It requires grace to love all Christians
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples — if you love one another." John 13:35
It is easy enough to love some people —
people with tastes like ours,
people who belong to our social group,
people who are particularly kind to us.
But that is not the way that Christ wants us to live and to love. True Christian fellowship receives all the followers of our Lord — all who bear His name. We will be known as His disciples, by our love for one another.
It requires grace to love all Christians. We must have the love of God in our hearts — before we can love others. We must be close to Christ — before we can be close to one another. We must cultivate the thoughts and feelings appropriate for disciples of Christ. The humblest believer is our brother or our sister in Christ — whom we should sincerely love.
"My command is this: Love each other — as I have loved you." John 15:12
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart!" 1 Peter 1:22
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples — if you love one another." John 13:35
It is easy enough to love some people —
people with tastes like ours,
people who belong to our social group,
people who are particularly kind to us.
But that is not the way that Christ wants us to live and to love. True Christian fellowship receives all the followers of our Lord — all who bear His name. We will be known as His disciples, by our love for one another.
It requires grace to love all Christians. We must have the love of God in our hearts — before we can love others. We must be close to Christ — before we can be close to one another. We must cultivate the thoughts and feelings appropriate for disciples of Christ. The humblest believer is our brother or our sister in Christ — whom we should sincerely love.
"My command is this: Love each other — as I have loved you." John 15:12
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart!" 1 Peter 1:22
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These rare pictures!
"Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things!" Isaiah 40:26
They miss many a tender joy — who do not have a heart in sympathy with nature.
They lose many a whisper of love which drops from God's lips — who do not have ears open to hear the voices of nature.
They fail to see many lovely visions of beauty — who have not learned to use their eyes in admiring the exquisite things that God has scattered everywhere in such glorious variety.
Yet most of us walk amid these inspirations, these rare pictures, these sweet voices — and neither feel nor see nor hear them! God meant us to get comfort and joy from the lovely things with which He has filled our earth.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world!" Psalm 19:1-4
"Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things!" Isaiah 40:26
They miss many a tender joy — who do not have a heart in sympathy with nature.
They lose many a whisper of love which drops from God's lips — who do not have ears open to hear the voices of nature.
They fail to see many lovely visions of beauty — who have not learned to use their eyes in admiring the exquisite things that God has scattered everywhere in such glorious variety.
Yet most of us walk amid these inspirations, these rare pictures, these sweet voices — and neither feel nor see nor hear them! God meant us to get comfort and joy from the lovely things with which He has filled our earth.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world!" Psalm 19:1-4
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The divine art of sympathy
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are" Hebrews 4:15
No books nor universities can teach us the divine art of sympathy.
We must be strongly tempted ourselves — before we can understand what others suffer in their temptations.
We must have deep sorrow ourselves — before we can be true comforters of others in their times of sorrow.
We must walk through the deep valley ourselves — before we can be guides to others in the same shadowy valleys.
We must feel the strain, and carry the burden, and endure the struggle ourselves — and only then can we be touched with the feeling of sympathy, or can give help to others in life's stresses and overwhelming needs. So we see one compensation of suffering — it prepares us for being helpers to others.
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are" Hebrews 4:15
No books nor universities can teach us the divine art of sympathy.
We must be strongly tempted ourselves — before we can understand what others suffer in their temptations.
We must have deep sorrow ourselves — before we can be true comforters of others in their times of sorrow.
We must walk through the deep valley ourselves — before we can be guides to others in the same shadowy valleys.
We must feel the strain, and carry the burden, and endure the struggle ourselves — and only then can we be touched with the feeling of sympathy, or can give help to others in life's stresses and overwhelming needs. So we see one compensation of suffering — it prepares us for being helpers to others.
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8
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One of the best way of evangelizing
We can win others to Christ — only by being Christ to them, demonstrating Christ's love in ourselves, by living in such a way that they may be attracted to Christ, and may learn to admire and to love Him, by what they see of Him in us. One of the best way of evangelizing — is through consistent, beautiful, gentle, Christlike living.
Eloquence of persuasion in a preacher is powerful — only insofar as the preacher's life is consistent with that message. Preaching without love in one's life, produces only empty chatter. But where the deep, true love of Christ is — the plainest, humblest words become eloquent and mighty.
We can win others to Christ — only by being Christ to them, demonstrating Christ's love in ourselves, by living in such a way that they may be attracted to Christ, and may learn to admire and to love Him, by what they see of Him in us. One of the best way of evangelizing — is through consistent, beautiful, gentle, Christlike living.
