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'IT'fiE --K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
December 1928
Affliction is the pruning knife to the vine to prepare it for greater fruitfulness (Jn. 15:2). There is little real service where there has been no Gethsemane, and there is no Gethsemane without its angel. David’s pen never wrote more sweetly than when dipped in ink of affliction.
One of Wellington’s officers was ordered on a peril ous duty. At first he lingered as though in fear, then said: “Let me have one clasp of your all-conquering hand and I can do it.” Our Commander does better than this. •He goes with us all the days (Mt. 28:20) and gives us grace and strength for the task. “Fear thou not,” He says, “for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the riqht hand of my righteousness” (Isa. 41:10). “I do not ask my cross to understand4Sg| My way to see; Better in darkness just to feel Thy hand And follow Thee.” Why Not Do Colportage Work? f OLPORTAGE work is very much needed to ful ministry. Experience is not necessary. One learns to do work in the doing of it, and the worker obtains a wonderful training in many ways. Then there is a financial profit in selling Christian literature from home to home that enables the colporteur to meet his or her necessary expenses, for ‘the, laborer is worthy of his hire.’ ” A colporteur is a missionary who proclaims the Gospel message by means of the printed page. He has a firm conviction that God’s Word will not return to Him void, and he seeks to place it in the hands of all classes of people. He does not wait fo* the people to congregate in some auditorium to hear him preach, but he gladly comes to them. Instead of being satisfied with reaching a few by the spoken word, he reaches many with the written Word. The colporteur is not a high-salaried worker, who has many demands upon his time, but is a book missionary whose heart is set upon giving all men the message of life ere they perish. He keeps in mind the careless, the indifferent, the rebellious; those who do not have the inclination nor the opportunity of hearing the spoken message of salvation. He, therefore, goes from home to home, being no respecter of persons, and cheerfully, hope fully offers those books for sale that are inexpensive and yet effdctive in bringing the saving truth of God’s Word to the minds and hearts of the people for whom Christ died. He may find it hard work at times, but he always finds it happy work; and the joy of the Lord is his con stant strength. The colporteur is'not limited in his field: He can labor in the cities, the towns and villages, dr out in the country places. He! makes friends as he shows himself friendly, and homes are often opened for his entertainment. He is a master of his own! time and appointments, recognizing that he must give an account to the Lord of the harvest only. He can limit his labors according to his strength, and he is free to begin at any hour in the morning and stop at any hour in the evening. T h e K in g ’ s B u siness recommends that those who are interested in, this form of Christian service secure full information and helpful suggestions from the Bible Insti tute Colportage Association, 843-845 N. Wells St., Chicago.
“Ere man can comfort man, he first must suffer. The tearless dry fio tears ; the whole in heart Bind up no broken spirits: ’Tis not theirs .To mix and-minister the balm that heals: It is by sorrow that God trains-His own And molds thenj for the highest service here, Like Him who, as the Man of Sorrows, knew To soothe the sad, to speak the word of cheer.” 6. A fflic t io n is a P ledge of C om ing G lory
No cross—no crown. “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8 :18). “Our light afflic tion, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). “At thy right hand, there are pleasures forevermore” (Psa. 16:11). Our trials are not for naught. They are the seed of future glories. They are the early process of the garden when the soil is broken up and weeded, that fairest flowers may adorn it through eternity. Our spiritual and everlast ing good is advanced when we patiently, believingly bear our sufferings. Every day of sorrow will bring a thou sand years of joy multiplied with never-ceasing numera tion. Is it worth while ? 7. A ffliction M ay W in U s P raise at th e L ord ’ s C om ing “The trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:7). Faith in the midst of trial is seen to be a most precious thing to God, Our Lord certainly cannot fail.to .give to Job a special commendation for having said to his tor mentors, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15). Fellowship in His sufferings is a qualifica tion for winning praise at His appearing. Let us not forget it. “Light after darkness, gain after loss, Strength after weakness, crown after cross; Sweet after bitter, hope after fears, Home after wandering, PRAISE AFTER TEARS.” How L o n g ?.; To the sufferer a day often seems as a thousand years, yet we shall look back upon it all and see that it was as nothing to an eternity of bliss (Rom. 8:18). It is “but for a moment” (2 Cor. 4:17); “for a season” (1 Pet. 1 :6) ; a “day” (Prov. 24:16); “a little, while” (1 Pet. 5 :10) ; “Weeping may endure for a night,- but joy cometh in the morning” (Psa. 30:5).
day,” writes Rev. Norman H. Camp, “and offers an unlimited field. It can be done by any ^earnest, warm-hearted, loyal Christian who has a passion to save souls and a desire to encour age Christians in their faith and service. Both men and women, young and old, can engage in this fruit
“One little hour of watching with the Master, Eternal years to walk with Him in white. One little hour to bravely meet .disaster, Then reign with Him and know that all is right.”
Let us not, then, be impatient to find quick deliverance. Wait God’s time. It is not wise to break prison unad visedly. There will be a better ending if we wait for the angel to open the gate. Let us count each affliction, whether light or heavy, God’s messenger sent to us and let us receive him with courtesy, knowing that “He work eth all things together for good to them that love Him” (Rom. 8:28).
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