Scripture Truth
"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly!" Colossians 3:16
Character never can be strong, noble, and beautiful; nor can conduct be worthy of intelligent beings bearing God's image — if scriptural truth is not breathed into the very soul, by our personal searching and pondering of those truths. Do not stay forever in the basics of religious knowledge, amid the easy lessons learned at your mother's knee. There are glorious things beyond these — so let us go on to learn of the greater things! The Word of Christ will get into your heart to dwell and transform you only through serious thought and consideration.
"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly!" Colossians 3:16
Character never can be strong, noble, and beautiful; nor can conduct be worthy of intelligent beings bearing God's image — if scriptural truth is not breathed into the very soul, by our personal searching and pondering of those truths. Do not stay forever in the basics of religious knowledge, amid the easy lessons learned at your mother's knee. There are glorious things beyond these — so let us go on to learn of the greater things! The Word of Christ will get into your heart to dwell and transform you only through serious thought and consideration.
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Fidelity to Duty
Too often we want to know what the result of our duty is going to be, before we are ready to accept it and do it. But that is wrong, for we have nothing whatever to do with the cost or with the outcome of duty; we have to know only that it is our duty, and then go right on and do it. The true way to live, is to bring to each duty that comes our way, our wisest considerations and our best skill, doing what appears to us at the time to be the right thing to do — and then leaving it, never regretting nor fretting about results.
God has promised to guide us. If we are living in true relationship to Him, we may expect guidance moment by moment as we go on. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." Psalm 32:8
Too often we want to know what the result of our duty is going to be, before we are ready to accept it and do it. But that is wrong, for we have nothing whatever to do with the cost or with the outcome of duty; we have to know only that it is our duty, and then go right on and do it. The true way to live, is to bring to each duty that comes our way, our wisest considerations and our best skill, doing what appears to us at the time to be the right thing to do — and then leaving it, never regretting nor fretting about results.
God has promised to guide us. If we are living in true relationship to Him, we may expect guidance moment by moment as we go on. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." Psalm 32:8
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His heart is still the same!
"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
Unless words mean nothing, unless the Scriptures cheat us with symbolic images and illustrations — Christ truly feels our every grief and every struggle, andsympathizes with us in each one.
Remember how His heart responded to all human need, when He was on earth. Sorrow stirred His compassion. Every cry of distress went to the depths of His soul. His heart is still the same! When angels are thronging around Him, and a poor, weary sufferer in some lowly home on earth; or a broken, sorrowful person crouching in the darkness somewhere, reaches out a trembling fingertip of faith and touches the hem of His garment — He turns around with a loving look and asks,"Who touched Me?" Mark 5:30
"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
Unless words mean nothing, unless the Scriptures cheat us with symbolic images and illustrations — Christ truly feels our every grief and every struggle, andsympathizes with us in each one.
Remember how His heart responded to all human need, when He was on earth. Sorrow stirred His compassion. Every cry of distress went to the depths of His soul. His heart is still the same! When angels are thronging around Him, and a poor, weary sufferer in some lowly home on earth; or a broken, sorrowful person crouching in the darkness somewhere, reaches out a trembling fingertip of faith and touches the hem of His garment — He turns around with a loving look and asks,"Who touched Me?" Mark 5:30
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An Eye for Flaws
"He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." Proverbs 17:9
We should not use our keen-sightedness to discover our neighbor's little faults. By some strange perverseness in human nature, we have far keener eyes for flaws and blemishes in others — than for the lovely things that are in them. Not many of us go around talking to everyone we meet about our neighbor's good points and praising the lovely things. Many of us, however, can speak about an indefinite number of faults in many of our neighbors. Would it not be better to change this approach, and begin gossiping about the good and beautiful things in others?
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins!" 1 Peter 4:8
"He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." Proverbs 17:9
We should not use our keen-sightedness to discover our neighbor's little faults. By some strange perverseness in human nature, we have far keener eyes for flaws and blemishes in others — than for the lovely things that are in them. Not many of us go around talking to everyone we meet about our neighbor's good points and praising the lovely things. Many of us, however, can speak about an indefinite number of faults in many of our neighbors. Would it not be better to change this approach, and begin gossiping about the good and beautiful things in others?
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins!" 1 Peter 4:8
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True Living
"For to me, to live is Christ!" Philippians 1:21
Life means far more than many of us ever dream. It is not merely passing through the world with a fair amount of comforts, with enough food when we are hungry, and enough clothes to keep us warm. Life means growing . . .
into the image of Christ Himself,
into His strength,
into mature Christian character,
into holy men and women,
and into the blessed peace of God.
