New incarnations of Christ
We should not be satisfied with only small accomplishments. If Christ dwells in each Christian, we should all be new incarnations of Christ. We should be able to say to others: "Look at me — and see what Christ is like!" The beauties of Christ should be seen in us. This will become true to the degree that Christ rules in us, and transforms our lives. It should be our aim and prayer, that the word of Christ would richly dwell in in us.
We should not be satisfied with only small accomplishments. If Christ dwells in each Christian, we should all be new incarnations of Christ. We should be able to say to others: "Look at me — and see what Christ is like!" The beauties of Christ should be seen in us. This will become true to the degree that Christ rules in us, and transforms our lives. It should be our aim and prayer, that the word of Christ would richly dwell in in us.
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A faithful man
"A faithful man, who can find?" Proverbs 20:6
Many people promise anything you ask of them, but consider it a small matter to keep their promises. They enter into commitments with you to do this or that, to meet you, or call on you at a certain time, or to do some favor for you — and utterly fail to fulfill their word. To be unfaithful in keeping promises and engagements, is a very serious matter. Surely we ought to keep close watch over ourselves in this regard. We ought to be faithful to the promises we make, cost
what it may.
A noble person's promise is as sure as the rising of the sun; and his simplest word is as good as his oath. He does just what he says he will do, at the moment he says he will do it. That is the kind of faithfulness God wants of each of His redeemed people.
"A faithful man, who can find?" Proverbs 20:6
Many people promise anything you ask of them, but consider it a small matter to keep their promises. They enter into commitments with you to do this or that, to meet you, or call on you at a certain time, or to do some favor for you — and utterly fail to fulfill their word. To be unfaithful in keeping promises and engagements, is a very serious matter. Surely we ought to keep close watch over ourselves in this regard. We ought to be faithful to the promises we make, cost
what it may.
A noble person's promise is as sure as the rising of the sun; and his simplest word is as good as his oath. He does just what he says he will do, at the moment he says he will do it. That is the kind of faithfulness God wants of each of His redeemed people.
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The Test of Love
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
There is a great difference between love for people whom you never saw and never shall see — and for those with whom you mingle in close relationships. There are some people whose souls glow with compassionate affection for unknown lost people in foreign countries — yet who utterly fail to love their nearest neighbors, those who jostle against them every day in business, in the pew, in the home, and in society. The test of Christian love, is that it does not fail even when brought into closest contact, even into friction with others.
"The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
There is a great difference between love for people whom you never saw and never shall see — and for those with whom you mingle in close relationships. There are some people whose souls glow with compassionate affection for unknown lost people in foreign countries — yet who utterly fail to love their nearest neighbors, those who jostle against them every day in business, in the pew, in the home, and in society. The test of Christian love, is that it does not fail even when brought into closest contact, even into friction with others.
"The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14
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Blessed are the peacemakers
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9
There are enough causes to separate people, and to produce friction and alienation. Let us not add bitterness and grief to the world, by ever encouraging strife or putting a single coal on the fire of anger. Rather let us try to heal people's friendships. The unkind thoughts we find in another's mind — we should seek to change to kind thoughts. We can do no more Christlike service in this world, than habitually and continually to seek to promote peace, to keep people from drifting apart, and to draw friends and neighbors closer together in love.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9
There are enough causes to separate people, and to produce friction and alienation. Let us not add bitterness and grief to the world, by ever encouraging strife or putting a single coal on the fire of anger. Rather let us try to heal people's friendships. The unkind thoughts we find in another's mind — we should seek to change to kind thoughts. We can do no more Christlike service in this world, than habitually and continually to seek to promote peace, to keep people from drifting apart, and to draw friends and neighbors closer together in love.
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Before the blessing can come
The day may come to us, when we shall cry to the Lord — and He will not seem to hear. Whenever this experience may come, let us remember that Christ's silence is not a refusal to bless. There may be some problem in ourselves, and a work of preparation is needed in us, before the blessing can come. Instead of doubting or blaming the Master, we should look within ourselves and ask what it is which keeps His answer from us. When we are low in the dust of humiliation, when our weak faith has grown stronger, when our self-will is gone, and we are ready to receive the blessing in God's way and in His time — the silence will be broken by God's most gracious answer.
"In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me." Psalm 86:7
"He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." Psalm 91:15
"Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me." Psalm 27:7
The day may come to us, when we shall cry to the Lord — and He will not seem to hear. Whenever this experience may come, let us remember that Christ's silence is not a refusal to bless. There may be some problem in ourselves, and a work of preparation is needed in us, before the blessing can come. Instead of doubting or blaming the Master, we should look within ourselves and ask what it is which keeps His answer from us. When we are low in the dust of humiliation, when our weak faith has grown stronger, when our self-will is gone, and we are ready to receive the blessing in God's way and in His time — the silence will be broken by God's most gracious answer.
"In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me." Psalm 86:7
"He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." Psalm 91:15
"Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me." Psalm 27:7
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He put a new song in my mouth!
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!" Ephesians 5:19-20
Christ teaches us to set our deepest and saddest experiences to music. We should sing about even our heart's bitterest anguish. It gives us anthems rather than dirges, for the expression of our deepest grief, because it reveals something of beauty and blessing in every dark hour, something other eyes cannot see. It lets us hear in our deepest trials, the voices of divine love, encouraging, cheering, and assuring us. Surely the lesson is worth the learning. It is nobler to sing a victorious song in time of trial — than to lie crushed in grief. Our songs bless the world, and they honor God. It is better for our own heart, too, to put our sorrows and pains into songs.
