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God’s Chosen People, October 26
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each
other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Colossians 3:12, 13
, NIV.
Love “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” He whose heart is
imbued with love is filled with sorrow at the errors and weaknesses of others; but
when truth triumphs, when the cloud that darkened the fair fame of another is
removed, or when sins are confessed and wrongs corrected, he rejoices....
Love not only bears with others’ faults, but cheerfully submits to whatever
suffering or inconvenience such forbearance makes necessary. This love “never
faileth.” It can never lose its value; it is the attribute of heaven. As a precious treasure
it will be carried by its possessor through the portals of the city of God.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace. Discord and strife are the work of
Satan and the fruit of sin. If we would as a people enjoy peace and love, we must put
away our sins; we must come into harmony with God, and we shall be in harmony
with one another. Let each ask himself: Do I possess the grace of love? Have I
learned to suffer long and to be kind? Talents, learning, and eloquence, without this
heavenly attribute, will be as meaningless as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
Alas that this precious treasure is so lightly valued and so little sought by many who
profess the faith! ...
If we would not build our hopes of heaven upon a false foundation we must
accept the Bible as it reads and believe that the Lord means what He says. He
requires nothing of us that He will not give us grace to perform. We shall have no
excuse to offer in the day of God if we fail to reach the standard set before us in His
Word.
We are admonished by the apostle: “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor
that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” Paul would have us distinguish
between the pure, unselfish love which is prompted by the spirit of Christ, and the
unmeaning, deceitful pretense with which the world abounds. This base counterfeit
has misled many souls. It would blot out the distinction between right and wrong, by
agreeing with the transgressor instead of faithfully showing him his errors. Such a
course never springs from real friendship. The spirit by which it is prompted dwells
only in the carnal heart. While the Christian will be ever kind, compassionate, and
forgiving, he can feel no harmony with sin. He will abhor evil and cling to that
which is good, at the sacrifice of association or friendship with the ungodly. The
spirit of Christ will lead us to hate sin, while we are willing to make any sacrifice to
save the sinner (
Testimonies for the Church 5:169-171
).
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