0969. 948. “What” and “Like Manner”

948. “What” and “Like Manner”

1. Personality. “What manner of man is this?” (Mat_8:27). Who can describe His kind, His worth, His greatness? Ponder the holiness of His nature, the wealth of His worth, the love of His heart, the weight of His words, the beauty of His life, the value of His death, the might of His resurrection, the glory of His ascension, the promises of His Word, and the achievements of His power.

2. Love. “Behold what manner of love,” etc. (1Jn_3:1). He loves like a Father, providingly; like a mother, tenderly; like a sister, thoughtfully; like a friend, faithfully; like a brother, helpfully; like a king, richly; like Himself, eternally.

3. Holiness. “What manner of persons ought ye to be?” (2Pe_3:11). Privileges incur responsibilities. Obligations demand returns. God expects more from His children than He does from the world. He has unfolded to us His plans of the future that we might live like Him in the present. Destiny should determine our actions.

4. Examples. “Ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake, and ye became followers of us” (1Th_1:5-6). Unless preachers are patterns they will become pests. Good samples will command attention.

5. Reception. “What manner of entering in we had unto you” (1Th_1:9). It was effective, for they turned to God; it was triumphant in what “sounded out” (1Th_1:8); it was practical in the “ensamples” seen (1Th_1:7); it was demonstrated in the graces evident (1Th_1:4); it was in that it was “not in vain” (1Th_2:1); and it was unmistakable in their reception of God’s Word (1Th_2:13).

6. Life. The Apostle Paul could appeal to the testimony of his life as to its sincerity—Act_26:4; as to the humility of the manner of his service—Act_20:18; and to its manner in the many-sidedness of its reality, as evidenced in his “purpose, faith, endurance, love, and patience.”

7. Advent. “This same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go” (Act_1:11). Who saw Him go? Believers only—Act_10:41. How did He go? In the act of blessing—Luk_24:50. He will first come for His own—1Th_4:13-18, and then with His own—Zec_14:1-4.

By: DR. F. E. MARSH