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The Desire of Ages
liberty to indulge anger or resentment are opening the heart to Satan.
Bitterness and animosity must be banished from the soul if we would
be in harmony with heaven.
The Saviour goes farther than this. He says, “If thou bring thy gift
to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against
thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be
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reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Many are
zealous in religious services, while between them and their brethren
are unhappy differences which they might reconcile. God requires
them to do all in their power to restore harmony. Until they do this,
He cannot accept their services. The Christian’s duty in this matter is
clearly pointed out.
God pours His blessings upon all. “He maketh His sun to rise
on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the
unjust.” He is “kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
Luke 6:35
.
He bids us to be like Him. “Bless them that curse you,” said Jesus;
“do good to them that hate you, ... that ye may be the children of your
Father which is in heaven.” These are the principles of the law, and
they are the wellsprings of life.
God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human
thought can reach. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which
is in heaven is perfect.” This command is a promise. The plan of
redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of
Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came
to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the
Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from
sinning.
The tempter’s agency is not to be accounted an excuse for one
wrong act. Satan is jubilant when he hears the professed followers
of Christ making excuses for their deformity of character. It is these
excuses that lead to sin. There is no excuse for sinning. A holy temper,
a Christlike life, is accessible to every repenting, believing child of
God.
The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. As the Son of
man was perfect in His life, so His followers are to be perfect in their
life. Jesus was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became
flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was
sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of man;