Chapter 328—To God Be the Glory
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the
power may be of God, and not of us.
2 Corinthians 4:7
.
All the good qualities that men possess are the gift of God; their good
deeds are performed by the grace of God through Christ. Since they owe all
to God, the glory of whatever they are or do belongs to Him alone; they are
but instruments in His hands.
More than this—as all the lessons of Bible history—it is a perilous thing
to praise or exalt men; for if one comes to lose sight of his entire dependence
on God, and to trust to his own strength, he is sure to fall. Man is contending
with foes who are stronger than he.... It is impossible for us in our own
strength to maintain the conflict; and whatever diverts the mind from God,
whatever leads to self-exaltation or to self-dependence, is surely preparing
the way for our overthrow. The tenor of the Bible is to inculcate distrust of
human power and to encourage trust in divine power.
Our heavenly Father has not sent angels from heaven to preach salvation
to men. He has opened to us the precious truths of His Word and implanted
the truth in our hearts that we may give it to those who are in darkness. If we
have indeed tasted of the precious gifts of God in His promises, we are to
impart this knowledge to others....
We are individually to work as though a great responsibility rested upon
us. We are to manifest untiring energy and tact and zeal in this work and take
the burden, feeling the peril in which our neighbors and friends are placed.
We are to work as Christ worked. We are to present the truth as it is in Jesus,
that the blood of souls shall not be upon our garments. At the same time we
are to feel entire dependence and trust in God, for we know we cannot do
anything without His grace and power to help. A Paul may plant, and an
Apollos, water, but God alone can give the increase.
Our duty, our safety, our happiness and usefulness, and our salvation call
upon us each to use the greatest diligence to secure the grace of Christ.
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