Two Worshipers
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At every advance step in Christian experience our repentance will
deepen. It is to those whom the Lord has forgiven, to those whom He
acknowledges as His people, that He says, “Then shall ye remember
your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall
loathe yourselves in your own sight.”
Ezekiel 36:31
. Again He says, “I
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will establish My covenant with thee, and thou shalt know that I am the
Lord; that thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open
thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward
thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God.”
Ezekiel 16:62, 63
.
Then our lips will not be opened in self-glorification. We shall know
that our sufficiency is in Christ alone. We shall make the apostle’s
confession our own. “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth
no good thing.”
Romans 7:18
. “God forbid that I should glory, save
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified
unto me, and I unto the world.”
Galatians 6:14
.
In harmony with this experience is the command, “Work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh
in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12,
13
. God does not bid you fear that He will fail to fulfill His promises,
that His patience will weary, or His compassion be found wanting.
Fear lest your will shall not be held in subjection to Christ’s will, lest
your hereditary and cultivated traits of character shall control your
life. “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His
good pleasure.” Fear lest self shall interpose between your soul and
the great Master Worker. Fear lest self-will shall mar the high purpose
that through you God desires to accomplish. Fear to trust to your
own strength, fear to withdraw your hand from the hand of Christ and
attempt to walk life’s pathway without His abiding presence.
We need to shun everything that would encourage pride and self-
sufficiency; therefore we should beware of giving or receiving flattery
or praise. It is Satan’s work to flatter. He deals in flattery as well as in
accusing and condemnation. Thus he seeks to work the ruin of the soul.
Those who give praise to men are used by Satan as his agents. Let the
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workers for Christ direct every word of praise away from themselves.
Let self be put out of sight. Christ alone is to be exalted. “Unto Him
that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,” let every
eye be directed, and praise from every heart ascend. (
Revelation 1:5
).