THE K I NG ' S BUS I NESS more, “ there is no respect of persons with Him.” Masters and slaves are alike to Jesus Christ. He deals impar tially with them (cf. Col. 3:25; »Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; Jas. 2:1, 9). They are not alike oftentimes before human courts or human society, but all are alike before God and before His Son Jesus Christ. Oh, that we who have servants might never forget this. FRIDAY, August 28. Eph. 6:10. Verses 10 to 13 contain words that aré among the most remarkable in this remarkable epistle. They show us on the one hand the awful conflict which every Christian must fight: they show us on the other hand how all-sufficient are the resources at our disposal in the Lord. Paul has brought to a close his wonderful exposition of the high call ing in Christ of th,e church as a whole, and of each individual in the church, and of the “ walk worthy of the calling wherewith we were called.” There remains another word to be said, and a word of tremendous importance. This word concerns the opposition we are to meet in this holy walk, and the way in which we may overcothe this opposition. Paul begins this section by saying, “ Finally,” or more literally, “ for the rest,” or, as we would say if we had an important message to add, “ I have one more thing I must say before I close.” Then comes the message. It begins with, “ be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.” The heart that is not made to throb with hope and holy ambition and lofty reso lution by those words must be dead, indeed. Every truly Christian heart will respond, “ Yes, I will.” The word trans lated “ be strong” is in the present tense. This, taken together with the voice in which the verb is found (passive voice), and the derivation of the verb, would require as a literal translation “ be ye (continually) being made powerful.” The thought is of constantly getting new strength, waxing more and more powerful (cf. Rom. 4:20, R. V.). The sphere in which we are to grow stronger is, “ in the Lord,” i. e., in vital union with Him. We can never “ be made pow erful” except “ in Him” (cf. John 15: 4, 5; Phil. 4:13, R. V .). The Holy Spirit adds a very suggestive clause, “ and in the strength of His might.” “ In Christ” we are in an infinite reservoir of power, strength and might. We are bound to prevail.
728 not a “ man pleaser” (cf. Gal. 1:10), but seeks, only to please Christ, and He sees not merely some of the outward acts, but all, and not only all the out ward acts, but the heart as well. Ser vants are to obey their masters not merely as their servants, but “ as ser vants of Christ.” ' What a dignity this places upon the most menial toil! In so doing Christian servants would be “ doing tag will” (not of their masters merely), liut “ of God from the soul” (R. V. Marg. cf. Col. 3:23). Further more, they should do service not gurdg- ingly, but heartily, “ with good will doing service as unto the Lord and not unto men.” They seem to be serving men, they are “ masters according to the flesh,” but in reality they are serving the Master, Christ. The word translated “ Lord” in verse 7 is the singular of the same word that is translated “ masters” in verse 5. One can serve the most unreasonable master with good will, and heartily and joyfully if he only bears in. mind, “ I am not doing this unto you, but unto the Lord.” His “ master accord ing to the flesh” may not appreciate his services, nor reward him, but he him self nevertheless knows “ that whatso ever good thing each one (bond or free) doeth, the same (more literally, “ this,” but a very emphatic this, which, of course, means “ the same” ) shall he receive from the Master, whether he be bond or free” (v. 8; cf. Col. 3:24). We serve men for Christ’s sake, and it is Christ Himself who bestows the rewards; so they are absolutely sure whether man pay or not (cf. Matt. 25: 34-36; 2 Cor. 5:9; 10). THURSDAY, August 27. Eph. 6:9 We now come to the master’s duties. They are put in a remarkable way: “ Do the same things unto them,” i. e., as the servant should faithfully and heart ily look out for your interests as unto the Lord, so should you look out faith fully and heartily for the servant’s inter ests as unto the Lord. Probably more Christian servants act according to verses 5 to 8 than Christian masters according to verse 9. The position of master is attended with great peril. Furthermore, the Christian master, the Spirit-filled master, should “ forbear threatening” (more literally, “ giving up the threatening,” the threatening into which masters so naturally fall). Why should we give up threatening our ser vants? “ Knowing that both their Mas ter and yours is in heaven.” Further-
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