22
Help In Daily Living
for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto
called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
Romans 12:10
;
1 Peter 3:9
.
Courtesy
The Lord Jesus demands our acknowledgment of the rights of
every man. Men’s social rights, and their rights as Christians, are to
be taken into consideration. All are to be treated with refinement and
delicacy, as the sons and daughters of God.
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Christianity will make a man a gentleman. Christ was courteous,
even to His persecutors; and His true followers will manifest the same
spirit. Look at Paul when brought before rulers. His speech before
Agrippa is an illustration of true courtesy as well as persuasive elo-
quence. The gospel does not encourage the formal politeness current
with the world, but the courtesy that springs from real kindness of
heart.
The most careful cultivation of the outward proprieties of life is not
sufficient to shut out all fretfulness, harsh judgment, and unbecoming
speech. True refinement will never be revealed so long as self is
considered as the supreme object. Love must dwell in the heart. A
thoroughgoing Christian draws his motives of action from his deep
heart love for his Master. Up through the roots of his affection for
Christ springs an unselfish interest in his brethren. Love imparts
to its possessor grace, propriety, and comeliness of deportment. It
illuminates the countenance and subdues the voice; it refines and
elevates the whole being.
Importance of Little Things
Life is chiefly made up, not of great sacrifices and wonderful
achievements, but of little things. It is oftenest through the little things
which seem so unworthy of notice that great good or evil is brought
into our lives. It is through our failure to endure the tests that come to
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us in little things, that the habits are molded, the character misshaped;
and when the greater tests come, they find us unready. Only by acting
upon principle in the tests of daily life can we acquire power to stand
firm and faithful in the most dangerous and most difficult positions.