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Being Alive unto God, May 10
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess
also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me
before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32, 33
.
How is it? Are we confessing Christ in our daily life? Do we confess
Him in our dress, adorning ourselves with plain and modest apparel? Is our
adorning that of the meek and quiet spirit which is of so great price in the
sight of God? Are we seeking to advance the cause of the Master? Is the
line of demarcation between you and the world distinct, or are you seeking
to follow the fashions of this degenerate age? Is there no difference between
you and the worldling? Does the same spirit work in you that works in the
children of disobedience?
If we are Christians, we shall follow Christ, even though the path in which
we are to walk cuts right across our natural inclinations. There is no use in
telling you that you must not wear this or that, for if the love of these vain
things is in your heart, your laying off your adornments will only be like
cutting the foliage off a tree. The inclinations of the natural heart would again
assert themselves. You must have a conscience of your own.
O, did we remember that Christ became poor, that we through His poverty
might become rich, would we not seek to honor His name, and advance His
cause? We are to abide in Him as the branch abides in the vine. Jesus says,
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the
same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.... Herein
is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples”
(
John 15:5-8
).
If we fulfilled this command of our Lord, there would be a different state
of affairs in our churches, and we should know what it is to have the deep
movings of the Spirit of God. What we want is to have the ax laid at the root
of the tree. We want to be dead to the world, dead to self, and alive unto God.
Our life must be his with Christ in God, that when He shall appear, we also
may appear with Him in glory. We need to come close to Christ, that men
may know that we have been with Christ and learned of Him.... Keep your
eye fixed upon Christ. With humility of mind seek for a nearness to God. In
words, in conduct, in life, confess Christ.—
The Review and Herald, May 10,
1892
.
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