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The Great Commandment, October 5
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Matthew 22:36
.
Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another, these are the
two great arms upon which hang all the law and the prophets. A good tree
produces good fruit. The evidence of love for Christ is the manifestation of
love for one another. Unselfish love for those around us is placed among the
brightest evidences of true religion. By it a daily witness in Christ’s favor is
borne to the world.
The appetites and passions must be subdued and controlled, that the nerves
may be steady and the brain able to see duty clearly. This can be done through
divine grace. The gospel of Christ is the voice of duty and the voice of God.
What is meant by a failure to obey it is seen in the history of Satan, who
for his disobedience was cast out of heaven. The greatest talents and the
highest gifts that could be bestowed on a created being were given to Lucifer,
the covering cherub. Before his fall he was a glorious being, occupying a
position next to Christ, but he sought to be equal with God, and brought upon
himself irretrievable ruin.
With this lesson before us, let us hide ourselves in Christ. He is the source
of all wisdom, all intelligence, all power. Behold in the cross of Christ the
only guarantee for our salvation. Behold the Saviour giving His life for us,
that we might be Christians. Those who strive to live the life of a Christian
are battling against the devil’s lie. Can we doubt the result of this conflict?
God lives, God reigns, and daily He is working His miracles. “They that are
Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (
Galatians 5:24
).
Before the world and the heavenly universe they give evidence that they are
trying to live out the words, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; ...think on these
things” (
Philippians 4:8
).
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance, these are the fruits of the Christian tree.—
Letter 21, 1901
, written
October 5, 1900, to an evangelist in New York City.
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