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Chapter 10—Helping the Tempted
Not because we first loved Him did Christ love us, but “while we
were still sinners” He died for us. He does not treat us as we deserve.
Although our sins merit condemnation, He does not condemn us.
Year after year He has borne with our weakness and ignorance,
with our ingratitude and waywardness. Despite 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 extend His grace to 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
deliver the captive. 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.
Every human being is the object of loving interest to Him who
gave His life that He might bring sinners back to God. Guilty and
helpless souls, 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 Savior’s example is to be the standard of our service for
the tempted and the erring. We are to manifest toward others the
same interest, tenderness, and longsuffering that He has manifested
toward us. “‘As I have loved you,’” He says, “‘that you also love
one another.’”
John 13:34
. If Christ lives in us, we shall reveal His
unselfish love toward all with whom we have to do. As we see men
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and women in need of sympathy and help, we shall not ask, “Are
they worthy?” but, “How can I benefit them?”
Rich and poor, high and low, free and bond are God’s heritage.
He who gave His life to redeem sinners sees in every human being
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