Use your gift!
Bring every virtue and gift of your life, to Christ's service. Use well the gifts you have at work now, and develop what you have, into greater skill and power for service. Strive always to excel. Grow by working. Don't stand with idle hands for a moment, because you must give account for each moment. Do not allow your spiritual gifts to rest in dusty niches merely to look at. Take them all down and put life into them, that they may be useful. Do not play at Christian work. The King's business requires haste.
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10
Bring every virtue and gift of your life, to Christ's service. Use well the gifts you have at work now, and develop what you have, into greater skill and power for service. Strive always to excel. Grow by working. Don't stand with idle hands for a moment, because you must give account for each moment. Do not allow your spiritual gifts to rest in dusty niches merely to look at. Take them all down and put life into them, that they may be useful. Do not play at Christian work. The King's business requires haste.
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10
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The highest quality of Christians
They are the highest quality of Christians — who live for others, whose lives are spent in loving, unselfish ministry. And they rank highest of all — who serve deeply and unselfishly. It is only in serving, that we begin to be like Jesus Himself. It is when the worker for Christ utterly forgets herself, and sacrifices herself in the fire of her love for Christ — that her labor for souls yields the richest and best results. When we care only that Christ may be magnified, whether by honor or dishonor, whether by life or death in us — then will He honor us by using us to be useful for His kingdom.
They are the highest quality of Christians — who live for others, whose lives are spent in loving, unselfish ministry. And they rank highest of all — who serve deeply and unselfishly. It is only in serving, that we begin to be like Jesus Himself. It is when the worker for Christ utterly forgets herself, and sacrifices herself in the fire of her love for Christ — that her labor for souls yields the richest and best results. When we care only that Christ may be magnified, whether by honor or dishonor, whether by life or death in us — then will He honor us by using us to be useful for His kingdom.
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Our defeats
If we repent of our mistakes and sins, they will be used by God to help in the growth and upbuilding of our character. Even when we fall — through the grace and tender love of Christ, these defeats become blessings. In the hot fires of repentance — we leave behind the dross, and come out again as pure gold.
But we must remember that it is only Christ who can make our sins turn into blessing. If we are Christ's true followers, even our defeats shall become blessings to us, stepping-stones on which we may climb higher. This is one of the marvels of divine grace, that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28
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If we repent of our mistakes and sins, they will be used by God to help in the growth and upbuilding of our character. Even when we fall — through the grace and tender love of Christ, these defeats become blessings. In the hot fires of repentance — we leave behind the dross, and come out again as pure gold.
But we must remember that it is only Christ who can make our sins turn into blessing. If we are Christ's true followers, even our defeats shall become blessings to us, stepping-stones on which we may climb higher. This is one of the marvels of divine grace, that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28
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Home friendships
Friendships in each family require the most gentle care and cultivation. We must win one another's love within our own doors, just as we win the love of those outside — by the sweet acts and virtues of affection. We must prove ourselves worthy of being loved by those who are nearest to us; they will not truly love us, merely because we are of the same household — unless we love them. We must show ourselves unselfish, thoughtful, gentle, and helpful. Home friendships must be formed as all friendships are formed — by the patient knitting of soul to soul and the slow growing of one life into another life. Then we retain other friends — by a thousand little winning expressions of love. We must be watchful of our acts and words — especially at home!
"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing" 1 Peter 3:8-9
Friendships in each family require the most gentle care and cultivation. We must win one another's love within our own doors, just as we win the love of those outside — by the sweet acts and virtues of affection. We must prove ourselves worthy of being loved by those who are nearest to us; they will not truly love us, merely because we are of the same household — unless we love them. We must show ourselves unselfish, thoughtful, gentle, and helpful. Home friendships must be formed as all friendships are formed — by the patient knitting of soul to soul and the slow growing of one life into another life. Then we retain other friends — by a thousand little winning expressions of love. We must be watchful of our acts and words — especially at home!
"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing" 1 Peter 3:8-9
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The all-victorious Christ
The all-victorious Christ is like a great rock in a weary land, to whose shelter we may flee in every time of sorrow or trial, finding quiet refuge and peace in him.
"I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!" Psalm 18:1-2
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The all-victorious Christ is like a great rock in a weary land, to whose shelter we may flee in every time of sorrow or trial, finding quiet refuge and peace in him.
"I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!" Psalm 18:1-2
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Friends
"A friend loves at all times" Proverbs 17:17
"A man who has friends, must show himself friendly" Proverbs 18:24
Make friends who are worthy of friendship. We can have friends only by giving our lives for them. It costs to do this. Selfishness never wins a friend. We can make others love us — only by truly loving them. The greatest personality wins us no real friends — if we do not show love.
God will never be jealous of pure human affections. Loving God supremely, will not drive out of our hearts the love of dear ones knit to us during the years of earthly fellowship in joy and sorrow. The better we love Christ — the deeper, purer, stronger, and more tender will be our love for our human friends.
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another!" 1 John 4:11
"A friend loves at all times" Proverbs 17:17
"A man who has friends, must show himself friendly" Proverbs 18:24
Make friends who are worthy of friendship. We can have friends only by giving our lives for them. It costs to do this. Selfishness never wins a friend. We can make others love us — only by truly loving them. The greatest personality wins us no real friends — if we do not show love.
God will never be jealous of pure human affections. Loving God supremely, will not drive out of our hearts the love of dear ones knit to us during the years of earthly fellowship in joy and sorrow. The better we love Christ — the deeper, purer, stronger, and more tender will be our love for our human friends.
