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Living Abundantly, February 23
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly.
John 10:10
.
There can be no such thing as a narrow life for any soul connected
with Christ. Those who love Jesus with heart and mind and soul and their
neighbor as themselves have a broad field in which to use their ability and
influence. There is no talent to be used for selfish gratification. Self must
die, and our lives be hid with Christ in God....
The Lord would have us value our souls according to the estimate—as
far as we can comprehend it—that Christ has placed upon them.... Jesus
died that He might redeem man from eternal ruin. Then we are to hold
ourselves as property purchased. “Ye are not your own.” “Ye are bought
with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which
are God’s” (
1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
). All our powers of mind and soul and
body are the Lord’s. Our time belongs to Him. We are to place ourselves
in the very best possible condition to do His service, keeping constantly
in connection with Christ, and considering daily the costly sacrifice made
for us that we should be made the righteousness of God in Him....
Those who are emptied of self, the thoughtful and conscientious,
cannot raise their eyes to Christ, the living Saviour, without feelings of
awe and the deepest humility. To behold Jesus continually will make the
soul alive unto God. We shall love Jesus, we shall love the Father who
sent Him into the world, for we see Him in a wondrous light, full of grace
and truth. Jesus declares, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father”
(
Matthew 11:27
); ... “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”
(
Matthew 28:18
). What for? That He may give gifts unto men, that they
may lay all their powers under tribute to make known the wondrous love
wherewith He hath loved us....
When we estimate all our talents in the light of the cross of Calvary,
we shall so live for Christ and so let our light shine before men that our
lives will never seem narrow. Who can estimate the value of the soul?
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