Chapter 11—Christians to Represent God
It is God’s purpose to manifest through His people the principles
of His kingdom.
That in life and character they may reveal these principles, He
desires to separate them from the customs, habits, and practices of the
world. He seeks to bring them near to Himself, that He may make
known to them His will.
The purpose which God seeks to accomplish through His people
today is the same that He desired to accomplish through Israel when
He brought them forth out of Egypt. By beholding the goodness, the
mercy, the justice, and the love of God revealed in the church, the
world is to have a representation of His character. And when the law
of God is thus exemplified in the life, even the world will recognize
the superiority of those who love and fear and serve God above every
other people on the earth.
The Lord has His eye upon every one of His people; He has His
plans concerning each. It is His purpose that those who practice His
holy precepts shall be a distinguished people. To the people of God
today as well as to ancient Israel belong the words written by Moses
through the Spirit of Inspiration: “Thou art an holy people unto the
Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special
people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the
earth.”
Deuteronomy 7:6
The Forming of a Christlike Character
The religion of Christ never degrades the receiver; it never makes
him coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hard-
hearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment,
and purifies and ennobles the thoughts, bringing them into captivity to
Christ. God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human
84
T 9, 12
101