The glory of all loveliness
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Matthew 5:8
Bodily health is beautiful. Mental vigor is beautiful. But heart purity is the glory of all loveliness. The heart makes the life. The inner life fashions the outer life. So, above all things, be pure-hearted — that Christ may more and more fill your life, that He may fill all of your soul, and that His Spirit may permeate all of your being. Then the beauty of the Lord may be upon you, and the winning charm of God's loveliness may shine in your features, and you will have the beauty of Christ within you. The transfiguration must come from within. Only a holy, beautiful heart — can make a holy, beautiful character.
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me". Psalm 51:10
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Matthew 5:8
Bodily health is beautiful. Mental vigor is beautiful. But heart purity is the glory of all loveliness. The heart makes the life. The inner life fashions the outer life. So, above all things, be pure-hearted — that Christ may more and more fill your life, that He may fill all of your soul, and that His Spirit may permeate all of your being. Then the beauty of the Lord may be upon you, and the winning charm of God's loveliness may shine in your features, and you will have the beauty of Christ within you. The transfiguration must come from within. Only a holy, beautiful heart — can make a holy, beautiful character.
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me". Psalm 51:10
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The secret of peace
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27
Perfect loyalty to Christ — brings perfect peace into the heart. The secret of Christ's own peace, was His absolute devotion to His Father's will. We can find peace in no other way. Any resistance to God's will, any disobedience of His commands — must disturb the peace of our hearts. No hard lesson which He teaches, ever destroys our peace — if we receive it with a willing, teachable spirit, and strive to learn it just as He has written it out for us. If we receive the lessons in the way that our Master gives them to us — we shall make our life into beautiful music, and we shall find peace.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27
Perfect loyalty to Christ — brings perfect peace into the heart. The secret of Christ's own peace, was His absolute devotion to His Father's will. We can find peace in no other way. Any resistance to God's will, any disobedience of His commands — must disturb the peace of our hearts. No hard lesson which He teaches, ever destroys our peace — if we receive it with a willing, teachable spirit, and strive to learn it just as He has written it out for us. If we receive the lessons in the way that our Master gives them to us — we shall make our life into beautiful music, and we shall find peace.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
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Whoever spreads slander is a fool!
It is easy for one to poison a person's mind, concerning another's reputation. There is measureless ruin created in this world, by the slanderer.
It is easy for one to poison a person's mind, concerning another's reputation. There is measureless ruin created in this world, by the slanderer.
Characters are blackened,
friendships are destroyed,
jealousies are aroused,
homes are torn up,
hearts are broken!
Let us never take up an evil report, and pass it onto others. Let us never whisper an evil word about another. We do not know . . .
where it may end,
how it may grow, or
what ruin it may work.
Words once spoken, can never be taken back again. We'd better learn to keep the door of our lips locked and speak no evil of anyone.
"The Scripture calls slandering, smiting with the tongue. "Come, and let us smite him with the tongue!" Jer. 18:18. You may smite another — and never touch him. The tongue inflicts greater wounds than the sword. No physician can heal the wounds of the tongue! To pretend friendship to a man, and slander him, is most odious!" Thomas Watson
"As a rod scourges the back, so the slanderer's tongue scourges the name!" Thomas Watson
"The scorpion carries his poison in his tail; the slanderer carries his poison in his tongue!" Thomas Watson
"He who raises a slander — carries the devil in his tongue!
He who receives a slander — carries the devil in his ear!" Thomas Watson
"Do not go about spreading slander among your people." Leviticus 19:16
"Whoever spreads slander is a fool!" Proverbs 10:18
"Brothers, do not slander one another!" James 4:11
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Faithfulness in small things
"And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.'" Luke 19:17
There will be eternal honors for those who have filled important places of trust and responsibility in this world, and have proved faithful in great things. There will be crowns of glory for the martyrs who, throughout the ages, have died rather than deny Christ.
But there will be rewards just as brilliant and crowns just as splendid, for those who, in lives of lowly service and self-denial and in patient endurance and humble devotion — have been faithful in the small things. God does not overlook the lowly, nor does He forget the little things. If only we are faithful in the place to which He assigns us and in the duties He gives us, we shall have our reward from God, even though our lives and our deeds are unknown and unpraised by others.
No one is endowed with all gifts. Every person has his or her own particular excellence or ability. No two have precisely the same gifts, and no two are called to fill precisely the same place in life. The role of the lowliest and the humblest with the fewest gifts, is just as important as the most brilliantly gifted.
The great one in God's sight is not the prominent one, but the life that fills the place it was made to fill, and does the work it was made to do. God does not ask great things; He asks only simple faithfulness — the quiet doing of what He commands.
Faithfulness in small things
"And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.'" Luke 19:17
There will be eternal honors for those who have filled important places of trust and responsibility in this world, and have proved faithful in great things. There will be crowns of glory for the martyrs who, throughout the ages, have died rather than deny Christ.
