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Christ’s Self-sacrificing Life Is Our Lesson Book, Nobember 21
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O
Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your
faithfulness every night.
Psalm 92:1, 2
, NKJV.
Practical Christianity means laboring together with God every day; working for
Christ, not now and then, but continuously. A neglect to reveal practical righteous-
ness in our lives is a denial of our faith and of the power of God. God is seeking for
a sanctified people, a people set apart for His service, a people who will heed and
accept the invitation “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.”
How earnestly Christ prosecuted the work of our salvation! What devotion His
life revealed as He sought to give value to fallen humanity by imputing to every
repenting, believing sinner the merits of His spotless righteousness! How untiringly
He worked! In the temple and the synagogue, in the streets of the cities, in the
marketplace, in the workshop, by the seaside, among the hills, He preached the
gospel and healed the sick. He gave all there was of Himself, that He might work
out the plan of redeeming grace.
Christ was under no obligation to make this great sacrifice. Voluntarily He
pledged Himself to bear the punishment due to the transgressor of His law. His
love was His only obligation, and without a murmur He endured every pang and
welcomed every indignity that was part of the plan of salvation. The life of Christ
was one of unselfish service, and His life is our lesson book. The work that He
began we are to carry forward.
With His life of toil and sacrifice before them, can those who profess His name
hesitate to deny self, to lift the cross and follow Him? He humbled Himself to
the lowest depths that we might be lifted to the heights of purity and holiness and
completeness. He became poor that He might pour into our poverty-stricken souls
the fullness of His riches. He endured the cross of shame that He might give us
peace and rest and joy, and make us partakers of the glories of His throne.
Should we not appreciate the privilege of working for Him, and be eager to
practice self-denial and self-sacrifice for His sake? Should we not give back to God
all that He has redeemed, the affections He has purified, and the body that He has
purchased, to be kept unto sanctification and holiness?—
The Review and Herald,
April 4, 1912
.
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