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Selected Messages Book 2
that He might be made one of us. He drew the sympathy of all hearts
by showing Himself capable of sympathizing with all. The men of
Nazareth in their questioning doubts asked, “Is not this the carpenter”
(
Mark 6:3
), the son of Joseph and Mary?
Heaven and earth are no wider apart today than when common men
of common occupation met angels at noonday, or when on Bethlehem’s
plains shepherds heard the songs of the heavenly host as they watched
their flocks by night. It is not the seeking to climb to eminence that will
make you great in God’s sight, but it is the humble life of goodness, of
fidelity, that will make you the object of the heavenly angels’ special
guardianship. The Pattern Man, who thought it not robbery to be equal
with God, took upon Himself our nature, and lived nearly thirty years
in an obscure Galilean town, hidden away among the hills. All the
angel host was at His command, yet He did not claim to be anything
great or exalted. He did not attach “Professor” to His name to please
Himself. He was a carpenter, working for wages, a servant to those
for whom He labored, showing that heaven may be very near us in the
common walks of life, and that angels from the heavenly courts will
take charge of the steps of those who come and go at God’s command.
Oh, that the spirit of Christ might rest upon His professed follow-
ers! We must all be willing to work and toil, for this is the lesson
Christ has given us in His life. If you had lived for God in common
things, doing your work purely and faithfully when there was no one
to say it was well done, you would not be in your present position.
Your life you could make faithful by good words wisely spoken, by
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kind deeds thoughtfully done, by the daily manifestation of meekness,
purity, and love. In view of all the light you have had, I fear you have
made your final move. You have given Satan every advantage.
Hasty Decisions
Decisions may be made in a moment that fix one’s condition for-
ever. Satan has come to you as he came to Christ, with the presen-
tation of worldly honor and glory, if you will only acknowledge his
supremacy. This you are now doing. But before you take one more
step, I beseech you to reflect.
What record are angels making in regard to you? How will you
meet that record? What excuse will you render to God for the abrupt