Basic HTML Version
Christ was No Respecter of Persons, January 15
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecter of persons.
Acts 10:34
.
The religion of Christ uplifts the receiver to a higher plane of thought and
action, while at the same time it presents the whole human race as alike the
objects of the love of God, being purchased by the sacrifice of His Son. At the
feet of Jesus, the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, meet together,
with no thought of caste or worldly preeminence. All earthly distinctions are
forgotten as we look upon Him whom our sins have pierced. The self-denial, the
condescension, the infinite compassion of Him who was highly exalted in heaven,
puts to shame human pride, self-esteem, and social caste. Pure, undefiled religion
manifests its heaven-born principles in bringing into oneness all who are sanctified
through the truth. All meet as blood-bought souls, alike dependent upon Him who
has redeemed them to God.
The Lord has lent men talents to improve, Those whom He has entrusted
with money are to bring their talent of means to the Master. Men and women
of influence are to use that which God has given them. The ones whom He has
endowed with wisdom are to bring to the cross of Christ this gift to be used to His
glory.
And the poor have their talent, which perhaps may be larger than any other
mentioned. It may be simplicity of character, humility, tried virtue, confidence in
God. Through patient toil, through their entire dependence upon God, they are
pointing those with whom they associate to Jesus, their Redeemer. They have a
heart full of sympathy for the poor, a home for the needy and oppressed, and their
testimony is clear and decided as to what Jesus is to them. They seek for glory,
honor, and immortality, and their reward will be eternal life.
In the human brotherhood it takes all kinds of talents to make a perfect whole;
and the church of Christ is composed of men and women of varied talents, and
of all ranks and all classes. God never designed that the pride of men should
dissolve that which His own wisdom had ordained—the combination of all classes
of minds, of all the varied talents that make a complete whole. There should be
no depreciating of any part of God’s great work, whether the agencies are high
or lowly. All have their part to act in diffusing light in different degrees.... We
are all woven together in the great web of humanity, and we cannot, without loss,
withdraw our sympathies from one another.—
Gospel Workers, 330, 331
.
[30]
20