THE KING’S BUSINESS
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“rejoicing in hope.” “Love without hypoc risy” is a joyous thing,vit is ever, singing in sunshine and in storm. Why? Because it is open-eyed to God’s purposes—-“rejoic ing in hope” (cf.5:2; 15:13). The present hour may bring tribulation, but hope knows that “the- sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall he revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). Real love i^ never pessimistic (1 Cor. 13:7). It is true that it sees clearly that these are “perilous times” (2 Tim. 3:1). It also recognizes that “evil men and imposters shall wax worse and worse” (2 Tim. 3:13, R. V.).' But beyond all this, hastened indeed by all this, it seems also “that blessed hope of the glprious appear ing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” It rejoices even in “fiery trial,” for it is thus made “partaker of Christ’s sufferings,” and knows that “when His glory is revealed” it shall be made “glad also with exceeding joy.” Hope resting on the word of God which cannot lie, is the spring of love’s never-failing joy. Believer, are you “always rejoicing?” (Phil. 4:4). And if you are, are you “re joicing in hope,” i.e., is hope built upon the word of God, the source of your joy? If you are, you will be “patient in tribulation” no matter how severe. If not, you will some day be a grumbler. Love never grumbles. But there is* something else needed, “continuing steadfastly in prayer.” Here we have the prayerfulness of love. Love comes from God (1 John 4:7) and is constantly going out in dependent crying to the Author of its being. A prayerless life is sure to become a loveless life. This cry is constantly heard, “we need prayer and more love.” As well might a locomo tive say, “I want less putting of coal in the firebox and more steam.” But stop putting in coal and the steam will soon go down. Stop praying and you will soon stop loving. We greatly need today this message, “con tinuing steadfastly in prayer.” This is what the early church did, and note the abounding love that followed (Acts 2 :42, 44,45 ; 4:31,32,34,35).
cold superiority that smiles condescend ingly on the enthusiasm of inexperience. Love is not ashamed to display ardor. We live in a cold age, otir much learning has not made us mad, hut it has made us frigid. We fancy that ferver, especially religious ferver, belongs to the less enlightened ages ; but the Holy Spirit is a fire (Matt. 3:11; 2 Tim. 1:6, R. V. Margin), and if He takes possession of us we will glow whether we have much learning or little. It is not our much learning or wisdom but the absence of the Holy Ghost that makes us so cold. Apollos was a “learned man,” but he was also “fervent in spirit” (Acts 18:24,25, R. V.). The message of these three words “fervent in spirit” is a mes sage much needed today, we need more warmth in our individual experience and in our church life. Jesus Christ wants red hot disciples (Rev. 3:15,16). There is only one right way to become “fervent in spirit”—go to Jesus, the “baptizer with the Holy Ghost and fire,’’ (Matt. 3:11; John 1:33), and put yourself in His hands for the fire baptism, just as many went to John, the baptizer with water, and put themselves in the hands for the water bap tism. Men can baptize you with water, Jesus alone can “baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” He is ready to do it now. Being thus “fervent % in spirit,” we will realize the rest of the verse, “serving the Lord.” The love that is “without hypoc risy” has the glory of the Lord as its ulti mate aim, its service is for the I^ord’s glory and unto Him (Eph. 6:5-7). There is a sham love abroad in the .world today, “humanitarianism.” It is much lauded but it has regard solely to man and his interests, it has little depth of power or permanency, it is more frequetly a sentimental fad than a stable fact. The battle cry of the love that is real and abiding is “serving the Lord.” Ignore the Lord and you will not regard men when the testing time comes. A love to man built upon loyalty to Jesus Christ will stand the stress of any storm, and it alone will. And now Paul passes on to thé gladness of real love in the words,
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