Chapter 293—Reflecting Jesus
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that
which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the
hearers.
Ephesians 4:29
.
I have a continual longing for Christ to be formed within, the hope of
glory. I long to be beautified every day with the meekness and gentleness of
Christ, growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ up to the full
stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. I must as an individual, through
the grace given me of Jesus Christ, keep my own soul in health by keeping
it as a divine channel through which His grace, His love, His patience, His
meekness, shall flow to the world. This is my duty and no less the duty of
every church member who claims to be a son or a daughter of God.
The Lord Jesus has made His church the depositary of sacred truth. He
has left with her the work of carrying out His purposes and His plans to save
the souls for whom He has manifested such interest, such unmeasured love.
Like the sun in relation to our world, He rises amid the moral darkness—the
Sun of Righteousness. He said of Himself, “I am the light of the world” (
John
8:12
). He said to His followers, “Ye are the light of the world” (
Matthew
5:14
).... By reflecting the image of Jesus Christ, by the beauty and holiness
of their characters, by their continual self-denial and their separation from
all idols, large or small, they reveal that they have learned in the school of
Christ.
The Scripture says of Christ that grace was poured into His lips that
He might “know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary”
(
Psalm 45:2
;
Isaiah 50:4
). And the Lord bids us, “Let your speech be alway
with grace” (
Colossians 4:6
) “that it may minister grace unto the hearers”
(
Ephesians 4:29
).
In seeking to correct or reform others we should be careful of our words.
They will be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death.... All who
would advocate the principles of truth need to receive the heavenly oil of
love. Under all circumstances reproof should be spoken in love. Then our
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