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Chapter 10—Helping the Tempted
Not because we first loved Him did Christ love us; but “while we
were yet sinners” He died for us. He does not treat us according to
our desert. Although our sins have merited condemnation, He does
not condemn us. Year after year He has borne with our weakness and
ignorance, with our ingratitude and waywardness. Notwithstanding
our wanderings, our hardness of heart, our neglect of His Holy Word,
His hand is stretched out still.
Grace is an attribute of God exercised toward undeserving human
beings. We did not seek for it, but it was sent in search of us. God
rejoices to bestow His grace upon us, not because we are worthy, but
because we are so utterly unworthy. Our only claim to His mercy is
our great need.
The Lord God through Jesus Christ holds out His hand all the
day long in invitation to the sinful and fallen. He will receive all. He
welcomes all. It is His glory to pardon the chief of sinners. He will
take the prey from the mighty, He will deliver the captive, He will
pluck the brand from the burning. He will lower the golden chain of
His mercy to the lowest depths of human wretchedness, and lift up
the debased soul contaminated with sin.
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Every human being is the object of loving interest to Him who
gave His life that He might bring men back to God. Souls guilty and
helpless, liable to be destroyed by the arts and snares of Satan, are
cared for as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his flock.
The Saviour’s example is to be the standard of our service for
the tempted and the erring. The same interest and tenderness and
long-suffering that He has manifested toward us, we are to manifest
toward others. “As I have loved you,” He says, “that ye also love
one another.”
John 13:34
. If Christ dwells in us, we shall reveal His
unselfish love toward all with whom we have to do. As we see men
and women in need of sympathy and help, we shall not ask, “Are
they worthy?” but “How can I benefit them?”
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