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The Ladder to Perfection, April 24
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that
hath called us to glory and virtue.
2 Peter 1:3
.
Jesus is the ladder to heaven, ... and God calls upon us to mount
this ladder. But we cannot do this while we load ourselves down with
earthly treasures. We wrong ourselves when we place our convenience
and personal advantages before the things of God. There is no salvation
in earthly possessions or surroundings. A man is not exalted in God’s
sight, or accredited by Him as possessing goodness, because he has
earthly riches. If we gain a genuine experience in climbing, ... we must
leave every hindrance behind. Those who mount must place their feet
firmly
on every round of the ladder.
We are saved by climbing round after round of the ladder, looking to
Christ, clinging to Christ, mounting step by step to the height of Christ,
so that He is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctifica-
tion and redemption. Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience,
godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are the rounds of this ladder.
Courage, fortitude, faith, and implicit trust in God’s power to save
are needed. These heavenly graces do not come in a moment; they
are acquired by the experience of years. But every sincere and earnest
seeker will become a partaker of the divine nature. His soul will be
filled with intense longing to know the fullness of that love which passes
knowledge. As he advances in the divine life, he will be better able
to grasp the elevated, ennobling truths of the Word of God, until, by
beholding, he becomes changed, and is enabled to reflect the likeness of
his Redeemer.
Child of God, angels are watching the character you develop, they
are weighing your words and actions; therefore take heed to your ways,
... prove whether you are in the love of God.
To love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves is genuine
sanctification.
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