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Christ’s Object Lessons
of God overflows with love for God and for those for whom Christ died.
Self is not struggling for recognition. He does not love others because
they love and please him, because they appreciate his merits, but
because they are Christ’s purchased possession. If his motives, words,
or actions are misunderstood or misrepresented, he takes no offense,
but pursues the even tenor of his way. He is kind and thoughtful,
humble in his opinion of himself, yet full of hope, always trusting in
the mercy and love of God.
The apostle exhorts us, “As He which hath called you is holy, so
be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be
ye holy; for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15, 16
. The grace of Christ is to
control the temper and the voice. Its working will be seen in politeness
and tender regard shown by brother for brother, in kind, encouraging
words. An angel presence is in the home. The life breathes a sweet
perfume, which ascends to God as holy incense. Love is manifested in
kindness, gentleness, forbearance, and long-suffering.
The countenance is changed. Christ abiding in the heart shines
out in the faces of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Truth is written there. The sweet peace of heaven is revealed. There is
expressed a habitual gentleness, a more than human love.
The leaven of truth works a change in the whole man, making
the coarse refined, the rough gentle, the selfish generous. By it the
impure are cleansed, washed in the blood of the Lamb. Through its
life-giving power it brings all there is of mind and soul and strength
into harmony with the divine life. Man with his human nature becomes
a partaker of divinity. Christ is honored in excellence and perfection
of character. As these changes are effected, angels break forth in
rapturous song, and God and Christ rejoice over souls fashioned after
the divine similitude.
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