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Truths That Transform, May 17
The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.
Hebrews 4:12
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The truths of the Bible, treasured in the heart and mind and obeyed in the life,
convince and convert the soul, transform the character, and comfort and uplift the
heart.... The Word makes the proud humble, the perverse meek and contrite, the
disobedient obedient. The sinful habits natural to man are interwoven with the
daily practice. But the Word cuts away the fleshly lusts. It is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the mind. It divides the joints and marrow, cutting away
the lusts of the flesh, making men willing to suffer for their Lord.
The service of Christ is a heavenly and holy and blessed thing. The Word is to
be diligently searched, for the ministry of the Word discovers the imperfections
in our characters and teaches us that the sanctification of the Spirit is a work of
heavenly devising, presenting in Christ Jesus the true perfection that if maintained
will become a perfect whole in behalf of every soul. We are educated in Bible
lines to become complete in Christlikeness and to see His Father’s face in Him
who gave His own life for the saving of the soul.
If you are an intelligent Christian you will maintain religious vitality and will
not be deterred by difficulties.... You will work the works of God in gloom as well
as in glory, in shade as well as in sunshine, in trial as well as in peace. The truth
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must be treasured up in your heart as well as incorporated in your being, so that
no temptation and no argument can induce you to yield to Satan’s suggestions or
devices. The truth is precious. It has wrought important changes upon the life and
upon the character, exerting a masterly influence over words, deportment, thoughts,
and experience. The soul who appreciates the truth lives under its influence and
senses the tremendous realities of eternal things. He lives not to himself, but to
Jesus Christ who died for him. To him, God lives and is very cognizant of all his
words and actions.
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