own, was not easily provoked, thought no evil, re joiced not in iniquity but in the truth. The love of God was manifested in Jesus Christ and is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. But we must be on our guard here. There is a lot of talk about love today that does not get within a thousand miles of what Paul meant. Love is not a pleasant feeling, a sweet sentiment. It is the most practical thing on earth. Mother’s love has been im mortalized in poems and pictures, sermons and songs, but the best evidence of mother's love is found in a thousand deeds of kindness. There is mystery in love just as there is in electricity. We do not know all about what it is but we know what it does. We prove our love for Christ by obeying Him. He made it clear that the one who really loves Him is the one who has and keeps His commandments (John 14:21), not everybody who sings “ 0, How I Love Jesus!” We have in the churches today all the problems they had in Corinth and as then so now the answer is love. Ephesus had troubles but the solution was to get back to first love. Christians and churches need to repent, confess and forsake sin, claim the cleans ing blood and be filled with the Spirit. We cannot solve these difficulties otherwise. Unless they are han dled in love, we only confound the confusion. We make two mistakes today: either we don’t touch our problems at all or we try to solve them without the Holy Spirit. Never forget that even at our best, we work under limitations: “ NOW we see through a glass darkly; but THEN face to face; NOW I know in part; but THEN shall I know even as also I am known.” I like to call that “ my NOW and THEN verse.” Some day we shall have better light. Now, even with all our gifts, we do very imperfect work. The man whose faith works by love (Gal. 5:6) lives for eternity, for all the gifts will pass away, but love will last forever. When I was a country pastor, I kept hearing about a former pastor of my flock, one Josiah Elliott, who preached there back in the horse-and-buggy days. What a grip he had on the hearts of the people! Other pastors of greater scholarly and social attain ments had followed him but I heard most about Josiah Elliott. I became anxious to know something of the secret of his mighty influence. One day I went back along the creek to where my farmer friend, John Brown, was plowing and asked him the secret of the old preacher’s power. John reflected for a moment and then remarked simply, “ He just loved us.” I strolled back home along the pasture lane that after noon while from the cypress swamp the wood thrush chimed his vespers to the end of a perfect day. In my heart there rang the old, old words we are so slow to learn: “ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love, I am become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.” Josiah Elliott lived in the Thirteenth Chapter of First Corin thians. Would God it were the dwelling-place of us all! THE KING’S BUSINESS
Gospel Song Favorites for the Piano > compiled by Betty Jean Chatham
Here are new arrangements of some of your favorite gospel hymns. This collection is excellent for church and departmental pianists. Selections included are: $2.25 Redeemed • The Old Rugged Cross • Battle Hymn • Give Me A Vision • I Have Decided to Follow Jesus • Just As I Am (from Landgrave's "Purpose" and Woodworth) • When I Survey the Wondrous Cross • I Surrender All
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A Popular, Practical and Reliable Verse-by-Verse Commentary BARNES’NOTES ON THE New Testament
Preachers, Teachers, and Christian Workers.
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