But the peace He guides us into, consists of victory over all our trials, and a quietness and confidence which no external circumstances can break.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"For to me, to live is Christ!" Philippians 1:21
Life means far more than many of us ever dream. It is not merely passing through the world with a fair amount of comforts, with enough food when we are hungry, and enough clothes to keep us warm. Life means growing . . .
into the image of Christ Himself,
into His strength,
into mature Christian character,
into holy men and women,
and into the blessed peace of God.
But the peace He guides us into, consists of victory over all our trials, and a quietness and confidence which no external circumstances can break.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Silence That Is Not Golden
"A man finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word!" Proverbs 15:23
Is any selfishness so base, as that which holds loving and gentle words in the heart left unspoken, when the dear lives of those close beside us would benefit from our words? Use your gift of speech to give comfort, joy, cheer, and hope to all around you. Use it . . .
to encourage the weary and disheartened,
to warn those who are treading in paths of danger,
to inspire the lethargic and discouraged ones with high and holy motives,
to kindle the fires of heavenly aspiration on the cold altars of their hearts.
"A man finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word!" Proverbs 15:23
Is any selfishness so base, as that which holds loving and gentle words in the heart left unspoken, when the dear lives of those close beside us would benefit from our words? Use your gift of speech to give comfort, joy, cheer, and hope to all around you. Use it . . .
to encourage the weary and disheartened,
to warn those who are treading in paths of danger,
to inspire the lethargic and discouraged ones with high and holy motives,
to kindle the fires of heavenly aspiration on the cold altars of their hearts.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
God's Giving
"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7
God does not dole out His gifts in little portions. He pours out blessings, until there is no more room to receive. He gives, until our emptiness is altogether filled. He is never finished giving, when you cease receiving — He still gives far more. Nothing limits the supplies we get from God, except our capacity to take from Him. He would give without limit, if we had room to receive that moment. The only reason we are not supplied in this glorious way, according to God's riches — is because we will not take all that God would give. The only thing that stands in the way of our being blessed to the full, is the smallness of our faith.
"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7
God does not dole out His gifts in little portions. He pours out blessings, until there is no more room to receive. He gives, until our emptiness is altogether filled. He is never finished giving, when you cease receiving — He still gives far more. Nothing limits the supplies we get from God, except our capacity to take from Him. He would give without limit, if we had room to receive that moment. The only reason we are not supplied in this glorious way, according to God's riches — is because we will not take all that God would give. The only thing that stands in the way of our being blessed to the full, is the smallness of our faith.
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No troubled tomorrow
Should the uncertainty of all human affairs sadden our lives? No; God does not want us to allow tomorrow's possible clouds, to shadow today. He does not want us to be unhappy while the sun shines — because by and by it will be dark. He wants us to live in today and enjoy its blessings and do its work well — though tomorrow may bring calamity.
How can we? Only by calm, quiet, trustful faith in God and obedience to Him at every step. Then no troubled tomorrow can ever bring us harm. Those who do God's will each day — God will hide under His wings when the storm breaks.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
Should the uncertainty of all human affairs sadden our lives? No; God does not want us to allow tomorrow's possible clouds, to shadow today. He does not want us to be unhappy while the sun shines — because by and by it will be dark. He wants us to live in today and enjoy its blessings and do its work well — though tomorrow may bring calamity.
How can we? Only by calm, quiet, trustful faith in God and obedience to Him at every step. Then no troubled tomorrow can ever bring us harm. Those who do God's will each day — God will hide under His wings when the storm breaks.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
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It is hard, costly, and painful
A religion that is satisfied with only ordinary accomplishments — indeed, that is ever satisfied at all — is not a living religion. The Master's blessing is upon those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. It is the longing soul, who is satisfied. There are better things before you, than you have yet attained. Strive to reach them. It is not easy to rise Christward, heavenward, to advance in the Christian life, to grow more holy. It is hard, costly, and painful.
Many people are discouraged because they do not appear to themselves to be any better, to be any more like Christ, today than they were yesterday. But even true longing is growth. It consists of the soul's reaching Godward.
"As the deer pants for the water brooks — so my soul pants for You, O God!" Psalm 42:1
A religion that is satisfied with only ordinary accomplishments — indeed, that is ever satisfied at all — is not a living religion. The Master's blessing is upon those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. It is the longing soul, who is satisfied. There are better things before you, than you have yet attained. Strive to reach them. It is not easy to rise Christward, heavenward, to advance in the Christian life, to grow more holy. It is hard, costly, and painful.
Many people are discouraged because they do not appear to themselves to be any better, to be any more like Christ, today than they were yesterday. But even true longing is growth. It consists of the soul's reaching Godward.
