A powerful, silent, personal influence
There is a powerful, silent, personal influence, like a shadow, which emanates from everyone — and this influence is always leaving results wherever it touches another person. You cannot live a day — and not touch some other life with this influence. Wherever you go, your shadow falls on others — and they are either better or worse for your presence.
Our influence depends upon what we are — more than upon what we do. It is by living a beautiful life, that we bless the world. I do not underestimate good works. Good deeds must characterize every true life. But if your life itself is noble, beautiful, holy, Christlike, one that is itself a blessing and an inspiration — then the worth of your influence is multiplied many times!
There is not a Christian who cannot preach sermons every day, at home and among neighbors and friends most eloquently — by the beauty of holiness in his or her own everyday life. Wherever a Christian goes — his life ought to be an inspiration. Our silent influence ought to touch other lives with blessing. People ought to feel stronger, happier, and more uplifted — after meeting us. Our very faces ought to shed light, shining like holy lamps into sad, weary hearts. Our lives ought to be blessings to repair human sorrow and need all around us.
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Building monuments to yourself
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit" Philippians 2:3
No grace shines more brightly in a Christian, than humility. Wherever SELF comes in — it mars the beauty of the work we are doing. Seek to do your work quietly. Do not try to draw attention to yourself, to make people know that you did this or that beautiful thing. Be content to pour your rich life into other wasted, weary lives, and see them blessed and made more holy — and then withdraw and let Christ have the honor. Work for God's approval, and even then, do not think much about reward. Seek to be a blessing to others — and never think of self-advancement. Do not worry about credit for your work, or about building monuments to yourself; be content to do good in Christ's name.
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved — clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another" 1 Peter 5:5
There is a powerful, silent, personal influence, like a shadow, which emanates from everyone — and this influence is always leaving results wherever it touches another person. You cannot live a day — and not touch some other life with this influence. Wherever you go, your shadow falls on others — and they are either better or worse for your presence.
Our influence depends upon what we are — more than upon what we do. It is by living a beautiful life, that we bless the world. I do not underestimate good works. Good deeds must characterize every true life. But if your life itself is noble, beautiful, holy, Christlike, one that is itself a blessing and an inspiration — then the worth of your influence is multiplied many times!
There is not a Christian who cannot preach sermons every day, at home and among neighbors and friends most eloquently — by the beauty of holiness in his or her own everyday life. Wherever a Christian goes — his life ought to be an inspiration. Our silent influence ought to touch other lives with blessing. People ought to feel stronger, happier, and more uplifted — after meeting us. Our very faces ought to shed light, shining like holy lamps into sad, weary hearts. Our lives ought to be blessings to repair human sorrow and need all around us.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Building monuments to yourself
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit" Philippians 2:3
No grace shines more brightly in a Christian, than humility. Wherever SELF comes in — it mars the beauty of the work we are doing. Seek to do your work quietly. Do not try to draw attention to yourself, to make people know that you did this or that beautiful thing. Be content to pour your rich life into other wasted, weary lives, and see them blessed and made more holy — and then withdraw and let Christ have the honor. Work for God's approval, and even then, do not think much about reward. Seek to be a blessing to others — and never think of self-advancement. Do not worry about credit for your work, or about building monuments to yourself; be content to do good in Christ's name.
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved — clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another" 1 Peter 5:5
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Two men look at the same scene:
"Be joyful always!" 1 Thessalonians 5:16
"In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy!" 2 Corinthians 7:4
Thankfulness or unthankfulness is largely a matter of the attitude of our heart.
Two men look at the same scene:
one sees the defects and the imperfections;
the other sees the beauty and the brightness.
If you cannot find things to be thankful for today, and every day — the fault is in yourself, and you ought to pray for a changed heart — a heart to see God's goodness and to praise Him.
"Be joyful always!" 1 Thessalonians 5:16
"In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy!" 2 Corinthians 7:4
Thankfulness or unthankfulness is largely a matter of the attitude of our heart.
Two men look at the same scene:
one sees the defects and the imperfections;
the other sees the beauty and the brightness.
If you cannot find things to be thankful for today, and every day — the fault is in yourself, and you ought to pray for a changed heart — a heart to see God's goodness and to praise Him.
A joyful heart transfigures all the world around us! It finds something to be thankful for in the barest circumstances, even in the dark night of the soul. Let us train ourselves to see the beauty and the goodness in God's world, and in our own circumstances — and then we shall stop grumbling, and be content and thankful in all situations.
"A happy heart makes the face cheerful!" Proverbs 15:13
"The cheerful heart has a continual feast!" Proverbs 15:15
"A cheerful heart is good medicine — but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
"A happy heart makes the face cheerful!" Proverbs 15:13
"The cheerful heart has a continual feast!" Proverbs 15:15
"A cheerful heart is good medicine — but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
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Have a dart ready to draw and hurl at our adversary!
"Jesus answered: It is written . . . " Matthew 4:4
We must all meet temptation. The tempter comes so suddenly and so secretively, that if we cannot instantly repel his assault, we shall be defeated.
There is nothing like texts of Scripture hidden in the heart, to drive Satan away. We need to have our quiver full of these polished shafts, these invincible darts, and to keep them ever ready to shoot on a moment's notice, and to hurl at our enemy. The only way to do this, is to make the Word of God our daily study, storing in our memory . . .
its precious texts,
its counsels,
its promises, and
its warnings.
Then we shall never be surprised, unprepared or defenseless — but for every temptation, shall have a dart ready to draw and hurl at our adversary!
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
"Jesus answered: It is written . . . " Matthew 4:4
We must all meet temptation. The tempter comes so suddenly and so secretively, that if we cannot instantly repel his assault, we shall be defeated.
There is nothing like texts of Scripture hidden in the heart, to drive Satan away. We need to have our quiver full of these polished shafts, these invincible darts, and to keep them ever ready to shoot on a moment's notice, and to hurl at our enemy. The only way to do this, is to make the Word of God our daily study, storing in our memory . . .
its precious texts,
its counsels,
its promises, and
its warnings.
Then we shall never be surprised, unprepared or defenseless — but for every temptation, shall have a dart ready to draw and hurl at our adversary!
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
~J. R. Miller~
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