"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God!" Psalm 40:3
"I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving!" Psalm 69:30
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!" Ephesians 5:19-20
Christ teaches us to set our deepest and saddest experiences to music. We should sing about even our heart's bitterest anguish. It gives us anthems rather than dirges, for the expression of our deepest grief, because it reveals something of beauty and blessing in every dark hour, something other eyes cannot see. It lets us hear in our deepest trials, the voices of divine love, encouraging, cheering, and assuring us. Surely the lesson is worth the learning. It is nobler to sing a victorious song in time of trial — than to lie crushed in grief. Our songs bless the world, and they honor God. It is better for our own heart, too, to put our sorrows and pains into songs.
"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God!" Psalm 40:3
"I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving!" Psalm 69:30
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Nevertheless not My will
As we go through life — we learn more and more to doubt our own wishing and choosing, as we see how little really comes from our own ways and plans. We learn not to choose at all for ourselves, but to prefer God's choice for us.
No doubt we miss heavenly blessings at times, because we do not have faith to receive them in their disguise of pain or grief, preferring our own way to our Father's. Then God sometimes lets us have in our willfulness, what we persist in choosing, just to teach us that our own way is not the best. We learn at last to plead, "Bless me, my Father," not daring to tell Him what way the blessing should come — but preferring that it should be as God wills.
"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Luke 22:42
As we go through life — we learn more and more to doubt our own wishing and choosing, as we see how little really comes from our own ways and plans. We learn not to choose at all for ourselves, but to prefer God's choice for us.
No doubt we miss heavenly blessings at times, because we do not have faith to receive them in their disguise of pain or grief, preferring our own way to our Father's. Then God sometimes lets us have in our willfulness, what we persist in choosing, just to teach us that our own way is not the best. We learn at last to plead, "Bless me, my Father," not daring to tell Him what way the blessing should come — but preferring that it should be as God wills.
"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Luke 22:42
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Everyone carries an atmosphere about him
Everyone carries an atmosphere about him. It may be healthful and invigorating, or it may be unwholesome and depressing. It may make a little spot of the world a sweeter, better, safer place to live in; or it may make it harder for those to live worthily and beautifully who dwell within its circle.
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Everyone carries an atmosphere about him. It may be healthful and invigorating, or it may be unwholesome and depressing. It may make a little spot of the world a sweeter, better, safer place to live in; or it may make it harder for those to live worthily and beautifully who dwell within its circle.
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The duty of making others happy
We speak much of the duty of making others happy. No day should pass on which we do not . . .
put a little cheer into some discouraged heart,
make the path a little smoother for someone's tired feet,
or help some fainting robin unto its nest again.
This is right. We cannot put too great emphasis upon the duty of giving happiness and cheer to others. But it is no less a duty that we should be happy and cheerful ourselves.
We have a mission to others — to add to their cheer. This we cannot do, unless we have first learned the lesson of cheerfulness ourselves.
Nothing else in all life is such a maker of joy and cheer, as the privilege of doing good.
We speak much of the duty of making others happy. No day should pass on which we do not . . .
put a little cheer into some discouraged heart,
make the path a little smoother for someone's tired feet,
or help some fainting robin unto its nest again.
This is right. We cannot put too great emphasis upon the duty of giving happiness and cheer to others. But it is no less a duty that we should be happy and cheerful ourselves.
We have a mission to others — to add to their cheer. This we cannot do, unless we have first learned the lesson of cheerfulness ourselves.
Nothing else in all life is such a maker of joy and cheer, as the privilege of doing good.
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Because he is My disciple
"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
Work done in Christ's vineyard,
gifts to missions,
charities given to the poor,
money given to good causes,
ministries among the sick and the needy
— these things please Christ only when there is love for Him in them, when they are done truly for Him, and in His name. We need to look honestly into our hearts, when we crowd our days with Christian activity — to know the true spirit which prompts it all. "Do you love Me?" is the Master's question as each act of service is rendered, as each job is done. There is no other true motive.
"It is the Lord Christ you are serving!" Colossians 3:24
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"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
Work done in Christ's vineyard,
gifts to missions,
charities given to the poor,
money given to good causes,
ministries among the sick and the needy
— these things please Christ only when there is love for Him in them, when they are done truly for Him, and in His name. We need to look honestly into our hearts, when we crowd our days with Christian activity — to know the true spirit which prompts it all. "Do you love Me?" is the Master's question as each act of service is rendered, as each job is done. There is no other true motive.
"It is the Lord Christ you are serving!" Colossians 3:24
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Your labor is not in vain in the Lord
"She has done what she could!" Mark 14:8
God is not so limited in His resources of power, that if one of His people fails to do his appointed duty — then His great cause will be defeated. He has large plans, in which the humblest of us have our own allotted place and part. Even if we do not perform our little piece of work — God's plan will still go on without us, and other hands will do what we refuse to do.
The only effect of our failure in the duty assigned to us, will be in ourselves. Our own hearts will be hurt by our failure to do our duty, and we shall be set aside, missing the honor and blessing which would have been ours, had we done our part.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58
"She has done what she could!" Mark 14:8
God is not so limited in His resources of power, that if one of His people fails to do his appointed duty — then His great cause will be defeated. He has large plans, in which the humblest of us have our own allotted place and part. Even if we do not perform our little piece of work — God's plan will still go on without us, and other hands will do what we refuse to do.
The only effect of our failure in the duty assigned to us, will be in ourselves. Our own hearts will be hurt by our failure to do our duty, and we shall be set aside, missing the honor and blessing which would have been ours, had we done our part.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58
~J. R. Miller~
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