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Being Alive Unto God, September 11
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also
before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before
men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32, 33
.
How is it? Are we confessing Christ in our daily life? Do we confess Him
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in our dress, adorning ourselves with plain and modest apparel? Is our adorning
that of the meek and quiet spirit which is of so great price in the sight of God?
Are we seeking to advance the cause of the Master? Is the line of demarcation
between you and the world distinct, or are you seeking to follow the fashions of
this degenerate age? Is there no difference between you and the worldling? Does
the same spirit work in you that works in the children of disobedience?
If we are Christians, we shall follow Christ, even though the path in which we
are to walk cuts right across our natural inclinations. There is no use in telling you
that you must not wear this or that, for if the love of these vain things is in your
heart, your laying off your adornments will only be like cutting the foliage off
a tree. The inclinations of the natural heart would again assert themselves. You
must have a conscience of your own.
O, did we remember that Christ became poor, that we through His poverty
might become rich, would we not seek to honor His name, and advance His cause?
We are to abide in Him as the branch abides in the vine. Jesus says, “I am the vine,
ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth
much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.... Herein is my Father glorified,
that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (
John 15:5-8
).
If we fulfilled this command of our Lord, there would be a different state of
affairs in our churches, and we should know what it is to have the deep movings of
the Spirit of God. What we want is to have the ax laid at the root of the tree. We
want to be dead to the world, dead to self, and alive unto God. Our life must be
his with Christ in God, that when He shall appear, we also may appear with Him
in glory. We need to come close to Christ, that men may know that we have been
with Christ and learned of Him.... Keep your eye fixed upon Christ. With humility
of mind seek for a nearness to God. In words, in conduct, in life, confess Christ.
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