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January 1930
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
which is in accordance with God’s will. For then it is not we that are undertaking it; it is God. He has planned it; He is doing it; He has sent His angel on ahead to prepare for it in supernatural ways and with irresistible power; and He is simply using us as His instrument for His own doing o f His own work. His work can not fail; therefore we cannot fail in any thing thus undertaken in accordance with His will. Abraham knew that he was perfectly safe in absolving his servant from the oath in case the plan fell through, for he knew that God’s plan would not fall through. He must have made this seem ing concession simply to ease the servant’s mind, and not because he himself was in any doubt. God never commissions us to do anything for Him without at the same time preparing the way, by His own di rect action. If He asks us to do some thing that is to' affect the life o f another, He is working in that other’s life to pre pare it for what we are to do. Always He sends His angel on ahead of us. How foolish and wrong of us ever to hold back from any commission o f such a God !— Messages for the Morning Watch. —o— January 11— “ The cares o f this world . . . . entering in choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4 :19). Gares divide our heart, and distract it in many directions. It is almost impos-. sible to settle to prayer, or Bible study, or Christian work, or to the culture o f the soul-life, while questions intrude. What shall the poor man do to prevent the Word becoming unfruitful? He must take his cares to his Father, and by one act deposit them in his safe-keeping. Thereafter, as care tries to break in on the peace of his heart, he must treat it as a positive temptation, handing it over to God,— F. B. Meyer. — o— January 12— “ Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive” (Matt. 21:22). This speciality of faith is the twin sis ter o f appropriating faith. The one dis cerns his right to the prosperity and titles, the other takes possession. The one ac knowledges and realizes the will, and the other enters into and claims his birth right. The will is put into execution. There is no flaw, no hindrance, no dis pute to his title. It is as clear as day light. The Israelites lost their birthright, because there were stipulations and con ditions to their inheritance, and they did not comply with them. The promise was for them, to no other people was it made —but owing to a great hindrance on their part, the promise could not be put into execution, so they could not take the land or come into their possessions. Many of God’s people are always believing, but they do not receive. Something stands in the way, for they do not. claim and take. Some from their want of discernment to realize the value o f God’s grace, some from their preoccupation with their pres ent worldly possessions—others from in difference, or procrastination, slothful ness, disobedience and a host o f hin drances which prevent them entering into the fulness of the blessing. They are not willing to sacrifice, or “lay aside,” or lose, to get “the pearl of great price” ; therefore, of course, they have no power
so fatherly, that He cannot bear to put us into the storm unless He has fed us well first. He will constrain you to go into no storm without giving you grace first, and preparing you for it by miracle bread.— . Rev. C. A. Fox. ' . . —o— January S— “Prove me now” (Mai. 3 : 10). I . ■ ■ ■ There are many things too difficult for you to do. But you do not hesitate to seek some one more skillful and give him a chance to do for you. You have a pre cious gem to reset. You cannot do it. But you are quick to give the expert jeweler a chance to do it for you. There is a dangerous mountain steep to climb. You do not know how to find the path way. But you give the mountain guide a chance to lead you in it. . There is a deep ford to cross. You cannot risk it. But you give the hardy ferryman a chance to pilot you across it. It is not otherwise with you and God. There are many things you cannot do. But God says : “I f you ask I will do.” There are burdens you cannot bear. Give God a chance through prayer, and He will bear them for you. There are problems too knotty for your solution. Give God a chance by prayer, and God will solve them for you. There are bar riers too high for you to overleap. Ask God. They are not too high for Him. Somehow when there seems no other chance for us, prayer gives God a chance. And behold, He does for us what we had forever despaired of doing ourselves.— Streams in the Desert. January 6 — “Neither know we what to do ; but our eyes are upon thee” (2 Chron. 20 : 12 ). A life was lost in Israel because a pair of human hands were laid unbidden upon the ark of God. They were placed upon it with the best intent, to steady it when trembling and shaking as the oxen drew it along the rough way; but they touched God’s work presumptuously, and they fell paralyzed and lifeless. Much of the life o f faith consists in letting things alone. If we wholly trust an interest to God, we must keep our hands off it; and He will guard it for us better than we can help Him. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself be cause of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Things may seem to be going all wrong, but He knows as well as we; and He will arise in the right moment if we are really trusting Him. so fully as to let Him work in His own way and time. There is nothing so masterly as inactivity in some things, and there is nothing so hurtful as restless working, for God has undertaken to work His sovereign will. —A. B. Simpson. — o — January 7—“He staggered not at the promise o f God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform” ( Romans 4 :20, 21). It is a little thing to trust God as far as we can see Him, so far as the way lies open before us ; but to trust Him when we are hedged in on every side and can see no way to escape, this is good and accept able with God. This is the faith of Abraham our father.
Wholesome “It is refreshing to read the wholesome and positive articles given on the pages o f T he K ing ’ s B usiness in this age o f materialism an d destructive criticism.” H. D., Colo.
He staggered not, but marched right on; That ancient hero, Abraham. He trusted in the Eternal One; His heart had heard God say, “I AM.” He staggered not, though unbelief Sought everywhere to bar his way. The promise gripped his eager soul, And nothing could his progress stay. He staggered not; but strong in faith, Believing God with all his soul, His faith o’ercame his every foe. The promise led him to his goal. He staggered not; but glory gave To God, whose promise he believed; Sure that in God’s own way and time The promised heir should be received. So let me live my life each day, And stagger not, but still believe That in my Father’s own good time, All that is best I shall receive. :— Dr. Sheldon. —o— January 8 — “Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching” (Luke 12:37). Great things happen when we never look for them. The greatest is going to happen just like that. God’s hours are often unexpected hours. Love has a lovely fondness for surprises'. All of which our blessed Saviour knew so well, from His perfect intimacy with His Father, that He never wearied telling men to watch.— G. H. Morrison. —o— January 9— “He shall dwell on high” (Isa. 33:16). It is easier for a consecrated Christian to live an out-and-out life for God than to live a mixed life. A soul redeemed and sanctified by Christ is too large for the shoals and sands of a selfish, worldly, sinful life. The great steamship St. Paul could sail in deep water without an effort, but she could make no progress in the shallow pool, or on the Long Beach sands; the smallest tugboat is worth a dozen o f her there; but out in mid-ocean she could distance them in an hour. Be loved, your life is too large, too glorious, too divine, for the small place that you are trying to live in. Your purpose is too petty; arise, and dwell on high in the resurrection life of Jesus, and the inspir ing hope of His blessed coming.— Days of Heaven upon Earth. —o— January 10— “Jehovah, the God o f heaven, . . . he will send his angel be fore thee” (Genesis 24:1-9). There is the quiet but infinitely suf ficient assurance that we have concerning the outcome o f anything we undertake
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