Faithful Reproofs Necessary
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can never repair my negligence,” then we might see the cause of God
advancing as it has never yet advanced.
It is this holding back, waiting for others to do, that brings spiritual
feebleness. To reserve one’s energies is a sure way to lessen them.
Jesus requires implicit obedience and willing submission from all His
servants. There must be no halting or self-indulgence in the service of
Christ. There is no concord between Christ and Belial. What a lack
of devotion to the work of God, what a want of caretaking, has there
been at-----.
The heart of A has not been devoted to God. He has capabilities
and talents for which he must render an account to the great Giver
of all. His heart has been unconsecrated and his life unworthy of
his profession; yet he has been closely connected with the sacred
work of God for more than a score of years. What light he has had,
what privileges! He has enjoyed the rarest opportunities to develop
a substantial Christian character. The words of Christ when He wept
over Jerusalem are applicable to him: “If thou hadst known, even thou,
at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but
now they are hid from thine eyes.” A, the retribution of God hangs
over you, “because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
B is of the same cast of mind, but not so thoroughly selfish. Both
are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Their course is entirely
inconsistent with the Christian life. They lack stability, sobriety, and
devotion to God. With B the work of grace is altogether too superficial.
He desires to be a Christian, but does not strive to maintain the victory
over self and act up to his convictions of right and wrong. Deeds, not
idle words and empty intentions, are acceptable to God.
A, you have heard the word of God in reproofs, in counsels, in
warnings, as well as in the entreaties of love. But hearing is not
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enough. “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
your own selves.” It is easy to be borne along by the current, and to cry
Hosannah with the multitude; but in the calm of everyday life, when
there is no special excitement or exaltation, then comes the test of true
Christianity. It is then that your heart becomes cold, and your zeal
abates, and religious exercises become distasteful to you.
You positively neglect to do the will of God. Says Christ: “Ye are
My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” This is the condition
imposed; this is the test that proves men’s characters. Feelings are