Chapter 5—Beneficence Where Christ Abides
When the perfect love of God is in the heart, wonderful things will
be done. Christ will be in the heart of the believer as a well of water
springing up unto everlasting life. But those who manifest indifference
to the suffering ones of humanity will be charged with indifference
to Jesus Christ in the person of His suffering saints. Nothing saps
spirituality from the soul more quickly than to enclose it in selfishness
and self-caring.
Those who indulge self and neglect to care for the souls and bodies
of those for whom Christ has given His life, are not eating of the bread
of life, nor drinking of the water of the well of salvation. They are dry
and sapless, like a tree that bears no fruit. They are spiritual dwarfs,
who consume their means on self; but “whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap.”
Christian principles will always be made visible. In a thousand
ways the inward principles will be made manifest. Christ abiding in
the soul is as a well that never runs dry.—
The Review and Herald,
January 15, 1895
.
When Christ Is Enthroned in the Heart
When God entrusts man with riches, it is that he may adorn the
doctrine of Christ our Saviour by using his earthly treasure in advanc-
ing the kingdom of God in our world. He is to represent Christ, and
therefore is not to live to please and glorify himself, to receive honor
because he is rich.
When the heart is cleansed from sin, Christ is placed on the throne
that self-indulgence and love of earthly treasure once occupied. The
image of Christ is seen in the expression of the countenance. The work
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of sanctification is carried forward in the soul. Self-righteousness is
banished. There is seen the putting on of the new man, which after
Christ is created in righteousness and true holiness.—
The Review and
Herald, September 11, 1900
.
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