Page 135 - That I May Know Him (1964)

Live Up to Your Profession, May 2
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Ephesians 4:1.
Christ demands that those who take His name honor that name in spirit
and word and deportment. In thought, word, and deed they are to be
Christlike. Those who claim to be Christians and yet do not reveal in the
life the virtues of Christ’s character bear witness against the Saviour. They
dishonor Him, putting Him to open shame....
The revelation of His grace in humanity is an evidence of the power
of the truth. Those who profess to follow Christ and yet do not reveal this
grace ... must know that their profession is a fraud.... A professing Christian
cannot descend to the world’s level without dishonoring the religion of
Christ and making himself disloyal. Such a one is offensive to God. The
Lord cannot own him as His disciple.
The Christian is to stand on vantage ground as a laborer together with
God. But he is never to exalt himself. He is firmly to refuse the inducements
presented by those who have no love for truth and righteousness, but
his refusal is to be made in a Christlike spirit, not Pharisaically, with
an attitude which says, “Stand aside; I am holier than thou.” He must
show that he cannot enter into sin because he is pledged by a most holy
profession to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. By precept and example he is to
discountenance all departure from Bible principles. But at the same time,
by the manifestation of Christlike love, he is to make the religion of Christ
attractive. He is to allow no bigotry to be seen in his life, but is to reveal
tender compassion for those who have wandered away from Christ....
Walk and work in the spirit of Christ. Stand ever on guard, for temp-
tations will come, and the Lord’s disciples are to be as true as steel to
principle....
Be sure to reveal the character of Christ. The Lord will be your effi-
ciency, your strength, and your exceeding great reward if you will trust
constantly in Him.2 [129]
2 Letter 25, 1903.
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