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Let God Manage You, July 31
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.
Psalm 90:17
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God wants you to let Him manage you, that you may be a lovable
Christian. The Lord would have the natural and hereditary traits of character
come under the pruning knife. Look steadfastly unto Jesus, that you may
catch His spirit and cherish the qualities of Christlike character. Then it
will be recognized by all who have any connection with you, that you
have learned of Christ His meekness, His affection, His tenderness, His
sympathy. Never rest satisfied until you possess a loving and lovable spirit.
Your words may come from the good treasure of the heart to strengthen,
help, bless, and win all around you.... Others catch your spirit. The seeds
we sow will bear a harvest in goodness, patience, kindness, and love, or
exactly the opposite....
Many, many need melting over. Be sound in principle, true to God,
but do not manifest one stern, ungenial phase of character. God does not
want you to incur contempt by manifesting a disposition like a ball of putty,
but He does want you to be in principle as sound as a rock, yet with a
healthful mellowness. Like the Master, be full of grace and truth. Jesus was
incorruptible, undefiled, yet in His life were mingled gentleness, meekness,
benignity, sympathy, and love. The poorest were not afraid to approach
Him; they did not fear a rebuff. What Christ was, every Christian should
strive to be. In holiness and winsomeness of character He is our model....
We should all learn of Christ what it means to be a Christian. Let
us learn of Him how to combine firmness, justice, purity, and integrity
with unselfish courtesy and kindly sympathy. Thus the character becomes
lovable and attractive. The beauty of holiness will disarm scoffers....
The heart must receive the divine current, and let it flow out in rich
streams of mercy and grace to other hearts. All who would win souls to
Christ must be winsome
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Letter 53, 1895
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