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Christ’s New Commandment, May 14
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:34
.
Do you in your words, in your spirit, in your actions, resemble Christ? If in
word and spirit you represent the character of Christ, then you are Christians; for
to be a Christian is to be Christlike. The tongue will testify of the principles that
characterize the life; it is the sure test of what power controls the heart. We may
judge our own spirit and principles by the words that proceed from our lips. The
tongue is always to be under the control of the Holy Spirit.
When poor, wounded, bruised souls come to you for words of hope, you are to
speak to them the words of Christ. Do you refuse to give them pleasant, courteous,
kind words? Those who speak as Christ spoke will never plant bitter words like
barbed arrows in the wounded soul. “The Lord hearkened, and heard.” Will you
bear in mind that the Lord hears the words we speak, and is acquainted with the
spirit that prompts our action? Christ is the defense of all that are hidden in Him.
Bear in mind that every unkind word, every ruthless thrust, is recorded in the
books of heaven as given to Christ in the person of His suffering ones. Is it not
Christlike to speak kind words, comforting words, even though you feel inclined to
do otherwise? Is it not Christlike to help lift the burdens when they press heavily
upon souls whom God has valued so highly as to give His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life? ...
“Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” You are just as dependent upon Christ
for all that you receive as is the weakest, poorest, and humblest soul. “Dost thou
believe on the Son of God?” A mere speculative belief amounts to nothing. Do you
believe on the Son of God as your personal Saviour? Then if you believe with all
your heart, God dwells in the soul, and the soul in God. You represent Jesus. Those
who are in positions of trust are on test and trial, to see if they will be wise men
in positions of trust, to reveal whether Christ is working in and through them, so
that He can represent His character and express Himself in their words and actions
toward His heritage, for whom He has given His own precious life....
Just in proportion as the human agent is a partaker of the divine nature, he will
be in sympathy with Christ. Jesus says, “A new commandment I give unto you [That
ye tolerate one another? No], That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that
ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another.” “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as
I have loved you” (
The Review and Herald, May 26, 1896
).
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