Essentials to Service
Sympathy
God desires to unite His workers by a common sympathy, a pure
affection. It is the atmosphere of Christlike love surrounding the soul
of the believer that makes him a savor of life unto life, and enables
God to bless his efforts. Christianity builds no walls of separation
between man and his fellow-man, but binds human beings to God and
to one another.
Mark how tender and pitiful the Lord is in His dealings with His
creatures. He loves His erring child, and entreats him to return. The
Father’s arm is placed about His repentant son; the Father’s garments
cover his rags; the ring is placed upon his finger as a token of his
royalty. And yet how many there are who look upon the prodigal not
only with indifference, but with contempt. Like the Pharisee, they say,
“God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men,” [
Luke 18:11
.] But
how, think you, does God look upon those who, while claiming to be
co-workers with Christ, while the soul is making its struggle against
the flood of temptation, stand by like the elder brother in the parable,
stubborn, self-willed, selfish?
* * * * *
How little do we enter into sympathy with Christ on that which
should be the strongest bond of union between us and Him,—
compassion for depraved, guilty, suffering souls, dead in trespasses
and sins! The inhumanity of man toward man is our greatest sin. Many
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think that they are representing the justice of God, while they wholly
fail of representing His tenderness and His great love. Often the ones
whom they meet with sternness and severity are under the stress of
temptation. Satan is wrestling with these souls, and harsh, unsym-
pathetic words discourage them, and cause them to fall a prey to the
tempter’s power....
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