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THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS affection” (cf. Acts 17:1-4). Men of such holy boldness are needed today in foreign fields and also at home. Their boldness was “ in our God.” God was the source of it and the sphere in which they exercised it. It came by prayer and the filling of the Holy Ghost (cf. Acts 4:29-31; Eph. 6:19, 20). What they spoke in this bold way was not their own notions but “ the Gospel (Glad Tidings) of God.” Their preach ing was “ in much conflict.” There was fierce and bitter opposition (cf. Acts 17:5, 6). But this did not deter them, and opposition ought not to deter hut to encourage us (cf. 1 Cor. 16:8, 9). The reason why Paul and his compan ions waxed bold to preach in spite of suffering and shameful treatment was because their “ exhortation was (is) not of (rather, out of) error, nor of (out of) uncleanness, not in guile.” Neither error, nor unclean motives were its source and it wafe not preached in deceit, and false pretense. Much of the exhortation of that day (and of ours) was out of error and out of unclean ness (it had its origin in love of money, lust, false ambition, etc.) and in deceit. (2 Pet. 2:10, 14; Jude 8; Phil. 1:16; Rev. 2:14, 15). One of the saddest fea tures of any age is found in the relig ious teachers who teach from low, sel fish and even vile motives. So far from his exhortation being of error or of uncleanness, or in guile, Paul spoke as one who had been “ approved of God to be entrusted with the Gospel.” It is a wonderful thing to be approved of God for this holy work, it is a great honor, and yet after all it is all of grace (cf. Acts 9:15, 2 Cor. 3:5; 1 Tim. 1:11-16). As Paul had sought God’s approval, and His alone, and had obtained it, he did not speak for the purpose of “ pleasing men (cf. Gal. 1: 10) but God.” He and He alone is the one who proves the heart (cf. 1 Sam. 16:7; Jer. 17:10; Rev. 2:23). The one great question in all our service is have we the approval of God, Who tests the heart?. 'FRIDAY, Dec. 27. 1 Thess. 2:5, 6. Paul points out three common faults of preachers into which he and his companions never once fell. (1) They were “ not at .any time in a word of flattery.” This is the exact force of the Greek words used. It is rendered in the Authorized Version “ neither at any time used we flattering words” and in
the Revised Version “ neither at any time were we found using words of flattery.” This might imply merely that they were never discovered doing it. Paul says they never did it. Not one word of flattery did they use on any occasion. This is one of the common est vices of preachers. Paul did praise when, praise was deserved (e. g., ch. 1: 2-8). Paul appeals to their own knowl edge as a confirmation of his state ment that he had never used a flatter ing word. (2) They were “ not at any time in a cloke of covetousness.” Never had their activity been a mere pretense from which they sought their own gain. In this Paul appeals not to them as witnesses, for they could not know, but to God who knows the heart and its motives. Can we say, and appeal to the knowledge of God, Who knows our inmost motive, in saying it, “ I never have done the work which I have done with any motive of personal gain?” (3) They were “ not at any time seeking glory of (out of) men,” i. e., the glory that has its source in men (cf. John 5:44, R. V.). They had sought glory not from the Thessalonians “ nor from others.” Can we say this: “ Never have I sought glory from any man?” Paul might have seemed to have had an excuse for seek ing glory from men, he “ might have been burdensome (by demanding sup port and honor) as an apostle of Christ.” But he had not done this (cf. 2 Cor. 11:9; 12:16). He had worked hard and made great sacrifices to keep from doing it (cf. v. 9, R. V.; 2 Thess. 3 :8). How many a modern evangelist and pastor makes himself such a burden by his pecuniary demands and other demands, that the people almost wish they had never heard his voice. We all of us have lessons to learn from Paul. SATURDAY, Dec. 28. 1 Thess. 2:7, 8. So far from falling into any of. these common vices of preachers and evan gelists, Paul and his companions had been “ gentle in the midst of” them “ as when a nurse cherisheth her own chil dren.” There is the model for the preacher, “ a nurse,” and a purse who is at the same time mother, cherishing “ her own children.” Paul was a brave, fearless, active, strenuous man, but he was also gentle, a nursing mother. A rare combination! The overwhelming weight of the evidence is for “ babes” instead of “ gentle” in v. 7. If we so read, “ we were babes in the midst of
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