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THE KING’S BUSINESS
them; to fight more than to feast. Times of persecution are times of depletion but also of accretion. Hardship, sacrifice for the cause of Christ and truth appeal to men. A General’s harrangue lays stress on heroic endurance. They have the mood of service who count the cost—and face it (Luke 14:28-31). Better fewer and truer (Judges 7:4-7). (2 ) “ He said unto an other, Follow me. But He said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” He meant, “Wait till my father dies.” Already a disciple, now called to official service, he put temporal claims before spiritual duties, the lower above the higher. Had the sons of Zebedee done so they had continued fishers of fish rather than catchers of men (Matt. 4:18-22). “Let the dead (spiritual-* ly) bury their dead”—giving precedence to the heavenly. Father, not disparaging na tural affection. Probably the man wished to be on hand at the reading of the will ! Jesus said, “ Go preach.” Better raise the spiritually dead than bury them. The Lord’s clear call is immediate and imperative. (3) “Another said, Lord, I will follow thee ; but let me first go bid them farewell which are at home.” “Looking back” (v. 62; Gen. 19:26; Luke 17:32). “ Christian” put his fingers in his ears and ran from the recall of his family and neighbors. A divided and procrastinating mood “ is not fit for the kingdom,” and what is not .fit for it is not fit to preach it. .3.- The Mode of Service —8 :3 ; 10:38-42. (1 ) Giving. “ Ministered unto him (some MSS. “ then” ) of their substance.” “ Him or them” it is to Him (Matt. 25:45). Set tle this in . your heart. Since we can no longer give to Him direct, gifts to His ser vants and service are gifts to Him. Gifts? N o; returns, well earned (Luke 10:7; 1 Cor. 9:14; 1 Chro. 29:10-15). (2) .W ork ing. “Martha served” (John 12:2, 3). Serving tables (Acts 2 :4 ), is good, not best, but needful. There are tables to be spread for His servants and in His service. The social and financial affairs are His if for His sake, and in His Spirit. Many house wives can only serve tables and should have and use their opportunity. But there is
er, preacher, evangelist, and physician; He wa$ faithful (Heb. 3 :2 ); visiting “ every city (how much they need Him n ow !) and village’’ evangelists shun a country con tract; preachers choose a city charge. Pas torless churches are in the villages. The Church should neglect neither. There is some stir now to supply them with social service; but Jesus carried them the Gospel of the kingdom into which men come by new birth alone (John 3:3). II. S erving J esus . 1. The Motive of Service —8 :2, 3. “ Cer tain women which had been healed.” Grat itude moved them. What a debt woman owes Him ! One prediction at least has come true (Gen. 3:16). Pre-Christian times and non-Christian countries make her chattle, drudge, or toy of man. In Israel only was she less burdened and more hon ored. But her Seed became her Saviour ,(Gen. 3:15; Gal. 4:4 ). From His advent He has healed her; and she has ministered to Him. It is not strange that women are the majority in the Church, the wonder is that only “ certain” and not all women fol low Him. She should love most since she owes most Service is the expression of gratitude. Is our service the measure of our gratitude? "Think, oh think, how much we owe Him.” Has He not healed our spirits; borne our infirmities; cast out the demons; and “bless ed us with all spiritual blessings?” “ This I did for thee,, What hast thou done for me?” 2. The Mood of Service —9:57-62. (1) “A certain man said unto him, I will follow thee withersoever thou goest.” An impul sive mood, “ Stony,” thorny “ground” (Matt. 13:5-7). What impelled him? His purpose seems not to have materialized. Jesus saw its shallowness and checked it (Deut. 20:5-9; Luke 14:25-33). Neither He nor His prophets and apostles shared present day stress on numbers. W e garland the cross lest it scare men; resort to fleshly attractions, forgetting the drawing power of the cross . (John 12:32). Men love to conquer currents rather than float with
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