T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
August, 1940
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comes life to the soul just as food Is life to the physical body. Our Lord had somewhat to say about this very thing in John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” To receive is to take or appro priate for oneself. 2. "Avoid It, pass not by it, turn from It, and pass away” (v. 15). In these four strong imperatives we find the right attitude to be maintained toward the "path of the wicked.” The best way is to avoid it altogether. But if you should find yourself near it, do not pass by it, but turn away frogi it, and get entirely away from it. More than one Christian has gotten himself into serious: trouble by lingering near the path that leads to destruction. 3. “ They sleep not, except they have done mischief” (v. 16). This is a hor rible picture of the wicked. They have sinned so often that it has become a second nature for them, an ingrained
which, when it is fully risen in the sky, produces the perfect day. Any one who has stood in the darkness of the early morning and watched the first rays of the sun across the sky dawn swiftly into the perfectly lighted day, will best ap preciate the figure. 5. “The way of the wicked is as dark ness” (v. 19). This is in direct contrast to the path of the just. And it will re mind the reader of John’s words, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1 John 1:5, 6). The Christian walks in the light, the unbeliever in the darkness. 6. “Keep thy heart with all diligence” (v. 23). Literally rendered, it reads, “Keep thy heart above all that thou guardest.” Modem civilization1has re versed this. Men guard first their bodies, their eyes, hair, teeth, nerves, digestive apparatus, etc. And it is not wrong to guard the body. But we must learn that the “heart” needs to be guarded above all else, for out of it flow the issues of life itself. Alexander Smellie once said: “ ‘I ought’ is ;a noble rule when conscience has once been enlightened from above. But into what errors and excesses, fool ishness and sins, the rule may plunge us when our ‘ought’ is opposed to Christ!” Thus a Hindu said to a British Admin istrator in India, “ Our consciences tell us to burn our widows on the funeral pyres of their husbands.” And the Englishman replied, “ Our consciences tell us to hang you if you do.” When the heart is kept with all dili gence by the indwelling Christ, that which issues forth in conduct and phil osophy of life will be acceptable unto Him.—Selected. The Book We Love P roverbs 4 MEMORY VERSE: “Teach me thy way, O Lord” (Psa. 27:11). APPROACH: The Bible is the Book we love bfecause it is God’s Word. God the Holy Spirit led holy men of long ago to write every word of the Bible exactly as He want ed them to do it. If we remember God’s W o r d w i t h our hearts, we will be happy here and in h e a v e n , for His Word gives us life. LESSON STORY: to keep the door of our hearts. Satan, The Bible tells us Golden Text Illustration P roverbs 4:23
BLACKBOARD LESSON
habit, so that instead of losing sleep be.- cause they have sinned, they actually do not sleep well unless they have sinned. Our Lord had this situation in mind doubtless when He said, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant [bond- slave] of sin” . (John 8:34). 4. “The path ot the just is as the shining light” (v. 18). Here the render ing of the American Revision seems better. Read “dawning” instead of “shin ing.” The picture in the writér’s mind was doubtless that of the rising sun
Fresh Up-fo-the-Minute EXPOS IT ION on the Sunday Schoo l Lesson Text (International Uniform Lesson Topics)
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