Unity of the Church
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him. It is in the power of all to do something for the cause of God.
There are those who spend a large amount for needless luxuries; they
gratify their appetites, but feel it a great tax to contribute means to
sustain the church. They are willing to receive all the benefit of its
privileges, but prefer to leave others to pay the bills. Those who
really feel a deep interest in the advancement of the cause will not
hesitate to invest money in the enterprise whenever and wherever it
is needed. They should also feel it a solemn duty to illustrate in their
characters the teachings of Christ, being at peace one with another and
moving in perfect harmony as an undivided whole. They should defer
their individual judgment to the judgment of the body of the church.
Many live for themselves alone. They look upon their lives with great
complacency, flattering themselves that they are blameless, when in
fact they are doing nothing for God and are living in direct opposition
to His expressed word. The observance of external forms will never
meet the great want of the human soul. A profession of Christ is not
enough to enable one to stand the test of the day of judgment. There
should be a perfect trust in God, a childlike dependence upon His
promises, and an entire consecration to His will.
God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction in order
to prove them firm and true, and purge them from all unrighteousness.
After Abraham and his son had borne the severest test that could be
imposed upon them, God spoke through His angel unto Abraham:
“Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld
thy son, thine only son from Me.” This great act of faith causes the
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character of Abraham to shine forth with remarkable luster. It forcibly
illustrates his perfect confidence in the Lord, from whom he withheld
nothing, not even his son by promise.
There is nothing too precious for us to give to Jesus. If we return
to Him the talents of means which He has entrusted to our keeping,
He will give more into our hands. Every effort we make for Christ
will be rewarded by Him, and every duty we perform in His name will
minister to our own happiness. God surrendered His dearly beloved
Son to the agonies of the crucifixion, that all who believe on Him
might become one through the name of Jesus. When Christ made
so great a sacrifice to save men and bring them into unity with one
another, even as He was united with the Father, what sacrifice is too
great for His followers to make in order to preserve that unity?