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Selected Messages Book 1
Some who come to God by repentance and confession, and even
believe that their sins are forgiven, still fail of claiming, as they should,
the promises of God. They do not see that Jesus is an ever-present
Saviour; and they are not ready to commit the keeping of their souls
to Him, relying upon Him to perfect the work of grace begun in their
hearts. While they think they are committing themselves to God, there
is a great deal of self-dependence. There are conscientious souls that
trust partly to God, and partly to themselves. They do not look to
God, to be kept by His power, but depend upon watchfulness against
temptation, and the performance of certain duties for acceptance with
Him. There are no victories in this kind of faith. Such persons toil to
no purpose; their souls are in continual bondage, and they find no rest
until their burdens are laid at the feet of Jesus.
There is need of constant watchfulness, and of earnest, loving
devotion; but these will come naturally when the soul is kept by the
power of God through faith. We can do nothing, absolutely nothing,
to commend ourselves to divine favor. We must not trust at all to
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ourselves nor to our good works; but when as erring, sinful beings we
come to Christ, we may find rest in His love. God will accept every
one that comes to Him trusting wholly in the merits of a crucified
Saviour. Love springs up in the heart. There may be no ecstasy of
feeling, but there is an abiding, peaceful trust. Every burden is light;
for the yoke which Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight,
and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that before seemed shrouded in
darkness becomes bright with beams from the Sun of Righteousness.
This is walking in the light as Christ is in the light.
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