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THE
NEW LIFE by
John Marshall
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Chapter
23 • OUR
LORD AND SAVIOUR
It is astonishing how completely Jesus exemplified and taught
the divinity of service: and how completely it belongs to
the life immortal, as well as to the mortal. Think of his
humble service in washing his disciples feet; recall his immortal
grace in preparing and serving breakfast to his brethren who
had been searching for fish all night; and then remember his
benediction: "Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord
when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you,
that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to meat,
and will come forth and serve them."
Jesus in his life and teaching showed us something of the
characteristics and the quality of "the way, the truth,
and the life"; it is for us without deception or hypocrisy
to accept them and strive to imitate them in our lives. He
is our Lord; he has saved us from the dread consequences of
sin; he is worthy of our deep thanks and praise. But there
is no doubt that what pleases him most is to have us strive
to walk in his way.
He is the first-born of a mighty family, and we are privileged
to be members of it. We owe this honour to the Father who
chose us, and "Unto him be the glory in the ecclesia
and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever.
Amen."
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References
John 13v4-14, John 21v4-14,
Luke 12v37, Eph 3v21
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Chapter
24 • LOOKING
FORWARD IN AWE
IT is not easy to accustom ourselves to the idea that a moment will
come, whether we are living or dead, when the true reality of the
things we believe in will be made clear. For those of us who are
alive the familiar pattern of daily living, in the corner of the
world that is our home, will suddenly vanish. Paul pointed to this
event in dramatic terms when he wrote "For the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them
be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
shall we be ever with the Lord."
An Awesome Event
This will be an awesome event, greater than any in the history of
the world thus far, for it will lead to the manifestation of the
sons of God, a moment for which the whole creation waits. If we
do not prepare for it now, we shall be given no time for it then,
because we shall be "caught up" or, literally, snatched
away by force.
It will happen during the day or night, depending on which part
of the world we live in: we may be at work or play; we may be found
in a situation or place in which we would
prefer not to have been discovered. But in a second, with no opportunity
for protest or objection, whether we are enthusiastic or lukewarm,
hard-working in Christ's service or have left the Truth, we shall
find ourselves in the grip of a power which is beyond our mortal
knowledge.
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References
1 Thess 4v16-17 RV
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