THE KING’S BUSINESS
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Faithful Unto Death DECEMBER 10, 1916. LESSON XI. Rev. 2': 1-17. (Commit v. 7). G olden T ext : “ Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown o f life.”—- Rev. 2:10.
DA ILY BIBLE READINGS Mon., Dec. 4—Rgv. 2:1-7. (The Lesson). Tues., Dec. 5—Rev: 2:8-17. (The Lesson).
Wed., Dec. 6—1 John 4:1-7. Thurs., Dec, 7—2 Cor. 4 :8-18. Fri., Dec. 8—Psalm 27:7-14. Sat., Dec. 9—2 Tim. 4:1-8. Sun., Dec. 10—James 1:1-12.
EXPOSIT ION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
vs. 1-3. “ Unto (To)'the church of (in) Ephesus write, These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in 'His right hand, Who (He that) walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; ( :) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience (and thy toil and patience), and how (that) thou const not bear them which are evil: (evil- men,) and thou hast (didst) try them which say they are (that call themselves) apgstles, and (add, they) are not, and hast found them liars; ( didst find them false;) and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted (and thou hast patience, and didst bear fo r My name’s sake, and hast not grown weary).” Iii each o f His messages to the seven churches, our Lord is described in a different way. The descrip tion varies according to the peculiar needs o f the particular church to which the Lord is speaking. Usually the description is some part o f the full description o f the Lord given in Chapter 1:12-20. Here He is represented as holding the seven stars (i.e., the messengers o f the seven churches, cf. ch. 1:20) in His right hand, i.e., keeping them securely from peril and controlling them, and walking in the midst o f the seven golden lampstands (i. e., churches, cf. 1 :20). The churches are represented under the symbol o f “lampstands” because
they are intended to be light-bearers, and because the oil for the light is supplied by the constant inflowing o f the Holy Spirit (cf. Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2 :16; Zech. 4:2-6, 11-14). These lampstands were made of gold, the costliest, most highly valued and most glorious metal. This shows how highly God regards the church. In His eyes it is “golden.”, The Lord Jesus Him self is “ in the midst o f” the churches. What a solemn thought! But what a pre cious thought! He is not only in the midst o f the churches, He walks up and down in the midst o f them, taking careful and minute account o f their exact, condition, and what they do. Let us never forget that. If the churches to-day realized that the Lord Jesus was Himself walking up and down among them and carefully observing all their conduct, how many of our present practices we would give up &nd how many new practices we would adopt. Well, it is so, whether we realize it or not. He not only is carefully scruti nizing us, He is also always ready to judge, chasten or deliver, as the need may be. There was very much to commend in the church in Ephesus, and with that the Lord begins. It is well for us to learn wisdom from our Lord in this matter, and if there is something that we must correct or rebuke in a church, let us find if there is
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