THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS
711
my life was that of a crimiiial, until well on in manhood. When but a lad I was sent to the reformatory, from which I made my escape. Later in life I drifted to Chicago, and became a mem ber of a gang of thieves. I was sent to Cook county jail, and while there Mrs. Col. Clark talked and prayed with me and I was greatly helped. Later I went to Minneapolis, and one night entered the Mission there, and made up my mind to give my life to Christ.” A gentleman, bent on accumulating money, strolled into a church. The text was Psa. 37:16. “ A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” He had gath ered heaps of money and supposed that that was happiness. He went home thoughtful, and began questioning him self about using his money for doing good, and became a useful Christian man.” Confessing Christ Brings Guidance. “ In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Prov. 3:6. Dr. Arnot tells a story of some sailors deserting a wrecked ship and attempt ing to save themselves in small boats in an unfrequented part of the ocean. After going some distance from the sinking ship two of them jumped overboard and swimming back to the ship, got out of her, the compass, which had been for gotten, and at great risk swam back with it to the small boats. The compass was their only guide, and it was worth all their risk and pains to get it and keep it. So it is with confessing Christ. Keep confessing Jesus, if you wish guid ance. Confess me' before men. Lk. 12:8. The point lies in doing it “ before men,” •because one has to do it “ despising the shame” . But when done, thd Lord holds Himself bound to repay COMMENT it in kind, by confess- FROM MANY ing such before the SOURCES angels of God.— J. F. and B. Not to be out
and out is to be down and out.— Sel. v. 9. He that denieth. How can a person be silent about Christ in a world that is positively against Him without being false to Him? Fidelity to Him in this Christ-rejecting world demands that Christians openly and constantly confess themselves Christ’s— as belonging to Him and on His side.—Newell. The instinctive desire to stand well with others begets the temptation to be ashamed of Him, .which only the expuls ive power of a higher affection can counteract. To be ashamed of Him is to be disowned by Him before the most august of all assemblies..—Jamieson. Oh shame, to be put to shame before God, Christ and angels.— Bengel. Acts 1:7. Times and seasons. He checked their tendency to speculate on the future and threw their minds to their duty in the present.— Lumby. Look up and labor on as though God’s time were the next minute.—- Echoes. The Kingdom of Israel prom ised in the Old Testament was not immediately to be set up. The church of Christ was to take its place for the time being, but that did not mean the promise concerning Israel’s Kingdom had failed^ It was coming on earth, but the times and seasons were in the Father’s keeping. Witnessing unto Christ was left for the disciples in the meantime, but nothing was said about waiting for the conversion of the world before that witness could have accom plished its purpose.— Gray. In the Father’s hands. Why be anxious? If the power of the Holy Ghost has come upon us, we shall be ready for all the future. The remedy for morbid antici pation lies in regarding life as an oppor tunity for service. The great work we have to do is to be witnesses for Christ. If we regard it our supreme duty and highest honor to be His witnesses, we will be kept safe.—Maclaren. v. 8. Receive power. The greatest barriers between some Christians and the omnipotent strength of GodHs their
Made with FlippingBook Annual report