THE KING’S BUSINESS-
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“MY GIRLS”
B y Mrs. H. J. Baldwin.
I_J OW would you feel if you knew some- one was seeking your life? What would you do? The Pharisees could find no fault with Christ only that He violated their notions and traditions. As He con tinued helping folks their hatred grew until they leagued with hated rivals, the Hero- . dians, to kill Him (v. 6 ). All the while the crowds welcomed Christ. Use map and see from whence these peo ple came. Doubtless some were curious, yet many came eager to touch him, “as many had plagues” for they had heard of His compassion and power to heal (v. 10). What did the demons do? Observe that they knew Christ and announced Him as God’s Son. Christ again bade them be still, for he wanted no help from them. “When He saw the multitude he was moved with compassion for them because they were distressed, scattered as sheep not having a shepherd.” What did Christ do? He spent the entire night with His Father in prayer. Christ tsaw that He alone could not help and teach all these hungry-hearted people who thronged Him and needed Him. He also saw the hatred against Him grow ing and knew that He had but a few months to remain with them. The Gospel would soon have to be proclaimed by others. The greatest project ever launched was to be carried on—the saving of men. Persons were to be selected for the highest office ever offered to man—co-workers with God. In the still hours of the night Christ laid each of His followers before His Father. Carefully and prayerfully, twelve from the number were chosen. Girls, when you have important choices and decisions to make in life, do you make them yourself or do you call upon God? You are the apple of His eye. He is all wisdom and sees the end from the beginning. Because He loves you He will choose the right school, the right friend, the right life-work for you if you but let Him (Ps. 32:8; Deut. 32:19; Isa. 30:21).
The apostles chosen (v. 14) had (1) Place —“That they might be with Him.” Christ craved and needed their friendship and sympathy. Christ, the lover of our souls,' still covets our love and friendship. These disciples were honored in being ' Christ’s closest friends. That same honor can be ours today. But they needed to be with Him. Living with Christ was their training-school and seminary. Keeping His company, they “put on the Lord Jesus” and men saw 1 the marks of the Lord Jesus in their faces and lives. (2) Purpose. They were to preach. Preaching by life, and by lip, the passing on of the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ is the first and greatest privi lege of Christ’s followers (Luke 10:17-20). (3) Power. When Christ calls He takes care that we have the necessary equipment. He offers Himself as that equipment. The twelve men were, average ordinary personsv Their qualifications lay- not in their gifts of eloquence or leadership, but in their possibilities. Six were fishermen, one a tax-gatherer, not one a scribe or learned teacher. All isorts of temperaments and dispositions were represented. Thomas was the-doubter; John was hot-headed and quick-tempered; Peter was opinionated and impulsive; James hard-headed and practi cal; Judas shrewd and calculating. Christ needs every sort of person. He will find a place and a work for everyone. The call came alike to all twelve, but the response of all was not alike. We read but little of the eight only as they are referred to in general as apostles. But Peter, James and John seem to have lived closer to their Master. Christ turned to this inner circle when in sorrow. He shared His joys, spe cial confidences and isecrets with them. Judas had equal opportunity, but he did not waken to it until too late (Matt. 27:5).
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