But there will be rewards just as brilliant and crowns just as splendid, for those who, in lives of lowly service and self-denial and in patient endurance and humble devotion — have been faithful in the small things. God does not overlook the lowly, nor does He forget the little things. If only we are faithful in the place to which He assigns us and in the duties He gives us, we shall have our reward from God, even though our lives and our deeds are unknown and unpraised by others.
No one is endowed with all gifts. Every person has his or her own particular excellence or ability. No two have precisely the same gifts, and no two are called to fill precisely the same place in life. The role of the lowliest and the humblest with the fewest gifts, is just as important as the most brilliantly gifted.
The great one in God's sight is not the prominent one, but the life that fills the place it was made to fill, and does the work it was made to do. God does not ask great things; He asks only simple faithfulness — the quiet doing of what He commands.
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A true home
A true home is one of the most sacred of places. It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world's perils and alarms. It is a resting-place to which at close of day, the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow. It is the place . . . .
where love learns its lessons,
where life is schooled into discipline and strength,
where character is molded.
Few things we can do in this world are so well worth doing, as the making of a beautiful and happy home. He who does this, builds a sanctuary for God and opens a fountain of blessing for men.
Far more than we know, do the strength and beauty of our lives, depend upon the home in which we dwell. He who goes forth in the morning from a happy, loving, prayerful home — into the world's strife, temptation, struggle, and duty — is strong, and inspired for noble and victorious living. The children who are brought up in a true home, go out trained and equipped for life's battles and tasks, carrying in their hearts a secret of strength which will make them brave and loyal to God, and will keep them pure in the world's severest temptations.
A true home is one of the most sacred of places. It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world's perils and alarms. It is a resting-place to which at close of day, the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow. It is the place . . . .
where love learns its lessons,
where life is schooled into discipline and strength,
where character is molded.
Few things we can do in this world are so well worth doing, as the making of a beautiful and happy home. He who does this, builds a sanctuary for God and opens a fountain of blessing for men.
Far more than we know, do the strength and beauty of our lives, depend upon the home in which we dwell. He who goes forth in the morning from a happy, loving, prayerful home — into the world's strife, temptation, struggle, and duty — is strong, and inspired for noble and victorious living. The children who are brought up in a true home, go out trained and equipped for life's battles and tasks, carrying in their hearts a secret of strength which will make them brave and loyal to God, and will keep them pure in the world's severest temptations.
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Who can find a virtuous wife?
"Who can find a virtuous wife? Her worth is far above rubies!" Proverbs 31:10
The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity — is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies!
"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all! Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Proverbs 31:28-30
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We must keep the sea out of our heart
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
The problem of sailing, is not to keep the vessel out of the water — but to keep the water out of the vessel. In the same way, the problem of true Christian living, is not to keep ourselves out of life's cares, trials, and temptations — but to keep the cares, trials, and temptations out of us. As the sea is the normal medium for ship sailing — so cares are the normal element of life in this world. But we must keep the sea out of our heart. Some people make the mistake of letting their cares and worries creep into their souls. The result is that they grow discontented, fretful, and unhappy. The secret of peace, is to keep your heart free from care and anxiety, even in the midst of many internal trials.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
The problem of sailing, is not to keep the vessel out of the water — but to keep the water out of the vessel. In the same way, the problem of true Christian living, is not to keep ourselves out of life's cares, trials, and temptations — but to keep the cares, trials, and temptations out of us. As the sea is the normal medium for ship sailing — so cares are the normal element of life in this world. But we must keep the sea out of our heart. Some people make the mistake of letting their cares and worries creep into their souls. The result is that they grow discontented, fretful, and unhappy. The secret of peace, is to keep your heart free from care and anxiety, even in the midst of many internal trials.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
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Worry — or preparation
There is a large difference between worrying about possible future trials — and being prepared for them if they should come. The former we should never do — the latter we should always seek to do. If we do, we are always prepared . . .
There is a large difference between worrying about possible future trials — and being prepared for them if they should come. The former we should never do — the latter we should always seek to do. If we do, we are always prepared . . .
for emergencies,
for the hard knocks,
for the steep climbing,
for the sore struggle —
and we get through life victoriously.
In moral and spiritual things, it is the same. It is our preparation which preserves us in all the final tests — the strength which lies behind what we need in ordinary encounters. Those who daily commune with God, breathing His life into their souls — become strong with that hidden strength that preserves them from falling in the day of trial. They have a "vessel" from which to refill the lamp when its little cup of oil is exhausted.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
"Prepared for every good work." 2 Timothy 2:21
"Be prepared in season and out of season" 2 Timothy 4:2
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action!" 1 Peter 1:13
~J. R. Miller~
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