THE KING’S BUSINESS
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come true, so that they might believe his good cheer. Paul now warns us not to try the sea of life without the “Wondrous Pilot ofi the sea.” . Better heed him. (2) He said no life should be lost. But when (v. 30, 31) some would have deserted ship and duty he said, they must abide in the ship or they could not be saved. We must abide in Christ, or we may be lost ■and drag others with us. (3) He said that he believed God, and that what God said would prove true. Be lieving God will save us from fear and shipwreck in this world and the next (2 •Tim. 1 :12). Rules for Christian Endeavorers August 3.—Rom. 12: 9-11. Rule 1. “Let love he without dissimula tion."—Rend about Joab and Abner (2 Sam. 3 :27) ; Absalom and the people (2 Sam. 15:7, 12) ; Judas and the poor (John 12: 5, 6 ); Judas and Jesus (Luke 22:47, 48) ; Paul and Israel (Rom. 9 :l-3) ; Jesus and sinners (Luke 23:34). . Rule 2. “Abhor that which is evil.”— Read Proverbs 4:14, 15; and of Daniel and the king’s “dainties” (Dan. 1:8) ; and of the three Hebrews and the idol-image (Dan. 3:17, 18) ; of Jesus and Satan (Matt. 16:23). Rule 3. “Cleave to that which is good” (Ruth 1:14-17; Matt. 4:8-10): Rule 4. “Be kindly affectioned one to ward another.”—Read of David and Jona than (2 Sam. 1:26) ; of Paul and the elders of Ephesus (Acts 20:36-38) ; of Jesus and John (John 21:20). Rule 5. “In honor preferring one an other.” —Read how shamefully the oppo site rule can work (Mark 9:34) ; how Jesus kept the rule (2 Cor. 8:9; John 13: 14); and see the two ways contrasted (Luke 14:7-11). Rule 6. "Not slothful in business .”— Read about Joseph. (Gen. 39:3, 4) ; and Daniel and his companions (Dan. 1:19, 20; 6:4); and of Jesus and Moses (Heb. '3 :2 ); and do not forget Paul (2 Tim. 4: 6-8) ; then see the reward of the diligent (Prov. 22:29).
with the devil and his angels (see Matt. 25:41, and Rev. 20:12-15). 3. Paul Preaching the Gospel. Paul must have told Felix that God gave his Son for such as he (John 3.16), that if he would believe and confess Christ he should be saved (Rom. 10:9, 10), and must have urged him to repent at once and believe (Heb. 3:13; 2 Cor. 6:2), and show ed that no one could tell what a day might bring forth (Jas. 4:13, 14), and very likely asked of him the unanswerable question (Heb. 2:3) ; and if you had been there I suppose he would have finished by charging you to heed Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13, 14. 4. How Felix Answered Faithful Paul. “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will send for thee. That time never came for Felix. We pust take God’s convenient time, not He ours. How Paul Trusted God July 27.—Acts 27: 21-25. 1. How Paul Got into the Storm. For love of Christ and men Paul toiled and suffered. Read 2 Corinthians 614-6, and 11:22-28, for a hint of what he endured. In his old age his enemies sent him to Rome to be tried like a criminal for his life. When the ship was about to sail he fore saw (by revelation?) that it would be wrecked and advised against putting to sea at that season Though they knew his advice to be sound, they sailed just the same. The storm burst on them, they threw over the cargo, expecting to go to Paul said they should have heeded his advice; but that no life should be lost; that his God by an angel had said that he should go to Rome; and that He had given him the lives of them all; and that he be lieved all would be just as God said it would. So he urged them to be of good cheer. 3. Lessons for Us. (1) Paul did not speak in the spirit of them who say, “Didn’t I tell you so?” He only reminded them that his words had pieces at any moment. 2. Paul’s Good Cheer.
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