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To Love Is to Serve, June 22
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:3, 4
.
The religion of Jesus Christ means something more than talk. The righ-
teousness of Christ consists in right actions and good works from pure, un-
selfish motives. Outside righteousness, while the inward adorning is wanting,
will be of no avail. “This then is the message which we have heard of him,
and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If
we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and
do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth
us from all sin” (
1 John 1:5-7
). If we have not the light and love of God, we
are not His children. If we gather not with Christ, we scatter abroad. We all
have an influence, and that influence is telling upon the destiny of others, for
their present and future good, or for their eternal loss.
All have lessons to learn in the school of Christ, in order to perfect
Christian characters, and have a oneness with Christ. Said Christ to His
disciples, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall
not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (
Matthew 18:3
). He explained His
meaning to them. He did not wish them to become children in understanding,
but in malice. Little children do not manifest feelings of superiority and
aristocracy. They are simple and natural in their appearance. Christ would
have His followers cultivate unaffected manners, that their whole bearing
might be humble and Christlike. He has made it our duty to live for others’
good. He came from the royal courts of heaven to this world, to show how
great an interest He had in man; and the infinite price paid for the redemption
of man shows that man is of so great value that Christ could sacrifice His
riches and honor in the royal courts, to lift him from the degradation of sin.
If the Majesty of heaven could do so much to evidence His love for man,
what ought not men to be willing to do for each other, to help one another up
out of the pit of darkness and suffering?—
The Review and Herald, June 22,
1886
.
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