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June 1927
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6. Obey. Obedience is'a test of sonship, or life eternal (1 Jn. 2 :3, 4 with Jn. 17:3), of love for Jesus (Jn. 14:21, 23, 24), and of friendship with Jesus (Jn. 15:14). It is a condition for abiding in His love (Jni 15:10), for answered prayer (1 Jn. 3:22), for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32), and for peace like a river (Isa. 48:17, 18). It is the one thing above everything else that God demands (1 Sam. 15:22). The opposite of obedience is stubbornness and rebellion, which are demon ology and idolatry (1 Sam. 15:23). When we have the will to obey, the Spirit will furnish the power (1 Pet. 1: 22 ). F ROM an editorial in the Los Angeles Times, we take the following, which may well illustrate the force of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy: “Let no man despise thy youth.”' ; George Washington wrote out 110 maxims of behavior when he was but 13 years old. He surveyed the wilds of Virginia at 18 and was adjutant-general with the rank of major at 19, says Scouting, a magazine for Scout leaders. Alexander Hamilton was Washington’s most: trusted adviser at the age of 20 and was in the Continental Con gress at 25. And yet he never weighed more than 119 pounds dressed. Benjamin Franklin published articles at 14 and edited a newspaper and founded the Philadelphia Public Library at 26. At 15 Daniel Webster had read six books of Vir gil at Dartmouth College. In spite of the fact that he flunked miserably when he first tried to speak in public at the age of 10, he was the Fourth of July orator at 18 at Hanover. Being too young to be President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson occupied the time in growing old enough by writing the Declaration of Independence and other wise guiding the destinies of the republic. Being a normal, healthy boy, he was always pulling things to pieces and looking into them and left many inventions—among other things some of our best principles of government. Fulton is said to have dreamed of his steamboat at 14; Stephenson thought of his locomotive at 15. It is said that McCormick invented the reaper at 22; Howe, the sew ing machine at 26 ; Whitney the cotton gin in his early 20’s ; and Edison turned on the incandescent lamp while a newsboy on a train. Liszt was boxing his piano’s ears at 3; Handel and Rubinstein were prodigies,at 8; Mozart showed genius at 4; Mendelssohn attracted attention at 10; Benjamin West painted pictures at 6, and Michaelangelo and Ra phael were sketching their futures as brilliant boys in kilts. Wilberforce began his monumental work of slavery agitation at 16 and was a member of Parliament at 21. Gladstone was in the House of Commons at 23 and was Lord of the Treasury at 26. John Wesley was preaching at 11 and John Calvin was pastor of a flock at 17. Jeremy Taylor was preaching in St. Paul’s Cathedral at 18 and Charles H. Spurgeon was famed as a pulpiteer and pastor of London Tabernacle at 20. • -— Francis E. Clark is reported to have begun- the Chris tian Endeavor movement while he was in his early 20’s and George Williams founded the Y. M. C. A. when he was but 23. I
How to Be Kept B y R ev . H . S. M iller ® RUST. This is the result of faith, and means con fidence in to the extent of relying upon. If we know that a chair is weak we sit upon it carefully, if we must at all; we do not give our entire weight to it, nor are we surprised if it falls. We do not trust it. But if we know that it is solid, we throw our entire weight upon it and the thought of its falling does not occur to us. This is trust. As the sinner trusts Christ for salvation so must the Christian trust Him for keeping. (1) God has promised to keep in perfect peace those who trust Him (Isa. 26:3). (2) The Lord Jehovah has everlasting strength; there fore trust Him forever (Isa. 26:4). (3) Trust is the opposite of fear. Trust God, for He is our salvation, our strength, our song (Isa. 12:2). (4) He is a shield and buckler to them who trust Him (Prov. 30:5; Ps. 18:30). (5) He who trusts shall possess (Isa. 57 :13). (6) He is good; a stronghold in trouble; He knows them who trust Him (Nah. 1 :7). (7) We trust God through Christ (2 Cor. 3 :4). (8) Knowing that we have life, we have confidence in prayer, which brings victory (1 Jn. 5:13-15). (9) In quietness and confidence shall be your strength (Isa. 30:15). (10) Contrast. Trusting in man and trusting in God (Jer. 17:5, 7; Ps. 118:8, 9; Prov. 28:25, 26). (11) Blessed (Happy) is the man who trusts in God (Ps. 34:8; 84:5, 12; Prov. 16:20). (12) All things are possible with God and the believer (Mk. 10:27; 9:23). 2. Be filled with the Spirit (Jn. 20:22; Eph. 5:18). This is not optional, but commanded, and it is a neces sary part of the plan of salvation. It is God’s method of keeping His children. He, the Holy Spirit, is the One whom God has provided to keep us (1 Pet. 1 :5; Acts 1 :8). No one can live a Bible Christian life without Him. 3. Study the Word. It is the God-provided food, more necessary than food for the body (Job 23 :12). There are no substitutes. Read, study, and appropriate it to the upbuilding of the spiritual life—eat it (Jer. 15:16). It contains milk for babes (1 Pet. 2:2) and meat for adults (Heb. 5:11-14).. It makes one wise unto salvation (2 Tim. 3:15), builds up (Acts 20:32), keeps from Satan’s power (Ps. 17:4), keeps from sinning (Ps. 119:11), cleanses (Eph. 5:26; Jn. 15:3), gives light to show the pitfalls (Ps. 119:105, 130), and gives joy (Jer. 15:16) all through the power of the Holy Spirit. 4. Pray. (1) Watch and pray (Mt. 26:41; Mk. 13: 33). (2) Pray about everything, with supplication and thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6, 7). (3) Pray always, and in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18). (4) Let the Spirit control the prayer life (Rom. 8:26, 27). (5) Meet the conditions, “in my name,’Uetc. (Jn. 14:13, 14; 15:7, 16). Do not neglect secret prayer and communion (Mt. 6:6). 5. Work for souls. This is a part of our redemption privilege and a very impressive evidence of our sonship. This is our chief business, as Christians, and it is the only plan that God has for winning the lost world to Himself (Jn. 20:21; Lk. 19:10; 2 Cor. 5 :19-21; Jn, 1 :40-46).
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