Chapter 288—First, an Empty Heart
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first
commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself.
Mark 12:30, 31
.
On these two commandments the whole interest and duty of moral beings
hang. Those who do their duty to others as they would that others should do
to them are brought into a position where God can reveal Himself to them.
They will be approved of Him. They are made perfect in love, and their
labors and prayers will not be in vain. They are continually receiving grace
and truth from the Fountainhead, and as freely transmitting to others the
divine light and salvation they receive....
Selfishness is abomination in the sight of God and holy angels. Because
of this sin many fail to attain the good which they are capable of enjoying.
They look with selfish eyes on their own things, and do not love and seek the
interest of others as they do their own. They reverse God’s order. Instead of
doing for others what they wish others to do for them, they do for themselves
what they desire others to do for them, and do to others what they are most
unwilling to have returned to them.
How is it possible that we may grow in grace? It is possible to us only
as we empty our hearts of self, and present them to Heaven, to be molded
after the divine Pattern. We may have a connection with the living channel
of light; we may be refreshed with the heavenly dew, and have the showers
of Heaven descend upon us. As we appropriate the blessing of God, we shall
be able to receive greater measures of His grace. As we learn to endure as
seeing Him who is invisible, we shall become changed into the image of
Christ. The grace of Christ will not make us proud, cause us to be lifted up
in self, but we shall become meek and lowly in heart.
Growth in grace will not lead you to be proud, self-confident, and boastful,
but will make you more conscious of your own nothingness, of your entire
dependence upon the Lord.
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