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THE KING’S BUSINESS It is estrangement from God. Salvation is nearness to God, communion with God. Salvation is not insur-
Sin Is Broken Fellowship.
ance against some future impending wrath merely, cer tainly not primarily; it is fellowship with God. We need to have concern for sin if we would ourselves enjoy or bring others into fellowship with God.
Our sin is that we are satisfied with the average. We are too content with low aim—that is our sin. “To
Satisfied with the Average.
him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Our greatest battle is not between good and bad, but between good and the best. We are to “covet earnestly the best gifts.”
We should be careful in our treatment of the Holy Spirit. We may possess the Spirit, as every true believer does, and yet oppose the Spirit. The Spirit that indwells us may have to fight the spirit as well
Resist Not the Holy Spirit.
as the flesh that is within us. The incoming Spirit does not destroy our person ality : we still remain body, soul and spirit. Our spirit may grieve, quench and resist the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God in Paul was greater than the spirit of Paul which urged him to go into Bithynia while the Spirit suffered him not. It was the purpose of the Spirit that both Asia and Bithynia should have the gospel, but by others such as Peter (1 Peter 1:1), and Lydia (Acts 16:14). Let us permit God’s Spirit to bear witness with our spirit.
Does God punish nations nationally for their sins, now, in this life? Is God permitting these great nations to learn that righteousness exalteth a nation, but that sin is a reproach to any people ? What nation, think you,
Nations and the War.
will count most in achieving victory in this war? Will it not be that nation which first learns the deepest lesson that faith in and loyalty to God is worth more than arms and weapons? Does not history teach us this? Victor Hugo said, “Waterloo was God.” The victorious battle of the Marne was not due to the superiority of the allied forces or arms. It “just happened by accident” the unbeliever would say. When the news of that victory was brought to Kitchner and Roberts—the men who had about given up all hope of being able any longer to defend Paris, being more aware than any one else of the gravity of the situation and the inability of the Allies to hold out—one said, “My God, that’s a miracle.” The other said, “Some one has been praying.” The nation that will count most in this war will be the nation that leans hardest on God. Many people in England are calling for a day of prayer. So far, we under stand, it has not been approved by the Prime Minister. What a pity, if true. Blind to the secret of power! Will the United States do better? We wonder. We read recently that the state of Connecticut, which for 300 years has strictly observed the Sunday laws, has now allowed a state wide-open Sunday. Is this the way to win the war—by dishonoring God and His holy day ? How can we ask His blessing upon our arms? God still rules among the nations. Let not America forget. David 4 :28-37.
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