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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
Christ, P au l introduces th e Galilean disciples as witnesses. He quotes th e second Psalm , which makes Christ God’s Son essentially. As th e F a th e r’s life is eternal, so also m ust th a t life be which He im parted to Christ afte r th e su rrend er of His n a tu ra l life upon th e cross. The second quotation shows th a t Christ in h e rits th e prom ises made to- David. The character of those prom ises is such th a t they could not be made sure to one who possessed only m ortal life. He m ust have the etern al life th a t resurrection gives. God told David th a t he should have an heir to sit on his th rone forever. The fulfillment of th is prom ise made it necessary th a t David’s h eir should be raised from the dead to die no more. The prom ise “ I will give you th e sure mercies of David” has been tran slated “ I will fulfill in you th e holy and sure prom ises given to David.” P au l’s sermon had an immediate effect. Some- Jews and proselytes believed and th e Gentiles were anxious to hear more. SATURDAY, A ugust 6. Isaiah 42:1-7. God’s Chosen Servant. All th e people of God are called, chosen, separated unto th e Gospel and saved to serve. In a peculiar sense, however, m inisters of th e Gospel are called and se t,a p a rt for th eir life work. This makes the m inistry a vocation ra th e r th a n a profession. “No man ta k eth th is honor unto himself b u t he th a t is called of God, as was Aaron.” Heb. 5:4. An earth ly government chooses its own ambassadors. No one becomes a m inister to th e Court of St. Jam es upon his own initiative. He must be appointed and duly accredited. Any one who should assume th e office of a m inister of God w ithout th e Divine call and equipment would certainly be a failure. P aul was a chosen vessel as much as any Old Testam ent prophet. “F o r though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not th e Gospel.” 1 Cor. 9:16. SUNDAY, A ugust 7. Acts 13:44-52. P a u l Turns to th e Gentiles. _ In declaring th e ir purpose to extend th e ir work to th e Gentiles, th e Apostles quote a passage of Scripture which as serts th a t Christ belongs to th e Gentiles, vs. 47. This was b etter th an to say th a t th e Spirit sent them forth. The Jews m ig h t. have contradicted such a statem ent, bu t they could not deny a quotation from th e ir own law. The Gentiles received th e Gospel w ith glad
ness and glorified 'th e words of th e Lord. Luke mentions th eir a ttitu d e and con trasts it w ith Jew ish obstinacy to ju stify th e mission to th e heathen. A lthough th e Gospel has gone to ■th e Gentiles no t all the Gentiles accept it. Only an elect ordained number are saved. The rest, like the m ajo rity of th e Jews, refuse th e offer of mercy. Prophecy foretold th a t Israel as a na tion would reje ct th e Messiah. Antioch in Pisidia was the first place where selected Gentiles accepted Him. MONDAY, A ugust 8. Acts 14:1-7. P au l a t Iconium . The scenes a t Antioch are re-enacted a t Iconium. The n arrativ e in th is case, however, is concerned w ith th e opposi tion to the work. This came, as before, from th e Jews, bu t they now secured the help of th e Gentiles. This would show th e Apostles th a t th e Gentiles could no t be depended on as a body to accept th e Gospel. The m issionaries left Antioch openly bu t here they fled for th e ir lives. Another fact should be noted, th a t h ere in Iconium miracles attended th e work, vs. 3. Because the opposition was so much g reater, the Lord’s help was much more abundant. Every tria l has its own compensation. Sorrow is worth while if it brings the com fort of th e Spirit. The w rath of man brings the power of God into action and makes His love shine the brighter. “As thy days so shall thy streng th be.” TUESDAY, August 9. Acts 14:8-18. P au l a t L ystra. A new difficulty arises in Lystra. A m iracle is w rought and th e m issionaries are worshiped as Divine. An incurable cripple was in stan tly healed by P aul and th e wondering heathen prepared a sacrifice of oxen and garlands in honor and recognition of the power. P aul and Barnabas, shocked beyond measure, w ith difficulty dissuaded the people from th e ir purpose. P au l’s address contains substantially th e same argu m ent th a t he gave four years la ter in Athens. God is proclaimed as the C reator of all things. H is kindness in sending rain s and fru itfu l seasons is held up as a w itness to His existence and character. While P au l thu s preaches against idolatry, th e Jews who profess to stand against it, come from far away Antioch to urge these idolaters to stone th e man who would tu rn them from idols. W ith characteristic fickleness, th e crowd swings from devilish wor ship to-devilish hate. The fu ry of th e
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