196
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
May, 1936
come, they would say, ‘We are not afraid to die, because we are going home’? What home?: Second, how do you account for the fact that they prayed for the very people who were going to execute them? Please tell me the secret.” III. T h e P ersecutors ’ F a ilu r e The Roman rulers, Trajan and Marcus Aurelius, who had sought to put an end to Christianity by putting men to death, found that, instead of causing others to retract, it only made them the more zealous Chris tians, and as Tertullian observed, the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church. ^^r~D oran’s Ministers Manual. JUNE 21, 1936 HAVE WE LEARNED HOW TO USE OUR MINDS? P h il ip p ia n s 4 :8 Meditation on the Lesson This comprehensive summary of all that’s lovely, followed by the striking com mand, “Think on these things,’^, implies surely that the “brethren”—Christians— who obey this injunction have learned how to use their minds for the highest purposes. “Constructive thinking,” it has been said, “is one of the most difficult processes in life, and it is consequently one of the rarest activities of man.” Ernest Dimnet has written a book, The A rt of Thinking, which gives illuminating suggestions but leaves one with a feeling of incompetency. But the commands of the Lord are accom panied with power. Hence it is with renewed courage that we read this verse: “Whatsoever things are true,” "honest," “ju s t" 1; “pure," "lovely,"/ "of good report. . . ." What a list! It makes the heart glow, simply to say them over with emphasis. ' “True "—how we hate falsehood! God has given us a love of truth. “What is truth?” said Pilate, and he did not wait for an answer. But we know Him in whom all truth centers, for our Saviour and Master said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). As we think of “whatsoever things are true,” we “con sider him” who is “the truth.” We are bidden also to think upon what soever things are honest. “Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Rom. 12:17). This is the “true” in action. Be true in heart; be honest in deed. “Just.” “That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live” (Deut. 16:20), said Jehovah to His chil dren, Israel. And in the New Testament He commands :l|Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal” (Col. 4:1). Let us be “just” in our dealing. “Pure." Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). “Every word of God is pure” (Prov. 30:5). “L o v e ly .” T here is One who is “altogether lovely,” “the chiefest among ten thousand.” When He is uppermost in our minds,. there is no room for the thoughts that are unlovely.
“Of good report.” While it is true that men at times will speak evil against Christ’s followers falsely (Matt. 5:11), we are to seek to give no occasion for criticism. Those who were to hold places of author ity in the early Christian church “must have a good report [witness] of them which are without” (1 Tim. 3:7). We re call that the officers that were sent to seize the Lord Jesus Christ brought back the report: “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46). “I find in him no fault at all” (John 18:38), said Pilate to the mob. In order to “think on these things” of which the apostle speaks, let us be con tinually “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). ‘‘For by him were all things created, . . . And he is before all things, and by him all things consist . . . that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Col. 1 :16- 18). “Consider him.” Helps for the Leader I. T h e M ed ita tio n T h a t G od E n jo in s It is likely that few of us realize how great is the importance assigned to medi tation in the Scriptures. It is distinctly commanded of God. Joshua was exhorted to meditate on the book of the law day and night (Josh. 1:8). Timothy was coun seled : “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them” (1 Tim. 4:15). The Philippians were told “to think on these things.” In the description of the good man in Psalm 1, it is said that he meditates on the law of the Lord. The Psalmist said: “My mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I . . . med itate on thee in the night watches” (Psa. 63:5, 6 ) . — G. B. F. H allock . II. O ur P art When a little lad was told by his mother that it was God who made the beautiful flowers grow in their neighbor’s yard, he asked: “Why doesn’t He make some grow in ours ?” “We haven’t prepared the soil, Sonny,” was the reply. Frances Havergal remarks: “As it is evidently God’s way to work through these intellects of ours, we have no more right to expect Him to use a mind which we are neglecting willfully and are taking no pains whatever to fit for His use, than I should have to expect you to write a beau tiful inscription with my pen, if I would not take the trouble to wipe or mend it.” 'S i ^ - S elected . III. T h in k in g Though a man a thinking being is defined, Few use the grand prerogative of mind. How few think justly of the thinking few! How many never think, who think they do 1 W s -J a n e T aylor . IV. C h a llen g es to T h o u g h t 1. Use the mind regularly.
READER, a re you in terested enough in Biola to p atro n ize K ing's B usiness ad v ertisers? HOOKER’S ELECTRIC SHOP will give 10 % d iscount on electrical m erch an dise a n d supplies. Call, write or phone TUcker 9976 700 West Sixth Street, :: :: Los Angeles, California VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS New Series “S urprise” Bible O bject Lessons “Life A nd Journeys O f Jesu s” 26 L essons . ., O bjects included . . $3.00 ARNOLD CARL W ESTPHA L Salem , Ohio M A T E (S ay M at-tay ) M ate is m ade and used th e sam e as 4 tea— hot o r iced. N ative to South Am erica it is th eir favorite drink, even though th ey produce m ore th a n half th e w orld’s coffee. H arry B. B aker, M.D., of R ichm ond, Va., say s: “1 shall recom m end it to m y p a tie n ts as I th in k it m uch b e tte r th a n tea o r coffee.” Send $1 for 20 oz. o r 10c fo r trial, p o stp aid . A gents w anted. PAN AMERICAN TEA CO. 2704 So. V erm ont A ve. Los A ngeles “D rink P an A m erican” FILMS DEVELOPED Any size» 25 cents coin, includ ing two enlargements. Work guaranteed— S e rv ic e prompt. CENTURY PHOTO SERVICE LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN
WITH OUR COOPERATIVE SELLINGPLAN Practically every housew ife in every commu nity favors and u s e s G o tts - chalk's Metal Sponge. Merely
let it b e known thatyou are sell ing itfor a worthy cause andm uch need ed funds are acquired like magic. In the past twenty years we have assisted thousands of organizations to raise money. We will b e delighted to help you. Write for particulars. METAL SPONGE SALES COUP.. Philadelphia Gottschalks M ETA L SPONGE K I L L S A N T S FOR IOC HOUSEWIVES — M aster A n t K iller rids your hom e of an ts in 24 hours. M oney back g u a ra n tee. Sold a t stores. JONES PRODUCTS CO., Milwaukee, Wis.
2. Use the mind with foresight. 3. Attempt serious mental tasks. 4. Learn from others. 5. Give the mind relaxation. 6.
INSIST th a t y o u r dealer sell you GENUINE “D ead Sure” B rand R odent D estroyers, having a positive G uarantee th a t NO an i m al can live in the gas generated! Every piece branded! W rite D ept. S.S. for free booklet. Pacific S tates R odent D estroyer Co., Los G atos, Calif., U . S. A. PACIFIC STATES RODENT DESTROYER CO., LOS GATOS, CALIF., U . S. A.
“Think on these things”—control your
thoughts.—From Notes on Interna tional Christian Endeavor Topics. V. T h in g s T h a t T h o u g h t s D o Every day we are becoming more like our thoughts. If they are mean and sel-
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter