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The New Life, February 9
Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like
unto leaven, which a woman took, an hid in three measures of meal, till
the whole was leavened.
Matthew 13:33
.
When leaven is introduced into meal, it penetrates to every part, till an
entire change takes place. So it is with the work of the Holy Spirit upon
the human heart. The truth received and believed introduces new rules, new
principles of action into the life. A new standard of character is set up—the
life of Christ. Those who thus receive the truth depend on Christ, and they
receive more and still more strength, and greater and still greater light. Daily
they expel from their hearts vanity, selfishness, self-righteousness.
As they receive the spirit of Christ, light shines from them in clear, distinct
rays. They have a solemn sense of eternal realities. There is a renewal of the
entire mind and heart. As the leaven introduced into the meal leavened the
whole, so the leaven of truth, if introduced into the heart, will absorb to itself
all the properties of soul, body, and spirit....
Transformation of heart means an entire change of the entire man. “Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” Christ declared
(
John 3:3
). This change of heart is unseen; for it is an inward work, and yet,
it is seen, because it works outward from within.
Has the leaven of truth been at work in your heart? Has it absorbed the
whole heart, the whole affections by its sanctifying power? ...
Our first work is with our own hearts. The true principles of reform should
be practiced. The heart must be converted and sanctified else we have no
connection with Christ. While our hearts are divided, we shall never, never be
fitted for usefulness in this life or for the future life. As intelligent beings, we
need to sit down and think whether we are really seeking first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness. The very best thing we can do is to think soberly
and candidly whether we desire to put forth the effort necessary to obtain
the Christian hope and secure the Christian’s heaven. If through the grace of
Christ we decide that we do, the next question is: What is there that I must
cut away from my life in order that I shall not stumble?—
Manuscript 14,
February 9, 1898
, “Like Unto Leaven.”
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