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writing to one of the churches: “ I seek not yours, but you” (2 Cor. 12:14). That is, he wanted Christ to have, not the things these people had — their money — but the people themselves. Some people act as though they thought that all God wanted was a part of their money. When Christ called Matthew, the business man, He did not say, “ Give me your money.” He said, “ Follow me.” God can and does use money, but He wants the heart to be given to Him first. Imagine how a young man would feel if the girl he loved, when asked to marry him, would say, “ I w ill not give you my heart, but here are a few dollars I can spare.” W e often treat God in much this way. When He asks for our hearts, we give Him some money, and try to make ourselves think we have done all He requires of us. Let us hear God’s W ord saying, “Render . . . to God the things that are G od’s” (Mk. 12:17), and, “M y son, give me thine heart’’ (Prov. 23:26). Isaiah said, when he heard the voice of G od: “ Here am I ; send me.” 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Golden Text: “Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things” (1 Cor. 9:25). Devotional Reading: 2 Peter 1:5-11. Outline and Exposition I. G uarding E fficiency (Dan. 1:8-16, 19, 20) I T W AS not the reasoning of Daniel’s head but purpose of heart that guarded him (v. 8). Not a pressure from without, but a principle within enabled him to stand before God and man. He had not “ drifted” unconsciously into his manner of living, but he had set his heart upon that very thing. No one ever “ drifted” into the Christian life, any more than a doctor or a lawyer drifts into his profession. There must be a heart purpose if the life is to be efficient in any endeavor. Added to Daniel’s purpose of heart was his courage (v. 8). He was a Jew and as such he had certain convictions about what was “clean” and “ unclean.” His con victions were rooted in the commands of God. But to express his determination boldly was not an easy nor a popular thing to do. It was not because the king’s meat and wine were evil in themselves that Daniel refused to partake of them. But, having been offered to idols, they were, because of that association, unclean to Daniel. Daniel was in Babylon, of neces sity; but he was not of that heathen center, by choice. Separation was his watchword, as it should be the Christian’s as well (2 Cor. 6:17, 18). Daniel was mastered by the Lord, and therefore was master of him self. As an outgrowth of this relationship, Daniel’s courage is seen— an added guard against his losing his efficiency as a serv-
LESSON COMMENTARY [j Continued from Page 158]
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things that are God’s” (Mk. 12:17). He was talking about the payment of taxes to the government controlled by Caesar, and He was reminding the people that their lives and theft* hearts belonged to God. This heart that I hold in my hand rep resents the best gift we can give to God. Of course, we must first accept Christ as Saviour before we can give Him our hearts. Paul realized that the heart was the gift God wanted most, and he said, in
M A Y 29, 1938 MAINTAINING PERSONAL EFFICIENCY D aniel 1:8-16, 19, 20; 1 C orinthians 9:24-27
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Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath ap pointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Han- aniah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their counte nances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 19 And the king communed with them ; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and under standing, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the ma gicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 1 Cor. 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mas tery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. BLACKBOARD LESSON DOniEL PUßPOSED in UlS-WEOßT T 4 RTWEUJOULDITCfTDEfILE WimSELF L — — J - ______ uiiTH the —tonos meat noe- u)ine~o«n. "flnD«nono w on all inns rouno none u x.e DAniEL. unnnniAH, miSI-MEL. nnD oznaim -T DRn.t i. — •£UEß4 mor TUfiT SmiUEW TORTHEfTWSTQN ISTBflPCBflTC inflLLTUinû5"icog<>*5
Elmer J. Peterson, Business Manager, The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc., 558 South Hope Street,
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