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A Character the World will Recognize, April 15
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom
ye shine as lights in the world.
Philippians 2:15
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It is God’s purpose to manifest through His people the principles of
His kingdom. That in life and character they may reveal these principles,
He desires to separate them from the customs, habits, and practices of the
world.... By beholding the goodness, the mercy, the justice, and the love
of God revealed in His church, the world is to have a representation of His
character. And when the law of God is thus exemplified in the life, even the
world will recognize the superiority of those who love and fear and serve
God above every other people in the world.
Seventh-day Adventists, above all people, should be patterns of piety,
holy in heart and in conversation. To them have been entrusted the most
solemn truths ever committed to mortals. Every endowment of grace and
power and efficiency has been liberally provided. They look for the near
return of Christ in the clouds of heaven. For them to give to the world the
impression that their faith is not a dominating power in their lives is greatly
to dishonor God.
Because of the increasing power of Satan’s temptations, the times in
which we live are full of peril for the children of God, and we need to learn
constantly of the Great Teacher, that we may take every step in surety and
righteousness. Wonderful scenes are opening before us; and at this time a
living testimony is to be borne in the lives of God’s professed people, so
that the world may see that in this age, when evil reigns on every side, there
is yet a people who are laying aside their will and are seeking to do God’s
will—a people in whose hearts and lives God’s law is written....
Their thoughts are to be pure, their words noble and uplifting. The
religion of Christ is to be interwoven with all that they do and say. They
are to be a sanctified, purified, holy people, communicating light to all with
whom they come in contact. It is His purpose that by exemplifying the
truth in their lives, they shall be a praise in the earth. The grace of Christ is
sufficient to bring this about.
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