King's Business - 1920-03

THE K I N G ' S BUS I NE S S

320

ple announcement, “ England expects every man to do his duty,”' could be the means of winning a notable victory, surely the consciousness that Heaven expects every Christian to do his duty ought to go a long way toward expedit­ ing the evangelization of the world. MONDAY, March 30. Eph. 2:14-22. Peter and John Compared. Peter and John enjoyed the privi­ leges comm'on to all the twelve Apos­ tles, whether distinguished or obscure. They were the friends of Jesus, they were honored with the call to serve Him, they were granted His gift of power, they were themselves saved and as they became the seekers and win­ ners of others, they were the founda­ tion stones of that spiritual society called the Church of which Christ Him­ self is the chief cornerstone. Wkat an exalted honor and privilege was theirs! When the history and destiny of this society is taken into consideration, surely no other names in the course of human history can be written above those of the ehosen Twelve. TUESDAY, March 31. 1 Cor. 12:1-12. Peter and John Contrasted Upon Peter the Master places more of practical dependence. In John He finds more sympathetic congeniality. He delegates certain duties to the ac­ tive efficiency of Peter. He develops lofty truth in the spiritual comprehen­ siveness and responsiveness of John. Peter was always the first to speak and act, right or wrong. John's self-re­ straint becomes self-effacement in his Gospel writing. He never names him­ self, nor his brother, father and mother, not even his adopted mother, committed to his care from the .cross. In his Epis­ tles, he styles himself simply “ the elder.” “ Love took up the harp of life And smote upon its chords with might,

vision is of eternity. Here also is an­ other Paradise, not Eden restored, but the Paradise of God. There are re­ peated and multiplied assurances that the clouds of time shall never darken the skies of eternity. Rev. 22:3-8. No more curse, no more sorrow, no more sin, no more death, no more mystery, no more desolation or separation, for the former things are passed away. Any literal force that these assurances may possess is completely swallowed up in the fathomless depth of their spir­ itual significance. SUNDAY, March 28. Rev. 21:21; 22:5. The Life Work of Peter and John. The Christian experience and life of Peter may be characterized and sum­ marized by the gradual disappearance and displacement of Simon by Peter even as Israel took the place of Jacob in the Old Testament. So in the case of John, the fiery and impetuous son of thunder became transformed into the benign apostle of love. God does not abandon anything He undertakes. The very fact that He initiates a work of grace in the soul is the guarantee of its consummation. “ He wills that I shall holy be, What can withstand His will? The counsels of His grace in me He surely shall fulfill.” MONDAY, March 29. Matt. 28:16-20. The Great Commission. A certain writer imagines the Saviour on His return to heaven, inquired of by the angels as to what provision He had made for the continuance of His work upon the earth. He replied that He had left the matter entirely in the hands of His disciples. The next an­ gelic query was concerning the alterna­ tive .arrangement in case they should prove unfaithful. The Master’s reply was that there was none because He counted upon their fidelity. If the sim­

Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker