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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
Septembei 1924
The word “ preach” here is not used with reference to an ordained minister and a pulpit, but means, sim ply, to “ proclaim as a herald.” God has an ordained ministry, and they have their obligations. Thank God for all of them who ring true to the Gospel of which we speak, and may God multiply their number. But every believer is an ordained herald and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to go into the highways and hedges, into homes, on the street, into open doors everywhere, proclaiming the wondrous story of the light and liberty which awaits all who will open the doors of their hearts to the Christ of the Cross. The world is short of heralds. We have fallen into bad habits. We have forgotten our calling. God has not committed this whole business to a few wise men-S after the flesh. “ Not many mighty are called,” -— some, thank God! “ But God hath chosen the foolish things to confound the wise, and weak things to con found the mighty, and base things and things which are nothing, to confound the mighty”—because He wants the glory Himself. We are only heralds, called to “ babble” the story of the cross, and He does the work. The ministry is too often to blame for failing to make this fact plain to the people. The preacher is only a leader—a commander. He should rally the heralds and send them out to tell out the good news which has been committed to them. Let us have a few less essays, and a few more “ Thus saith the Lord” - messages. The world is full of grop ing, blind people, and the only hope for them is in the “ light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” ■ Oh, what joy awaits them when they see Him and know Him! “ Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light!” Let us go forth with this glorious Gospel of Christ— eyery one of us—and go while it- is called TODAY! EPOCHAL ECCLESIASTICAL EVENTS The spring has come and gone, but the ecclesias tical events which it brought, in connection with na tional assemblies of the different denominations, were history making in their importance. The main issue in each and all of them was the outstanding question concerning the integrity of the Word of God. In the Providence of God, this issue has been pro jected into every evangelical denomination, and friends and foes have rallied to their respective standards. Now comes the clarion call to the true Church to put on the whole armor of God and, with a firm grip on the Sword of the Spirit, do valiant battle in defense of the truth. There is something inspiring in the very suggestion of fighting for the faith of our fathers. The red blood warms and pulses through the veins with augmented power at the very thought. Our eyes are upon the crucified, risen Christ! Our hearts beat with pure devotion to Him! We lay our lives upon the altar of service, surrender all to Him and await His orders! A few of the outstanding features of some of these gatherings are given in this issue. We regret that our world-wide circulation necessitates our going to press two months in advance of the date of issue, so that news.of this character is not always news.
GRIFFITH THOMAS, THE GIFTED TEACHER— A T HOME!
Where is the believer’s home? It is in Heaven. Where is the foreign field ? It is in this earth—vin this world. If it is “ far, far better” to be at home with our loving Lord, why not rejoice in the home-going of our loved friends? Will we miss them? Yes,—but our hearts can rejoice, in the reception given those who finish their course and enter into the rest which is to be found
only in the presence of the King of kings. Griffith Thomas was one of God’s great men. Endowed by God with a remarkable intellect, he recog nized it as a sacred trust and used it for God’s glory, realizing that great gifts are accompanied by grave responsibilities. Mighty in the things of God, he was modest in his claims of any ability. Sterling and strong in his use and defense of the Scriptures, he was yet singularly sweet in his presentation of truth. His stewardship is ended. His books are closed. Some day those books will be opened, his accounts audited, and he will receive his reward from the hands of the King. What is the message to our hearts who yet tarry here? Not many are greatly gifted as was this good man, for his talents were many. But the word of warning comes to all of us: “ The night cometh” ! or “ The Lord cometh” ! The pilgrim journey will be over; the task will be finished; the tale of the talents remains to be told. The Chris tian ’s life work must be tried and tested by the search ing fire of Him who sits upon the throne, and the “ hay, wood, stubble-—gold, silver, precious stones” will be revealed in the unchangeable judgment. What is the constantly recurring death message to us who wait and watch and work ? “ Do Our Best For Him Who Did His Best For Us, and Let Us Do It Now' ’’
THE ALL-CONftl'ERIXG HAND A GRIP o f Thine all-conquering hand O give mie, Lord, I pray; ■ Thy hand of love with mark of nail, On which my sin did lay; A grip of power to conquer sin, A grip o f love Divine, A grip of grace to keep me true, A grip which tells I’m Thine. Chorus I’m gripped by Thine all-conquering hand, Thy hand shall hold me fast: Thy love and grace shall keep me safe And bring me home at last. A grip of Thine all-conquering hand, O Lord, I pray give me; A grip which makes me glow with love, And moulds me like to Thee; A grip which conquers all o f self, And keeps me in Thy w ill; A grip which saves from fret and doubt, And keeps me trustful still. A grip of Thine all-conquering hand, Give me, I pray, O Lord; A grip of skill which doth instil The Spirit o f accord; A holy grip which makes me fit To serve with love and prayer; A grip which leads to higher heights, And keeps me always there. A grip of Thine all-conquering hand, O give me, Lord, I pray; A grip which keeps in tempter’s blast From yielding to his sway; A grip which helps me grip Thy sword, And makes me win the day; A grip which never lets me go, And keeps me in its stay. — F. E. Marsh
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