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Follow Christ in Service and Self-Denial, August 6
Christ made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:7
.
How many there are who accept Christ, and apparently live a Christian life,
until their circumstances change! Perhaps they come into the possession of
property. Thus God tests them, to see if they will be wise stewards. But they fail to
endure the proving. They use for self-gratification that which they should devote
to feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. In want and distress, God’s children
are calling to Him. Many are dying for want of the necessaries of life....
There is a world to be warned. To us has been entrusted this work. At any
cost we must practice the truth. We are to stand as self-sacrificing minutemen,
willing to suffer the loss of life itself, if need be, in the service of God. There is a
great work to be done in a short time.... Everyone who is finally crowned victor
will, by noble, determined effort to serve God, have earned the right to be clothed
with Christ’s righteousness. To enter the crusade against Satan, bearing aloft the
bloodstained banner of the cross of Christ—this is the duty of every Christian....
The most difficult sermon to preach and the hardest to practice is self-denial.
The greedy sinner, self, closes the door to the good which might be done, but which
is not done because money is invested for selfish purposes. But it is impossible
for anyone to retain the favor of God and enjoy communion with the Saviour, and
at the same time be indifferent to the interests of his fellow beings who have no
life in Christ, who are perishing in their sins.
Christ has left us a wonderful example of self-sacrifice. He pleased not Him-
self, but spent His life in the service of others. He made sacrifices at every step,
sacrifices which none of His followers can ever make, because they have never
occupied the position He occupied before He came to this earth. He was comman-
der of the heavenly host, but He came here to suffer for sinners. He was rich, yet
for our sakes He became poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich.
Because He loved us, He laid aside His glory and took upon Him the form of a
servant. He gave His life for us. What are we giving for Him? ...
As we follow Him in the path of self-denial, lifting the cross and bearing it
after Him to His Father’s home, we shall reveal in our lives the beauty of the
Christ-life. At the altar of self-sacrifice—the appointed place of meeting between
God and the soul—we receive from the hand of God the celestial torch which
searches the heart, revealing the need of an abiding Christ.—
The Review and
Herald, January 31, 1907
.
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