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Lip Service Religion, October 17
If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul;
then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon
day.
Isaiah 58:10
.
There is a spurious experience that is prevailing now everywhere in regard
to the love of Jesus—that we must dwell on the love of Jesus, that faith in Jesus
is all we need—but these souls must be instructed that the love of Jesus in the
heart will lead to humility of life and obedience to all His commandments.
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and
the truth is not in him” (
1 John 2:4
). The love of Jesus that goes no farther
than the lips will not save any soul, but be a great delusion.—
Manuscript 26,
October 17, 1885
, “First Visit to Sweden, diary.”
Some who claim to love Jesus are deceivers and all their religion is lip
service. It does not transform the character. It does not reveal the inward
working of grace. They do not show that they have ever learned in Christ’s
school the lessons of meekness and lowliness of heart. They do not show
by life or character that they are wearing Christ’s yoke or lifting Christ’s
burdens. They are not reaching the standard given them in God’s Word, but a
human standard. Their life is not pure like Christ’s life. They are not being
refined and ennobled by His Spirit. The way of truth they have not known,
and they are of that number who will say, “Lord, Lord, open unto us. We
have taught in the streets. We have done many wonderful works.” But Christ
will say of them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”
(
Matthew 7:23
).—
Ibid
.
Those who reject the truth of the Bible do it under a pretense of loving
Jesus. Those who love Jesus will reveal that love by being obedient children.
They will be doers of the Word and not hearers only. They will not be
continually pleading, “All that we have to do is to believe in Jesus.” This is
true in the fullest sense, but they do not comprehend, they do not take it in its
fullest sense. To believe in Jesus is to take Him as your Redeemer, as your
Pattern. All who love Jesus must follow His example. They must connect
themselves with Jesus as closely as the branch is connected with the living
vine. They are abiding in Jesus and Jesus is abiding in them and they are
doers of His Word, partakers of His divine nature.—
Ibid
.
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