Eloquence of persuasion in a preacher is powerful — only insofar as the preacher's life is consistent with that message. Preaching without love in one's life, produces only empty chatter. But where the deep, true love of Christ is — the plainest, humblest words become eloquent and mighty.
"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:1-4
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Carve the image of Christ on the wall of your heart!
A persecuted Christian in prison was cheered an hour every day, by a little spot of sunshine on his dungeon wall. Through a grating, the sun's rays briefly streamed into his cell. With the crude tools of a nail and stone, he carved a rough image of Christ upon His cross on the wall. He mastered his misfortune, getting a blessing out of it.
No matter how calamity or disaster builds its dark, gloomy dungeon walls about you — never let despair lay its chilly hand upon your soul. No dungeon is so deep, that God's love cannot stream through. Carve the image of Christ on the wall of your heart! Master your misfortune, and make it give you a blessing. If you let trouble master you — it will leave a permanent scar upon your life. But conquered calamity becomes your helper and leaves beauty on your soul.
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word." Psalm 119:67
"It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." Psalm 119:71
"I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Psalm 119:75
A persecuted Christian in prison was cheered an hour every day, by a little spot of sunshine on his dungeon wall. Through a grating, the sun's rays briefly streamed into his cell. With the crude tools of a nail and stone, he carved a rough image of Christ upon His cross on the wall. He mastered his misfortune, getting a blessing out of it.
No matter how calamity or disaster builds its dark, gloomy dungeon walls about you — never let despair lay its chilly hand upon your soul. No dungeon is so deep, that God's love cannot stream through. Carve the image of Christ on the wall of your heart! Master your misfortune, and make it give you a blessing. If you let trouble master you — it will leave a permanent scar upon your life. But conquered calamity becomes your helper and leaves beauty on your soul.
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word." Psalm 119:67
"It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." Psalm 119:71
"I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Psalm 119:75
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Sermons without words!
"Each one should remain in the situation which he was in, when God called him." 1 Corinthians 7:20
When you are tempted to complain and resist the difficulties of your circumstances, and the limitations of your place in life — remember that Jesus, even with all His divine life and all His great powers, for thirty years found room in a humble peasant home for worthy living, and for service not unfitting to His true exalted character.
If you can do nothing but live a true Christian life which is patient, gentle, kind, pure — in your home, in society, at your daily occupation — you will perform a service of great value, and leave many blessings in the world. This kind of life is a little gospel — displaying the wonderful story of the cross of Christ, in sermons without words!
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation — whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:12
"Each one should remain in the situation which he was in, when God called him." 1 Corinthians 7:20
When you are tempted to complain and resist the difficulties of your circumstances, and the limitations of your place in life — remember that Jesus, even with all His divine life and all His great powers, for thirty years found room in a humble peasant home for worthy living, and for service not unfitting to His true exalted character.
If you can do nothing but live a true Christian life which is patient, gentle, kind, pure — in your home, in society, at your daily occupation — you will perform a service of great value, and leave many blessings in the world. This kind of life is a little gospel — displaying the wonderful story of the cross of Christ, in sermons without words!
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation — whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:12
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The ideal for all Christian life
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served — but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
True life, wherever it is found, is ministry. Some think they climb the ladder in life — as they get beyond serving; but the reverse is true. Our Lord gave the central aim and desire of His life as, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served — but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
These words proclaim the ideal for all Christian life. The whole of Christ's wonderful biography, is focused and summarized here. He Himself holds up the perfect pattern on which every disciple's life is to be fashioned. No one really begins to live at all in any worthy sense — until selfishness dies, and he begins to serve others.
We should ask, as far as others are concerned, not how we can use them to advance our interests and our welfare — but how we can minister to them, serve them, and become in some way a blessing to them.
"Serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served — but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
True life, wherever it is found, is ministry. Some think they climb the ladder in life — as they get beyond serving; but the reverse is true. Our Lord gave the central aim and desire of His life as, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served — but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
These words proclaim the ideal for all Christian life. The whole of Christ's wonderful biography, is focused and summarized here. He Himself holds up the perfect pattern on which every disciple's life is to be fashioned. No one really begins to live at all in any worthy sense — until selfishness dies, and he begins to serve others.
We should ask, as far as others are concerned, not how we can use them to advance our interests and our welfare — but how we can minister to them, serve them, and become in some way a blessing to them.
"Serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14
~J. R. Miller~
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