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Dare to Be Different!, November 8
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom
ye shine as lights in the world.
Philippians 2:15
.
Let every one, for Christ’s sake and for his own soul’s sake, shun
conformity to the world, to its customs, vanities, and fashions. Beware
of human commandments that will obscure the holy commandments of
God. The pleasure lover is ever unsatisfied, and continually desires to seek
again the excitement of the ballroom, the theater, or the party of pleasure.
The time God has granted us in which to prepare for eternity is spent by
thousands in poring over fictitious stories. God-given intellect is perverted,
the Word of God is neglected, the mind and soul are robbed of moral power
needed for wrestling against faults and errors, habits and practices, that
disqualify the soul for the enjoyment of Christ’s presence....
Let the question be asked seriously and with intense interest, “How
is it with my soul? Am I by my habits and practices working against
my Redeemer?” Inquire, “Do I bring glory to Christ? Do I show to a
disobedient and crooked generation that I choose to suffer reproach for
the sake of Jesus?” ... Will the professed followers of Christ aim high,
and reach the standard of holiness? Better be a worldling than a common,
cheap, professed Christian. Dare to come out from the world and be
separate. Dare to be singular because you love Jesus better than the world,
and righteousness with persecution better than disobedience with worldly
prosperity. Holy and entire obedience through dependence upon the Lord
Jesus Christ will strengthen the soul to be steadfast in the faith and hope of
the gospel.
Jesus says, “Without me ye can do nothing” (
John 15:5
). Union with
Christ is our only means for overcoming sin. Living in Christ, adhering
to Christ, supported by Christ, drawing nourishment from Christ, we bear
fruit after the similitude of Christ. We live and move in Him; we are one
with Him and one with the Father. The name of Christ is glorified in the
believing child of God. This is Bible religion
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10
Letter 82, 1895
.
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