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Dignity Without Pride, May 14
My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.... My
righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not
reproach me so long as I live.
Job 27:4-6
.
We should preserve the strictest chastity in thought, and word, and
deportment. Let us remember that God sets our secret sins in the light of
His countenance. There are thoughts and feelings suggested and aroused
by Satan that annoy even the best of men, but if they are not cherished, if
they are repulsed as hateful, the soul is not contaminated with guilt, and no
other is defiled by their influence. O that we each might become a savor of
life unto life to those around us!
There is great need of a deeper appreciation of the holy truth of God.
If all had a realization of the solemnity and weight of the message, many
sins that are now carelessly committed would cease from among us. Is
there not too often the common thought and communication mingled with
the sacred themes of truth? Wherever this is done, the standard is lowered.
Your example leads others to regard the truth lightly, and this is one of the
greatest sins in the sight of God.
It is the privilege of every one to so live that God will approve and
bless him. You may be hourly in communion with Heaven; it is not the
will of your heavenly Father that you should ever be under condemnation
and darkness. It is not pleasing to God that you should demerit yourself.
You should cultivate self-respect by living so that you will be approved by
your own conscience, and before men and angels.
It is not an evidence of true humility that you go with your head bowed
down and your heart filled with thoughts of self. It is your privilege to
go to Jesus and be cleansed, and to stand before the law without shame
and remorse. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”
(
Romans 8:1
). While we should not think of ourselves more highly than
we ought, the Word of God does not condemn a proper self-respect. As
sons and daughters of God we should have a conscious dignity of character,
in which pride and self-importance have no par
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18
The Review and Herald, March 27, 1888
.
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