Daily Study of the Bible Necessary
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they will be led on step by step to greater heights, and their joy will be
full.
While engaged in the work that God has given them to do, they
will find no time and have no disposition to glorify themselves; neither
will they find time to murmur or complain, for their affections are
centered on things above, not on earthly things. Heart, soul, and body
will then be enlisted in the work of the Master. They will not labor
selfishly, but will deny themselves for Christ’s sake. They will lift
His cross, for they are His true disciples. They will feed day by day
upon the precious truths of God’s word, and will thus be strengthened
for duty and braced for trial. In this way they will become strong,
well-developed men and women in Christ. They will then be true
sons and daughters of the heavenly King. The greatness of the truth
which they love and contemplate will expand the mind, strengthen
the judgment, and elevate the character. They will not be novices in
the great work of saving souls, for they are working with the wisdom
given them of God. Neither will they be dwarfs in religious life, but
will grow up in Christ, their living Head, to the full stature of men and
women in Christ Jesus. The conflicts with the enemies of truth will
then only strengthen their hopes, and they will have precious victories,
because they call to their aid the mighty Helper, who never disappoints
the humble seeker. If their efforts are successful, all the glory will be
given to God. Heaven will come very near to them in sympathy and
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co-operation. They are made indeed a spectacle to the world, to angels,
and to men. They are marked characters because of their purity of
heart and life, their strength of purpose, their firmness and usefulness
in the cause of God. They are God’s noblemen.
In the religious life of every soul who is finally victorious there
will be scenes of terrible perplexity and trial; but his knowledge of the
Scriptures will enable him to bring to mind the encouraging promises
of God, which will comfort his heart and strengthen his faith in the
power of the Mighty One. He reads: “Cast not away therefore your
confidence, which hath great recompense of reward;” “that the trial
of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and
glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love;
in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with
joy unspeakable and full of glory.” The trial of faith is more precious