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Chosen no: R-5370 a, from: 1913 Year. |
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"His Servants Shall Serve Him"
--JANUARY
25.--LUKE 8:1-3; 9:57-62; 10:38-42.--
"Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these My brethren, even
these least, ye did it unto Me."--Matthew 25:40.
R.V.
THE opening verse of this Study furnishes us the
key to all the preaching that Jesus did, so far as the record goes. His one
Message was the Good Tidings of the Kingdom
of God. This is still the
Good Tidings, and any of the Lord's people who have not yet learned that the Kingdom of God is the very center and essence of
the hope of the Church and the hope of the world, have not profitably read and
believed the Bible. The Jews, not being ready for the Kingdom, were as a nation
rejected from being Messiah's associates in that Kingdom. But not all were
rejected; hence we read that to as many as received Jesus, to them gave He
liberty to become sons of God--by the begetting and anointing of the Holy
Spirit, which first came at Pentecost.
SURELY THIS
IS GOOD TIDINGS
Those sons of God, if faithful, are to be with
Jesus by and by--heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ their Lord in
this Heavenly Kingdom. Their honor and blessing shall
be great; for they shall be like their Master and see Him as He is and share
His glory. But this will not be all. If they develop this spirit of love, they
will thereby be qualified for association with the Master in His great work of
blessing mankind, rolling away the curse and uplifting humanity out of sin and
death conditions.
Surely this is Good Tidings, as stated in this
lesson! And the same Good Tidings were heralded by those angels who proclaimed
the Master's birth, saying, "Behold, we bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be unto all people!" Thus far it has been Good Tidings
only to God's servants and handmaidens, the Church. But it shall be Good Tidings
to all when all the deaf ears shall be unstopped and when all the blind eyes
shall be opened, and they shall see the glories of Messiah's Kingdom.
While Jesus was thus declaring the Kingdom, He
was not begging His way. We have no suggestion that He ever took up a
collection or in any manner solicited money. Many think that this is a
suggestion that the followers of Christ should likewise make no appeals for
money, but merely use of their own substance and such other moneys as shall
voluntarily be given unto them. However, this is for each to decide for
himself.
Amongst the healed ones was Mary of Magdala, out
of whom the Lord had cast seven demons. In other words, the poor woman was in
the condition in which many are who are in insane asylums. Her trouble was not organic,
but caused by the harassing of the seven fallen angels who had taken possession
of her. Whoever believes the Bible Message must believe that there are fallen
angels --spirit beings who have a malevolent influence upon humanity to the
extent that they can gain control, and who must be resisted by the will. Mary,
apparently, was a woman of wealth. Released from the power of the demons, she
was so grateful to Jesus that she did her best to serve Him on every occasion.
Other honorable women are also mentioned as having contributed to the
maintenance of the Lord.
"LET ME
BURY MY FATHER"
Some were attracted to Jesus, evidently, with
the thought that one so gifted and so well supplied with the necessities of
life must be wealthy. One such said to the Lord, "I will follow Thee
whithersoever Thou goest." But apparently his ardor was cooled when Jesus
informed him that He had no property, no home of His own, although there were
numerous homes to which he was welcome. Foxes have holes of their own and birds
have nests of their own, but the Son of Man had no home that He could call His
own. None but the very sincere would likely be attracted to follow a leader
under such circumstances. Wealth attracts many, poverty few.
Another said to Jesus, in substance, Lord, you
may count me as one of your disciples; but I have a father, and I feel as
though I must stay with him until his death. [R5371
: page 377] The reply of Jesus shows us the importance He attaches to every
service we can render to the Heavenly Father's Cause. He said to him, "Let
the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God."
IS IT NOT
TIME TO AWAKE?
The whole world is already dead from the Divine
standpoint. The sentence of death that passed upon Adam involved all of his
children. The only ones whom the Scriptures recognize as possessed of any life
at the present time are those who become related to the Life-Giver, Jesus. The
Master intimates that all such should take a different view of life from
others. There are plenty in the world who can attend to the earthly things; few
who can attend to the greater and more important work of proclaiming the
Kingdom and gathering the Kingdom class.
This is the most important work in the world,
because it is God's work. And those who engage in it are co-laborers with God.
Be it noticed again that it was the Kingdom
of God that was worthy of
this preaching and this sacrifice. Alas, how strange it is that so little of
the preaching of later times is along this line! In other words, the Gospel
Message that Jesus and His disciples delivered has been lost, forgotten,
neglected. Is it not time for all Bible students to awaken to the great
privilege of preaching the same Message that the Master and His appointed ones
at the First Advent preached?
LESSONS TO
BE LEARNED
Another came to Jesus, saying, I will follow
You, but I wish first to go and bid farewell to those who are at home. I will
spend a little time with them; and before long I will be with You in the work.
It was not heartlessness on Jesus' part that suggested the answer: "No
man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God." According to these searching
words, who then, even amongst the Lord's consecrated people of today, is fit
for the Kingdom?
We are not to judge others, but each to judge
himself. [R5371 : page 378] And yet, in a
general way, are we not confident that many not only are looking back and
making special provisions for the social amenities of life, but additionally
are plunging into many of the luxuries, pleasures and frivolities of the world?
The question is a searching one. How many of us will the Lord consider fit for
the Kingdom--fit for a place with Himself in that glorious Messianic Empire,
which we trust is nigh--at the door? There seems to be a principle involved.
Those who are not absorbed with interest in the Kingdom, desiring its blessings
and desiring a share in conferring blessings upon others, would probably not be
qualified by the resurrection change to accomplish the work which He has
designed shall be done for humanity.
The story of Martha and Mary concludes the
lesson. Both loved the Savior, but they manifested their love differently.
Jesus did not disapprove of Martha and her carefulness as a cook in providing
for His comfort; but He especially appreciated the spirit of Mary, which drew
her to His feet to hear the wonderful words of life. Hers was the better part,
Jesus said. So, then, in our service for the Master let us have this in mind, that
He is especially pleased when we give earnest attention to His words and seek
to be filled with and guided by His Holy Spirit.
Today's Study represents special services which
were rendered at different times during our Lord's ministry. Acceptable service,
like acceptable praise, must come as a fruitage of love to the Lord. He who
loves much will serve much. Salaries cannot purchase this kind of service, and
persecutions cannot hinder it.
Whoever was privileged to serve the Lord Jesus
personally was certainly highly privileged. And yet we may be sure of the
general principle laid down in our text, that whoever serves any whom the Lord
classes as His brethren is really serving Him. He accepts the same as service
to Himself. How precious this thought, and how valuable it is! What wonder that
all who truly believe the Lord's Word should be zealous in their service of
their brethren! As the Apostle suggests, we ought also to lay down our lives
for the brethren, even as Christ died for all.
W.T.
R-5370a : page 377 - 1913r