May 1925
THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
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Definite, daily study means a struggle, but the virtues so produced will be worth striving for. See James 3:17, 18. MAY 31, 1925 The World’s Need — The Unfinished Task Matt. 28:16-20 The world’s greatest need is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the only remedy for the ills of mankind. There is only one message for. the tired, weary hearts of the sons of men, and that is the message of the cruci fied, risen Son of God. The unfinished task is the giving of this Gospel to the whole world. Over nineteen hundred years have passed since the command to give to the world this message, and two-thirds of the earth’s inhabitants are yet without the Gospel. In the light of that great command of our Lord truly the professing church is a failure. The past is gone. The only geheration to reach this generation in which we live is this generation. That tremendous task is ours. The respon sibility is squarely upon us. If we do not give the Gospel, no one else will. We are the ones to whom God hàs en trusted this work. We have been un faithful to the commission, disobedient to the command, and recreant to the sacred trust committed to us, and yet we claim to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just before the battle of Trafalgar, Lord Nelson said, “England expects every man to do his, duty.” This terse sentence thrilled and nerved the men, and they went into battle and won. The Lord of lords expects every one that belongs to him to do his duty, even unto death. He will empower us and use us in helping to complete this task if we are willing. Let us go for ward in the strength of the Lord and the power of His might to do all pos sible to finish thé task before us. May we get a vision of the poor, suffering, sin-cursed world, with its thousand million pagans. May its challenge move us to work and may His com mand send us forth to the task. JUNE 7, 1925 How Should We Invest Our Lives? Rom. 12:1, 12; 1 Cor. 10: 31-33 Life is an investment. Surely the desire of every Christian is to get out of life the largest possible returns for the Lord Jesus. We are not our own. He has bought us. We belong to Him. So He holds us responsible to invest our lives for Him (Luke 10:24; Rom. 6:11-13, 19, 22; Mark 10:29, 30). When a wise man wishes to make an investment that will be safe and profitable, he asks the advice of one who knows, and then submits to that advice. So the practi cal thing for us to do, is to ask the (Continued on page 223)
will and trust Him implicitly to get the most out of the summer season for Himself. What will be the most for Him will also be the most for His child. The summer is often a time of special temptation, and will be a test for many Christians. Some will for sake Him for pleasure. Some will be busy in the entertaining of many guests. Many away from home and their regular church activities. The days may be hot; you will be tired. There will be a tendency to neglect prayer and Bible study and church attendance. Then Satan will get in his work in your life. Remember the devil takes no summer vacation. Remember sin will still be dragging men down to hell. Remember many burdens will still be crushing the very life from scores and scores of men and women. Countless hundreds will still be bowed in sorrow. Multitudes of hearts will still be breaking. If you let down in your devotion and activity during the summer season, what of the salvation of some precious soul? What of your own soul’s growth and welfare? You must not and cannot forget God during this time. Set your face like a flint. He will give you sufficient strength, “Be instant in season and out of sea son” (2 Tim. 4 :2 ). MAY 24, 1925 Christian Traits Worth Striving For Phil. 4:4-8; Matt. 18:1-6 A holy, Christ-like life is not pro duced by our efforts, but is produced in us by God Himself. All Christian traits or virtues are worthwhile. Cata logues of these graces are to be found in Phil. 4:4-8, Gal. 5:22, 23, and 2 Pet. 1:5-11. John 15:1-5 and Phil. 1:11 show us that these virtues are produced by the indwelling Christ. These and all Christian graces are part of the life of Christ. He dwells within the believer, and His traits will be manifested in the life if He is permitted to have His way. This means constant, persistent and daily dying to self and to the de sires of the flesh, but the resulting pro duction of these graces is worth all the struggle. Gal. 5:22, 23 teach us that this fruit is produced by the in dwelling Spirit of God. His work is to produce the fruit within us, and our part is to yield to Him and thus give Him the chance to do His work. This involves struggle, for it is not easy to crucify self and to die to our will. In Col. 1:6 and 2 Pet. 1:3, 4 we find that the Word of Truth, produces this fruit in us, therefore we need to study the Word, to obey it, to memorize it. Time Will fail us, interruptions will hinder, duties will assert themselves, indifference may get in its deadly work, Satan may use many wiles, all to keep us from the study of God’s Word.
MAY 10, 1925 Where and How Should We Spend Sunday? Psalm 122:1-9; Heb. 10:25 To the consecrated child of God every day belongs to the Lord, but this is true in a special and peculiar sense of the first-day of the week. All time is sacred, and we are held accountable as to the way we spend it, but one- seventh of the time is especially sacred. One of the alarming sins of our day is the rapidly growing disregard for the Lord’s Day. The day was made for man’s use (Mark 2 :2 7 ), but not for man’s abuse. We have liberty but not license. The day may be spent in (1) MEDITATING upon the Word ,and work of God. This day affords an op portunity for the study of the Bible and the memorizing of portions of it. What a delight this is to the child of God (Psa. 1:1-2; 119:15, 16, 97, 129, 130, 165; 143 :5 ). (2 ) In MEETING with the people of God in public wor ship (Héb. 10:25; Psa. 55 :14 ). We can worship God alone, but we usually do it better when in company with others. Many of the happiest hours in the lives of believers are spent in the house of the Lord. There they receive instruction, inspiration, and invigora- tion. (.3) In MINISTERING to the physical and spiritual needs of others (Matt. 12:9-12; Luke 14:1-6). It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:1-8). Works of necessity are lawful. Spend, the day in cheering the downhearted, nursing the sick, vis iting those in prison, teaching the Word, preaching the Gospel and fish ing for men. (4) In MULTIPLYING strength by rest and relaxation for. the work and battle of the new week. Not to be spent in dissipating amusements or in the hard, labor of preparing big Sunday dinners, etc. Mental and phys ical strength and energy are expended during the week, but the Creator has made a, loving and thoughtful provi sion for our needs in giving us a day of rest; It has been scientifically .demonstrated that physical strength is renewed by one day’s rest in . seven. Many years ago the Hudson Bay Com pany found that the Indians employed by them who traveled on six days and rested on Sunday made the trips with out a single exception in less time and returned in better health than those who traveled without so resting. MAY 17, 1925 How to Make the Most of Summer Mark 6:31, 32; Rom. 13:11-14 We may make the most of summer in the same practical way that we may make the most of any season of the year, by giving God a chance. Ask Him to show you His will for you for the summer months. Submit to His
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