CALENDAR:Aug. 16th to Sept. 15th, 1920.
Daily Bible Reading
Aug. 16th, Heb. 10; Aug. 31st, 2 Pet. 2; Sept. 16th, Rev. 6
Memory Work……………….. Ephesians 5:22-6:9
Good Reading… .C. H. M.'s Notes on Numbers, pp. 201 to 292
Monthly Question:- Find all the references to the Lord's second coming which occur in our Bible Reading for this month, and note difference of connection and teaching.
In our Bible Reading for this month we have a great variety of matter given through five different servants of the Lord. The chapters in Hebrews give, first, our entrance into the holiest, then the wilderness-walk in the power and blessing of faith, closing with exhortations to steadfast continuance in the path of faith in view of the end before us, and present separation "unto Him."
The epistles which follow develop the practical character of God's people on earth. James and Peter speak largely of what is external as to the walk of Christians, their manner of life before men. John presents the internal character, the truth of eternal life in the believer, by which the external becomes a manifestation of God in His children. Jude warns in view of departure and apostasy, and shows what is to characterize the Christian in the midst of the condition he so vividly describes. Note that James tests the profession of faith by the works produced. Faith is considered "dead," if it bears no fruit. Throughout, it is a question as to the testimony we render by our daily life as to the reality of the faith we profess.
Peter's subject is largely the government of God over His people, and His will for them in present circumstances in which suffering and trial from various sources is experienced, but with the kingdom in view.
In John's epistles we have the manifestation of the divine life in the believer, by which he is known as "born of God." This is by love and righteousness, the result of being in the light, which God is. In the second epistle the truth is emphasized, and in the third love.
We now commence the wonderful book of Revelation. In its first six chapters we get, first, the vision of Christ in glory in relation to the churches, and His message to them. Then the vision of the throne in heaven, and the Lamb as the Opener of the scroll of judgment upon His adversaries.
In the Notes on Numbers I would call your special attention to the opening pages of our portion for this month. They press a timely message for today. Let the young believer take heed to it.
A Word of Warning
I want, in love and faithfulness, to pass on a word of admonition to our young people in reference to practices which have come to my notice; and, which, there is cause to fear, are more widespread than may appear. For the things of which I am going to speak mean the undermining of our testimony to Christ, and the destruction of practical Christian life by conformity to the world.
Perhaps some will ask, What is the world ? What is worldliness ? The term "world" is of frequent occurrence in Scripture, and has various meanings. I will speak of it in one connection only. It is applied to that to which we are not to be conformed (Rom. 12:2); to that with which we are not to be friends, for if we are, we constitute ourselves "enemies of God" (James 4:4). It is that which is not of the Father, from which His children should be separate (1 John 2:16). It is that evil course of things from which God's people are, by the crucifixion of Christ, separated and delivered (Gal. 1:4). It is that which knows not the Father-it crucified His Son, our Saviour, and is ruled over by Satan, its god and prince.
What then is the world? It is the vast system grown up with man away from God. Since man was driven out of the place in which God had set him in innocence, he is under the influence of Satan. The world, then, is man in disobedience and departure from God. When the Son of God came here in mercy to man the world would not have Him-it crucified Him.
And when we look at the principles and motives of the world, they are, as Scripture says, " the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." Do not pleasure, gain, vanity, ambition govern people away from God ? This is " the world." It is not subject to God nor wills to obey Him; on the contrary it seeks its own objects-self-exaltation, power, pleasure, gain; it does not love Christ; it is blinded and enslaved by Satan who governs them by these selfish motives.
Worldliness does not consist solely of indulgence in certain things, or going to certain places, it is also the view taken of life according to which a certain course is pursued; it is a state of mind marked by love of this present world. If those so minded are our friends and companions, not merely casual acquaintances, you will find it hard, perhaps impossible, to resist indulgence with the world in things contrary to God. You will find it almost impossible not to be found in places of worldly character, and so compromise your Christian testimony; such companionship cannot fail to develop worldly-mindedness. If the mind formed in us is the mind of Christ which can alone be through prayerful reading and meditation of the Word, examining our conduct and judging ourselves before God- then we are kept from the snares which Satan lays before us.
I want to mention two or three things particularly, because they have ensnared young believers, and are still doing so. They corrupt, defile, and weaken the Christian; they dishonor the Lord's name and destroy Christian testimony.
