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Light Bearers on the Way to Heaven, November 5
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom
ye shine as lights in the world.
Philippians 2:15
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In all ages the “Spirit of Christ which was in them” has made God’s
true children the light of the people of their generation. Joseph was a
light bearer in Egypt. In his purity and benevolence and filial love he
represented Christ in the midst of a nation of idolaters. While the Israelites
were on their way from Egypt to the promised land the truehearted among
them were a light to the surrounding nations. Through them God was
revealed to the world. From Daniel and his companions in Babylon,
and from Mordecai in Persia, bright beams of light shone out amid the
darkness of the kingly courts.
In like manner the disciples of Christ are set as light bearers on the
way to heaven; through them the Father’s mercy and goodness are made
manifest to a world enshrouded in the darkness of misapprehension of
God. By seeing their good works, others are led to glorify the Father,
who is above; for it is made manifest that there is a God on the throne
of the universe whose character is worthy of praise and imitation. The
divine love glowing in the heart, the Christlike harmony manifested in the
life, are as a glimpse of heaven granted to men of the world.... The world
watches to see what fruit is borne by professed Christians. It has a right
to look for self-denial and self-sacrifice from those who claim to believe
advanced truth....
God has ordained that His work shall be presented to the world in
distinct, holy lines. He desires His people to show by their lives the
advantage of Christianity over worldliness. By His grace every provision
has been made for us in all our transaction of business to demonstrate
the superiority of heaven’s principles over the principles of the world.
We are to show that we are working upon a higher plane than that of
worldliness. In all things we are to manifest purity of character, to show
that the truth received and obeyed makes the receivers sons and daughters
of God, children of the heavenly King, and that as such they are honest in
their dealings, faithful, true, and upright in the small as well as the great
things of life.
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