Chapter 263—That We May Excel
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the
wicked seduceth them.
Proverbs 12:26
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The Lord expects His servants to excel others in life and character. He has
placed every facility at the command of those who serve Him. The Christian
is looked upon by the whole universe as one who strives for the mastery,
running for the race set before him, that he may obtain the prize, even an
immortal crown; but if he who professes to follow Christ does not make it
manifest that his motives are above those of the world in this great contest
where there is everything to win and everything to lose, he will never be a
victor. He is to make use of every entrusted power, that he may overcome
the world, the flesh, and the devil through the power of the Holy Spirit, by
grace abundantly provided....
Those who would be victors should contemplate and count the cost of
salvation. Strong human passions must be subdued; the independent will
must be brought into captivity to Christ. The Christian is to realize that he is
not his own. He will have temptations to resist, and battles to fight against
his own inclinations; for the Lord will accept no half-way service. Hypocrisy
is an abomination to Him. The follower of Christ must walk by faith, as
seeing Him who is invisible. Christ will be his dearest treasure, his all and in
all.
This experience is essential to those who profess the name of Christ,
for its influence pervades the conduct, and sanctifies the influence of the
Christian’s life in its effect upon others. The business connections and
intercourse of Christians; with men of the world will be sanctified by the
grace of Christ; and wherever they are, a moral atmosphere will be created,
that will have power for good; for it will breathe the spirit of the Master.
He who has the mind of Christ knows that his only safe course is to
keep close to Jesus, following the light of life. He will not accept work, or
engage himself in business, that will hinder him from reaching the perfection
of Christian character.... “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the
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