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God Loves the Beautiful, November 18
Let all things be done decently and in order.
1 Corinthians 14:40
.
God is not glorified by those whom He has called out of darkness into
His marvelous light being untidy, careless, and slovenly. We want to copy the
heavenly Pattern as far as order and neatness are concerned, and, if heaven is
desirable and attractive, I want that my premises shall be attractive in their
simplicity and order. We all need to consider that thoroughness, neatness, and
order should prevail among those who love and fear God, for in this we are
recommending our faith.
We are making an impression upon the beholders. Our connection with
God will increase our desire to be cleanly in our houses and about our
premises. Fruit trees, ornamental trees, and flowers cultivated about our
dwellings, pay in more ways than one.
The Lord is a lover of the beautiful, for He has made the lofty trees, the
spears of grass, the beautiful shrubs, the delicate flowers, and all these have
a softening, subduing influence upon the beholder, and, as their senses are
charmed, they are involuntarily drawn from nature to nature’s God. If the
Lord is mindful of us in giving us this expression of His love in the variety of
beautiful flowers growing in their natural loveliness, shall we not be grateful
to Him? Shall we not do just as Jesus told us to do, “Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto
you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these”
(
Matthew 6:28, 29
). Here the Lord contrasts the artificial with the natural....
I expend wisely some means to have God’s precious things in my sight
and to have everything healthful about my premises. I do this that all may see
we do not, because of our faith, descend to commonness, and become lax and
loose and untidy....
Let all see that, because you believe the Lord is coming, you are preparing
for a pure and holy heaven by being pure and cleanly and holy here. Then
you will be at home when called to the holy mansions above. What saith the
Lord to us through His inspired apostle? “But ye are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth
the praises of him” (
1 Peter 2:9
).—
Manuscript 28, November 18, 1889
, “A
Significant Dream.”
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