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Honor for Those Who Honor God, May 10
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants
ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness?
Romans 6:16
.
When the mind has been long permitted to dwell only on earthly things, it is a
difficult matter to change the habits of thought. That which the eye sees and the ear
hears too often attracts the attention and absorbs the interest. But if we would enter
the city of God, and look upon Jesus in His glory, we must become accustomed to
beholding Him with the eye of faith here. The words and the character of Christ
should be often the subject of our thoughts and of our conversation; and each day
some time should be especially devoted to prayerful meditation upon these sacred
themes.
Sanctification is a daily work. Let none deceive themselves with the belief
that God will pardon and bless them while they are trampling upon one of His
requirements. The willful commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice
of the Spirit, and separates the soul from God. Whatever may be the ecstasies of
religious feeling, Jesus cannot abide in the heart that disregards the divine law. God
will honor those only who honor Him.
“To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom
ye obey.” If we indulge anger, lust, covetousness, hatred, selfishness, or any other
sin, we become servants of sin. “No man can serve two masters.” If we serve
sin, we cannot serve Christ. The Christian will feel the promptings of sin, for the
flesh lusteth against the Spirit; but the Spirit striveth against the flesh, keeping up a
constant warfare. Here is where Christ’s help is needed. Human weakness becomes
united to divine strength, and faith exclaims, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
If we would develop a character which God can accept, we must form correct
habits in our religious life. Daily prayer is as essential to growth in grace and even to
spiritual life itself, as is temporal food to physical well-being. We should accustom
ourselves to often lift the thoughts to God in prayer. If the mind wanders, we must
bring it back; by persevering effort, habit will finally make it easy. We cannot for one
moment separate ourselves from Christ with safety. We may have His presence to
attend us at every step, but only by observing the conditions which He has Himself
laid down.
Religion must be made the great business of life. Everything else should be held
subordinate to this. All our powers of soul, body, and spirit must be engaged in the
Christian warfare. We must look to Christ for strength and grace, and we shall gain
the victory as surely as Jesus did for us (
The Review and Herald, November 15,
1887
).
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