Power of Example
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John 15:16-19
: “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you,
and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your
fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My
name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love
one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before
it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own:
but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world, therefore the world hateth you.”
1 John 4:4, 5
: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome
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them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world
heareth them.”
1 John 2:5, 6
: “But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the
love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that
saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He
walked.”
1 Peter 2:9
: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises
of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
As we read the word of God, how plain it appears that His people
are to be peculiar and distinct from the unbelieving world around them.
Our position is interesting and fearful; living in the last days, how
important that we imitate the example of Christ, and walk even as He
walked. “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross, and follow Me.” The opinions and wisdom of men
must not guide or govern us. They always lead away from the cross.
The servants of Christ have neither their home nor their treasure here.
Would that all of them could understand that it is only because the
Lord reigns that we are even permitted to dwell in peace and safety
among our enemies. It is not our privilege to claim special favors of
the world. We must consent to be poor and despised among men, until
the warfare is finished and the victory won. The members of Christ
are called to come out and be separate from the friendship and spirit
of the world; their strength and power consists in being chosen and
accepted of God.
The Son of God was the heir of all things, and the dominion and
glory of the kingdoms of this world were promised to Him. Yet when
He appeared in this world, it was without riches or splendor. The