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The Measure of a Man’s Worth, August 18
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord
require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God?
Micah 6:8
.
What a man is has greater influence than what he says. The quiet,
consistent, godly life is a living epistle, known and read of all men.
Holiness is not shaped from without or put on; it radiates from within. If
goodness, purity, meekness, lowliness, and integrity dwell in the heart,
they will shine forth in the character; and such a character is full of power.
Not the instrument, but the great Worker in whose hand the instrument
is used, receives the glory. The heart filled with the Saviour’s love, daily
receives grace to impart. The life reveals the redeeming power of the
truth.
The witness borne concerning Jesus was, “Never man spake like this
man” (
John 7:46
). The reason that Christ spoke as no other man spoke
was that He lived as no other man lived. If He had not lived as He did, He
could not have spoken as He did. His words bore with them convincing
power, because they came from a heart pure and holy, burdened with love
and sympathy, beneficence and truth....
While the shepherds were watching their flocks on the hills of Beth-
lehem, angels from heaven visited them. So today, while the humble
worker for God is following his employment, angels stand by his side,
listening to his words, noting the manner in which he does his work.... If
he trusts constantly in God, these angel watchers will not allow his work
to deteriorate. They will not permit it to be warped into lines that will
imperil the cause of God. The Lord is looking upon the work that comes
from the hands of His people. He will judge every piece of work, to see
of what sort it is.
Pure and undefiled religion speaks for itself. It transforms the charac-
ters of all who receive it, improving their usefulness and beautifying all
with which it is brought in contact.... A man’s worth is not measured by
the position of responsibility that he occupies but by the Christlike spirit
that he reveals. When the Saviour abides in the heart the work bears the
impress of the divine touch. Self does not appear. Christ is revealed as
the One altogether lovely.
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