The moving picture peril. Moving pictures are sometimes used for some things that are good, but mostly for the presentation of what is evil. They have a demoralizing influence upon the spectator because of the sort of life they portray. The pleasure-loving, Christ-rejecting world has gone mad for these places of amusement. Is it not usually what gratifies the lust of the flesh, the passions of an evil nature, that draws the crowd who desire to see on the screen what men and women do under cover of darkness ? How can a Christian occupy a seat in these places and have a good conscience ? Do such things and their atmosphere nourish Christian life, or stimulate Christian feelings? Every honest conscience will say, No! Can Christ and Belial join hands, or light and darkness co-mingle?
The dancing peril. Dancing has invaded school-life in an amazing manner. School functions can scarcely be closed now without a dance. The modern forms indulged in are especially suggestive of evil; by undue familiarity the way is open for improper conduct-all covered by the supposed respectability of the ballroom or parlor. A clergyman recently wrote, " It is unquestionably true that those who come to love the dance find themselves in the way of a perilous drift. There is a lure in the dance, a most subtle influence to evil. Moreover, the modern dance wields a peculiar fascination over old as well as young."
Should a Christian dance the night away with worldlings who consult only their own desires ? Should he be found where the Lord would have to snatch him from the arms of the ungodly who will share the judgment of a godless world ? If the idol-temple, with its dancing, feasting, and revelries, was no place for the Christian of Paul's day, neither are the pleasure-temples of this day, be they called ball-room, theater, music hall, picture palace, or even "my friend's" parlor in the house of the worldling. Let but your conversation be of the wonderful things of God, of Christ, of eternity, will you prove acceptable company in any of them ? If Christ and the holy things of God are to our hearts what our lips say they are, none of those places would welcome us.
The dress peril. A clergyman of the Church of England said to me the other day, as we stood talking on the street of a large city, " If only our young women would realize that much of the loose morality of today is due to the style of dress adopted!" In the Catholic Cathedral of New Orleans, the officiating priest refused to perform a marriage ceremony because of the bride's attire. The city streets are full of such examples. Beware of the world's fashion, young Christian. Read what Scripture says as to this in 1 Tim. 2:9,10 and 1 Pet. 3:3.
Some injunctions of the Word. " We should no longer live the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God " (1 Pet. 4:2).
" Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Col. 3:17).
"Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men " (Col. 3:23).
"Flee also youthful lusts" (2 Tim. 2:22).
"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Tim.4:16).
"Keep thyself pure" (1 Tim. 5:22).
" Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).
"Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1 Pet. 2:11).
"The grace of God teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world " (Titus 2:12).
Read prayerfully 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1. Where will our path be found if obedient to these words, and many other admonitions of God's Word ?' May the Lord enable us all to make straight paths for our feet and escape the perils which the flesh and Satan beset us with. Shall we not take up our cross daily and follow our precious Saviour ? How otherwise can we be His disciples ? To be a Christian is not a matter of mere profession; but the life is to show the reality of what the lips speak.
I close with earnest desire that those who have already been caught in the swirl of this world may be delivered, and that this little talk together may be used to safeguard others. May it be laid upon our hearts as a special subject of prayer in all our young believers' meetings.
Opportunities and Responsibilities
A poor girl who worked as a stenographer for years in a big city offered to go to the foreign field, and was rejected on account of her health. Since then she has been saving and sending her money, supporting native workers at £6 (about $30.00) each a year. There is a community in North India where there are more than 1,000 souls that have been brought to Christ solely through native workers supported by this one frail girl. A thousand who have passed from darkness into His marvelous light, because one girl cared! How many are in the light because of what you have done?-Sel.
The Question Box
Q. 25.-Is there any scripture to warrant the belief of some, that the spirits of departed relatives are ministering spirits to protect relatives or friends on the earth during this dispensation?
Q. 26.-Are we supposed to call in the elders of the church in time of sickness-Jas. 5:14, 15-and are there elders in the assembly ?
Q. 27.-Where does the soul go in relation to the spirit after death?
Q. 28.-Matt. 10:23. Have not the cities of Israel been gone over as yet ?
Q. 29.-Matt. 16:28. How could there be some there that would not taste death before the Son of Man's return ?
Please address all correspondence [for' the Young Believers' Dept., to John Bloore, care of Loizeaux Brothers, till further notice.