"As the deer pants for the water brooks — so my soul pants for You, O God!" Psalm 42:1
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Fault-finding
"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the beam that is in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3
It is strange how oblivious we can be of our own faults and of the blemishes in our own character — and how clearly we can see the faults and blemishes of otherpeople!
Finding so much wrong in others, is not a flattering indication of what our hearts contain. We ought to be very quiet and modest in criticizing others, for in many cases we are merely telling the world what our own faults are. Before we turn our microscopes on others to search out the less than beautiful things in them, we had better look in our mirrors to see whether or not we are free ourselves from the blemishes we wish to correct in our neighbor. There is a wise portion of Scripture telling us to get clear of the beams in our own eyes, that we may see clearly to pick the specks out of the eyes of others.
"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11
"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the beam that is in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3
It is strange how oblivious we can be of our own faults and of the blemishes in our own character — and how clearly we can see the faults and blemishes of otherpeople!
Finding so much wrong in others, is not a flattering indication of what our hearts contain. We ought to be very quiet and modest in criticizing others, for in many cases we are merely telling the world what our own faults are. Before we turn our microscopes on others to search out the less than beautiful things in them, we had better look in our mirrors to see whether or not we are free ourselves from the blemishes we wish to correct in our neighbor. There is a wise portion of Scripture telling us to get clear of the beams in our own eyes, that we may see clearly to pick the specks out of the eyes of others.
"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11
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Laws of nature
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands!" Psalm 19:1
We talk about the laws of nature, and we say they are fixed and unchanging. Yes, but God is behind the laws of nature. They are merely His ways of working in the world. They do not work and run like a great, heartless machine. There is a heart of love, a Father's heart, at the center of all this vast order we call nature.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands!" Psalm 19:1
We talk about the laws of nature, and we say they are fixed and unchanging. Yes, but God is behind the laws of nature. They are merely His ways of working in the world. They do not work and run like a great, heartless machine. There is a heart of love, a Father's heart, at the center of all this vast order we call nature.
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These qualities do not come naturally
We can never bless the world, by merely living for ourselves. We must suffer, give, and sacrifice — if we wish to do good to others. It will cost you, even to simply be genuinely kind. Some of us know what self-repression, self-restraining, self-crucifixion, and long, severe discipline — lie behind calmness, peacefulness, sweet disposition, good-temper, kindly feelings, and thoughtfulness. Most of us have lived long enough to know that these qualities do not come naturally. We have to learn to be good-tempered, thoughtful, gentle, and even to be courteous. Learning this is always hard. Indeed we attain nothing good or beautiful in our spiritual life, without a cost.
We can never bless the world, by merely living for ourselves. We must suffer, give, and sacrifice — if we wish to do good to others. It will cost you, even to simply be genuinely kind. Some of us know what self-repression, self-restraining, self-crucifixion, and long, severe discipline — lie behind calmness, peacefulness, sweet disposition, good-temper, kindly feelings, and thoughtfulness. Most of us have lived long enough to know that these qualities do not come naturally. We have to learn to be good-tempered, thoughtful, gentle, and even to be courteous. Learning this is always hard. Indeed we attain nothing good or beautiful in our spiritual life, without a cost.
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The furnace of suffering
"Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." Job 5:7
"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows." John 16:33
The real goal of pain, is not just to endure the suffering that comes into our life, to bear it bravely, without wincing, to pass through it patiently, even rejoicing in it. Pain has a higher mission to us than to teach us heroism. We should endure pain, seeking the blessing of it — a message from God which we should not fail to hear. It lifts the veil hiding God's face for us, and we glimpse His beauty every time we are called to suffer. Pain is like a furnace fire, and we should come out of it always with the gold of our character gleaming a little more brightly. Every experience of suffering ought in some way . . .
to lift us nearer God,
to make us more gentle and loving, and
to leave the image of Christ shining a little clearer in our lives.
"I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering." Isaiah 48:10
"Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." Job 5:7
"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows." John 16:33
The real goal of pain, is not just to endure the suffering that comes into our life, to bear it bravely, without wincing, to pass through it patiently, even rejoicing in it. Pain has a higher mission to us than to teach us heroism. We should endure pain, seeking the blessing of it — a message from God which we should not fail to hear. It lifts the veil hiding God's face for us, and we glimpse His beauty every time we are called to suffer. Pain is like a furnace fire, and we should come out of it always with the gold of our character gleaming a little more brightly. Every experience of suffering ought in some way . . .
to lift us nearer God,
to make us more gentle and loving, and
to leave the image of Christ shining a little clearer in our lives.
"I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering." Isaiah 48:10
~J. R. Miller~
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