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A Character The World Will Recognize, December 9
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in
the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights
in the world.
Philippians 2:15
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It is God’s purpose to manifest through His people the principles of His
kingdom. That in life and character they may reveal these principles, He desires to
separate them from the customs, habits, and practices of the world.... By beholding
the goodness, the mercy, the justice, and the love of God revealed in His church,
the world is to have a representation of His character. And when the law of God is
thus exemplified in the life, even the world will recognize the superiority of those
who love and fear and serve God above every other people in the world.
Seventh-day Adventists, above all people, should be patterns of piety, holy in
heart and in conversation. To them have been entrusted the most solemn truths
ever committed to mortals. Every endowment of grace and power and efficiency
has been liberally provided. They look for the near return of Christ in the clouds
of heaven. For them to give to the world the impression that their faith is not a
dominating power in their lives is greatly to dishonor God.
Because of the increasing power of Satan’s temptations, the times in which
we live are full of peril for the children of God, and we need to learn constantly
of the Great Teacher, that we may take every step in surety and righteousness.
Wonderful scenes are opening before us; and at this time a living testimony is to
be borne in the lives of God’s professed people, so that the world may see that in
this age, when evil reigns on every side, there is yet a people who are laying aside
their will and are seeking to do God’s will—a people in whose hearts and lives
God’s law is written....
Their thoughts are to be pure, their words noble and uplifting. The religion of
Christ is to be interwoven with all that they do and say. They are to be a sanctified,
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purified, holy people, communicating light to all with whom they come in contact.
It is His purpose that by exemplifying the truth in their lives, they shall be a praise
in the earth. The grace of Christ is sufficient to bring this about.
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