Not Judging, but Doing
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When his strength was nearly spent, the Angel put forth His divine
power, and at His touch Jacob knew Him with whom he had been
contending. Wounded and helpless, he fell upon the Saviour’s breast,
pleading for a blessing. He would not be turned aside nor cease his
intercession, and Christ granted the petition of this helpless, penitent
soul, according to His promise, “Let him take hold of My strength,
that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.”
Isaiah 27:5
. Jacob pleaded with determined spirit, “I will not let Thee
go, except Thou bless me.”
Genesis 32:26
. This spirit of persistence
was inspired by Him who wrestled with the patriarch. It was He who
gave him the victory, and He changed his name from Jacob to Israel,
saying, “As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast
prevailed.”
Genesis 32:28
. That for which Jacob had vainly wrestled
in his own strength was won through self-surrender and steadfast faith.
“This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
1 John
5:4
.
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“Beware of false prophets.”—Matthew 7:15.
Teachers of falsehood will arise to draw you away from the narrow
path and the strait gate. Beware of them; though concealed in sheep’s
clothing, inwardly they are ravening wolves. Jesus gives a test by
which false teachers may be distinguished from the true. “Ye shall
know them by their fruits,” He says. “Do men gather grapes of thorns,
or figs of thistles?”
We are not bidden to prove them by their fair speeches and exalted
professions. They are to be judged by the word of God. “To the
law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word
it is because there is no light in them.” “Cease, my son, to hear the
instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.”
Isaiah
8:20
;
Proverbs 19:27
. What message do these teachers bring? Does
it lead you to reverence and fear God? Does it lead you to manifest
your love for Him by loyalty to His commandments? If men do not
feel the weight of the moral law; if they make light of God’s precepts;
if they break one of the least of His commandments, and teach men
so, they shall be of no esteem in the sight of heaven. We may know
that their claims are without foundation. They are doing the very work
that originated with the prince of darkness, the enemy of God.