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THE KING’S BUSINESS'
others. Much less does it mean that we shall not need to study the Scriptures, for if we are really guided by the Holy Spirit He will surely guide us to the book of | which He Himself is th§ author. But it does mean that, we are pot dependent upon human teachers and that each man must be taught for himself directly from God (1 Jno. 2:20, 27). Verse 26 leads to verse 27 because when we are thus taught by the infallible Teacher, peace is ours.. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you” :• this is Christ’s final word of com-' fort to His sorrowing disciples, distracted by the thought that He is about to leave them. Here He tells them that He is going- away for a time, and until He comes back again He leaves a wonderful legacy to them and to us, “peace,” better yet, HIS OWN PEACE. In the world we have' tribulation, but in Him His own perfect peace through it all (cf. ch. 16:33). By “my peace” He means not merely the peace that He gives, but the ' peace which He Himself possessed and which He exhibited all through His life. Well might He ¿ay, “Not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” All the world’s giving is poor indeed and transient indeed compared with this abiding and abounding peace. His own peace, which He gives us. After these words JeSus came back to the words with which He began, “Let not your heart be troubled,” and then He adds, “neither let it be fearful.” Certainly not, with such promises how can our hearts ever be troubled or afraid. But even after this the hearts of those to whom -Jesus had spoken these words were both troubled and afraid. Why? Because-they forgot what He said, and because they did not do at once what He bade them. (v. 1.) Let us not forget, and let us believe in God and believe in Jesus Christ. Saturday, July 29 . John 14 : 28 ^- 31 . Jesus had told them that He was going to leave them, but that also He was com ing back again. If they had really loved Him and understood the meaning of His
tolic records would not be their recollec tion of what He said, but the Holy Ghost’s recollection of what He said, and the Holy Ghost would bring to their remembrance what He had said, so we may rest abso lutely on the accuracy of the apostolic record of the words of Jesus as found in Matthew and John, and also as found in Mark, who simply reports for,Peter, and as found in Luke, who derived his material from those whom Jesus promised .'that the Holy Spirit would bring to their recollec tion what He said. But though the prom ise of verse 26 was made primarily to the apostles, the' substance of that promise belongs to us, for one who was of their own number, the very One who here records it, applies it to all believers (1 Jno. 2 :20, 27). It is the privilege of every believer to have the Holy Spirit bring to his mind the teaching of Jesus just when he needs it, Of course, if any one has neglected to hear or read the teachings of Jesus as they are recorded in the four gpspels, the Holy Spirit cannot be expected to bring these teachings to his recollection, but if we will listen to Jesus as .He speaks to us He will bring the words to our recol lection just when we need them. Further more, it is the privilege of each individual believer to be taught of the great Teacher, the Holy Spirit. Herein lies the great sec ret of knowing the truth. No amount of human teaching, no matter how gifted our teachers may be, will ever give us to, know the truth. No amount even of study of the letter of the Word will give'us to know the tru th ; that must be taught by the Holy Spirit Himself, and we may be thus .taught if we will, “The Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, Hp shall teach you.” Do you know His teaching? It is easy to get it: realize your need of it, look to Him for it, submit your mind' to it, expect it,, then walk humbly as it is given. Step by step He will guide you “into all the truth” .(John 16:13, R. V.). This does not mean, of course, for one moment that we 'shall not listen to human teachers. The man who is most truly taught of God is the man who is most ready to listen to what God has taught
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