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another!" 1 John 4:11
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Our Savior's love for His own redeemed people
"Greater love has no one than this — that he lay down his life for his friends!" John 15:13
The most wonderful fact in the universe, is our Savior's love for His own redeemed people. Jesus . . .
bears with all our infirmities,
never tires of our inconsistency and unfaithfulness,
goes on forever forgiving and forgetting,
follows us, when we go astray,
does not forget us, when we forget Him.
Through all our stumbling and sinning,
through all our provocation and disobedience,
through all our waywardness and stubbornness,
through all our doubting and unfaithfulness —
He still clings to us, and never lets go!
"Having loved His own who were in the world — He loved them to the end!" John 13:1
"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish — ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand!" John 10:28
"Greater love has no one than this — that he lay down his life for his friends!" John 15:13
The most wonderful fact in the universe, is our Savior's love for His own redeemed people. Jesus . . .
bears with all our infirmities,
never tires of our inconsistency and unfaithfulness,
goes on forever forgiving and forgetting,
follows us, when we go astray,
does not forget us, when we forget Him.
Through all our stumbling and sinning,
through all our provocation and disobedience,
through all our waywardness and stubbornness,
through all our doubting and unfaithfulness —
He still clings to us, and never lets go!
"Having loved His own who were in the world — He loved them to the end!" John 13:1
"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish — ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand!" John 10:28
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Other people's faults
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8
It is easier to see other people's faults, than our own. We are more troubled more about the way our neighbors live — than we are with our own shortcomings. We are more concerned about the failures of others, than for our own.
We shall not be called to answer at God's judgment for the deeds of others. Rather, we shall give account for our every act, word, attitude, and feeling. We should train ourselves to keep a conscientious watch over every aspect of our own life.
It is better to give less attention to our neighbor's foibles and failures — and more to our own. If we give strict attention to our own faults — there is little time to look after other people's. Seeing and knowing our own defects — makes us more charitable to those of others.
"So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another." Romans 14:12-13
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8
It is easier to see other people's faults, than our own. We are more troubled more about the way our neighbors live — than we are with our own shortcomings. We are more concerned about the failures of others, than for our own.
We shall not be called to answer at God's judgment for the deeds of others. Rather, we shall give account for our every act, word, attitude, and feeling. We should train ourselves to keep a conscientious watch over every aspect of our own life.
It is better to give less attention to our neighbor's foibles and failures — and more to our own. If we give strict attention to our own faults — there is little time to look after other people's. Seeing and knowing our own defects — makes us more charitable to those of others.
"So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another." Romans 14:12-13
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Your heavenly Father
"Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." Matthew 6:32
How it would brighten and bless our lives, if we were to always keep the concept of God as our Father in our hearts! When we can look up into God's face and say out of a warm and responding heart, "Our Father," all the world and all life take on a new appearance before our eyes. Duty is no longer hard nor a drudgery, but becomes a joy.
Keeping the commandments is hard — if we think of God merely as a King; but if we look up to Him as our Father, everything is changed, and our desire to please Him, make obedience a joy. We can then say, "I delight to do your will, O my God."
"Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." Matthew 6:32
How it would brighten and bless our lives, if we were to always keep the concept of God as our Father in our hearts! When we can look up into God's face and say out of a warm and responding heart, "Our Father," all the world and all life take on a new appearance before our eyes. Duty is no longer hard nor a drudgery, but becomes a joy.
Keeping the commandments is hard — if we think of God merely as a King; but if we look up to Him as our Father, everything is changed, and our desire to please Him, make obedience a joy. We can then say, "I delight to do your will, O my God."
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Life's opportunities
"Make the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:5
Our days come to us filled with opportunities for . . .
gathering knowledge,
growing wise,
growing in character,
becoming stronger, truer, purer, nobler, more Christ-like,
doing heroic things for Christ,
performing caring ministries, and
rendering sweet services in Christ's name, to those who need loving sympathy and deeds of kindness.
Opportunities come to every Christian. They continually come on all the ordinary days — and oftentimes in the simplest common things. Yet the trouble with too many of us, is that we do not improve upon them, and do not seize them as they arrive.
"I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work." John 9:4
"Make the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:5
Our days come to us filled with opportunities for . . .
gathering knowledge,
growing wise,
growing in character,
becoming stronger, truer, purer, nobler, more Christ-like,
doing heroic things for Christ,
performing caring ministries, and
rendering sweet services in Christ's name, to those who need loving sympathy and deeds of kindness.
Opportunities come to every Christian. They continually come on all the ordinary days — and oftentimes in the simplest common things. Yet the trouble with too many of us, is that we do not improve upon them, and do not seize them as they arrive.
"I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work." John 9:4
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We represent Christ in this world
The blind man begging by the wayside,
to the poor wretch who comes to our door for aid,
to the crippled old woman who sits muffled up on a doorstep and holds out a wrinkled hand
— we owe something, if we are Christians. We may not wish to give money — usually we should not give money — but we ought to give something. We represent Christ in this world, and we ought to treat every case of need and misfortune — as our Master would do, if He were standing in our place. We ought to give at least a patient answer, a kind look, and sympathetic attention.
"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple — I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward!" Matthew 10:42
The blind man begging by the wayside,
to the poor wretch who comes to our door for aid,
to the crippled old woman who sits muffled up on a doorstep and holds out a wrinkled hand
— we owe something, if we are Christians. We may not wish to give money — usually we should not give money — but we ought to give something. We represent Christ in this world, and we ought to treat every case of need and misfortune — as our Master would do, if He were standing in our place. We ought to give at least a patient answer, a kind look, and sympathetic attention.
"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple — I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward!" Matthew 10:42
~J. R. Miller~
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