless improved; abused, they condemn and deprave. "Capernaum should not be exalted unto heaven because Jesus had wrought so many mighty works there, but rather, should be brought down to Hades (R. V.) because she had not repented of those mighty works. These words 1 should come home with terrific force to America and England, which are boasting so much of their light and their privileges. What are we doing with that light and those privileges? If some of the lands now in heathen darkness had enjoyed such great privileges as we have enjoyed, they would have repented a great while ago, but it shall be more tolerable for those lands that have not heard, in the day of judgment, than for the impenitent American or Eng lishman. The rejection of Jesus Christ is the sin that merits, and that will receive the deepest condemnation (cf. John 3:18, 19), and the most awful doom (Heb. 10:28, 29). To turn a deaf ear to a true mes senger -of Jesus, is to turn a deaff ear to God. Saturday, December 11. Luke 10:17-24. The going forth of the seventy may have been with fear and trembling, but the re turn was with joy. They had demonstrated the power of Jesus’ name. The very demons had been , subject to them in His name. The unseen world of evil, of Satan and his hosts, is a mighty and awful world, and it soon fills one with dread to think of it; but we neqd not dread, for the name of Jesus is mightier than all the power of the
carries (cf. 2 Tim. 2:4). The exact letter of these instructions is not binding on am bassadors of Christ at all times (cf. ch. 22:35-36), but the spirit of them is. These seventy were not left to go hungry (ch. 22:35); the obedient, faithful servant of Christ will always be provided for. The seventy were to spend no time in saluta tions, which in that country consume so much time, and the one who would do good work for Christ today must have a deaf The first thought of the seventy on en tering a home should be for the good of the home, and not for, the comfort of self. Their benediction would be full of power. If “ a son of peace” (R. V.), one to whom peace rightly belonged, were there, their benediction would bring blessing to him, but even if there were no “son of peace” there, the benediction would not be lost, for it would come back again and bless them. The true,ambassador of Christ is a mes senger and bringer of peace. It was their own peace that the seventy were to impart. They must not squander time in | going from house to house to eat, but stay at the first house they came to. The fare might be plain, but they must not be looking for fine fare. They were not to feel like beg gars, for they-were worthy of their hire. They were to heal the sick and announce the Kingdom of God (cf. ch. 9 :1, 2) ; the representative of Jesus Christ has a com mission for the body as well as the soul, the Gospel of Christ is a gospel for the whole man. The “Kingdom of God” in its ultimate form, is the Kingdom of God set up outwardly by man here on earth (cf. Dan. 2:44; Rev. 11:15). The power of it was being manifested in their midst (cf. Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 10:7). So they were to say, “The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you,” but that kingdom, though the power of it was being manifest, was re- j ected by the Jews and was thus postponed, but it had come near. When they were not received in any city they were to go out into the streets, and in a most public, ex ear for social demands. Thursday, December 9. Luke 10:5-11.
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker