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From Heaven With Love
He bids us by faith in Him attain to the glory of the character of
God.
We are to be perfect, even as our “Father which is in heaven is
perfect.”
Jesus had shown in what righteousness consists and had pointed
to God as its source. Now He turned to practical duties. Let nothing
be done to attract attention or win praise to self. Give in sincerity,
for the benefit of the suffering poor. In prayer, commune with God.
In fasting, go not with the heart filled with thoughts of self.
Service rendered in sincerity of heart has great recompense. “Thy
Father which seeth in secret will reward thee openly.” By the life
we live through the grace of Christ the character is formed. The
attributes of the character of Christ are imparted, and the image of
the Divine begins to shine forth. Men and women who walk and
work with God are surrounded with the atmosphere of heaven. For
these souls the kingdom of God has begun.
“No man can serve two masters.” Bible religion is not one influ-
ence among many others; it is to pervade the whole life.
“If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body will be full
of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of
darkness.” He who desires to know the truth must be willing to accept
all that it reveals. To be wavering and halfhearted in allegiance to
truth is to choose error and satanic delusion.
Worldly policy and the principles of righteousness do not blend
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into each other, like the colors of the rainbow. Between the two
a clear line is drawn by God. The likeness of Christ stands out as
distinct from that of Satan, as midday in contrast with midnight.
And only those who live the life of Christ are His coworkers.
All who have chosen God’s service are to rest in His care. Christ
pointed to the birds flying in the heavens, and to the flowers of the
field, and asked: “Are you not of more value than they?” RSV. The
little brown sparrow is watched over. The flowers, the grass, share
the notice of our heavenly Father. The great Master Artist has taken
thought for the lilies, making them outshine the glory of Solomon.
How much more does He care for man, who is the image and glory
of God. As the sunbeam imparts to the flowers their delicate tints,
so God imparts to the soul the beauty of His own character.