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With Love, November 26
I Too May Conquer
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Those who open their hearts and homes to invite Jesus to abide with
them should keep the moral atmosphere unclouded by strife, bitterness,
wrath, malice, or even an unkind word. Jesus will not abide in a home
where are contention, envy, and bitterness....
Paul had a healthful religious experience. The love of Christ was his
grand theme and the constraining power that governed him.
When in most discouraging circumstances, which would have had a
depressing influence upon halfway Christians, he is firm of heart, full of
courage and hope and cheer, exclaiming, “Rejoice in the Lord alway, and
again I say, Rejoice.” The same hope and cheerfulness is seen when he is
upon the deck of the ship, the tempest beating about him, the ship going
to pieces. He gives orders to the commander of the ship and preserves
the lives of all on board. Although a prisoner, he is really the master
of the ship, the freest and happiest man on board. When wrecked and
driven to a barbarous island, he is the most self-possessed, the most
helpful in saving his fellow men from a watery grave. His hands brought
the wood to kindle the fire for the benefit of the chilled, shipwrecked
passengers. When they saw the deadly viper fasten upon his hand, they
were filled with terror; but Paul calmly shook it into the fire, knowing it
could not harm him; for he implicitly trusted in God.
When before kings and dignitaries of the earth, who held his life in
their hands, he quailed not; for he had given his life to God.... Grace,
like an angel of mercy, makes his voice heard sweet and clear, repeating
the story of the cross, the matchless love of Jesus.
Love’s agencies have wonderful power, for they are divine.
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