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Under God’s Searching Eye, August 19
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in
the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after
God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24
.
Provision has been made whereby every soul that is struggling under
sinful practices may be made free from sin. “Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world” (
John 1:29
). The Christian is not
to retain his sinful habits and cherish his defects of character, but he is to
be renewed in the spirit of his mind after the divine similitude. Whatever
may be the nature of your defects, the Spirit of the Lord will enable you to
discern them, and grace will be given you whereby they may be overcome.
Through the merits of the blood of Christ you may be a conqueror—yes,
more than a conqueror....
Ask the Lord to reveal to you yourself; place your life under His
searching eye, and when He lays hold upon your case you will see that
you have made grievous mistakes, and what you supposed was of little
importance was offensive in the sight of Heaven. You will see that there is
a decided need of thorough transformation of character. You will realize
that you must put away the evil of your doings, and cooperate with God
and heavenly angels who are sent to minister unto those who shall be heirs
of salvation....
Self must die. Every practice, every habit, that has a harmful tendency,
however innocent it may be regarded by the world, must be battled with
until overcome, that the human agent may perfect a character after the
divine Pattern....
The crooked ways, the perverse doings of those around us, are not
to dim the luster of our piety or to lead us to conform our habits to, and
assimilate our customs and practices with, the world’s. Let the prayer
go forth from the lips of those who claim to be the sons and daughters
of God, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my
thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the
way everlasting” (
Psalm 139:23, 24
)
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28
The Youth’s Instructor, June 7, 1894.
244