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Contemplating Heavenly Things, October 31
God ... hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:4-6
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If we would bear in mind the momentous events which are soon to take place,
we would not be so weak in character. We would feel that we were living in
the presence of God, and awed and amazed we should heed the injunction, “Be
still, and know that I am God.” Oh, when shall we ever realize the full value of
our Saviour’s work and intercession? When shall we rely upon Him with full
confidence, and live a noble, pure, and devoted life? To what heights may the
imagination reach when sanctified and inspired by the virtue of Christ! We may
take in the glories of the future, eternal world. We may live as seeing Him who is
invisible. Walk by faith and not by sight....
Through searching the Scriptures we may come to understand what we are
to Christ, and what He is to us. By beholding Him we are to become changed
into His image, becoming colaborers with Him, representatives of Him in life and
character. We must learn to realize that we are to live as the sons and daughters
of God, loving God supremely, and our neighbors as ourselves. We are to live a
pure, perfect life for Christ’s sake. We are to love perfection because Jesus is the
embodiment of perfection, the great center of attraction. The life we now live we
must live by faith in the Son of God.
If we follow Christ we shall not have a spasmodical experience, and be moved
by circumstances and influenced by our surroundings. We shall not let feeling
control us, and indulge in fretting, envying, faultfinding, jealousy, and vanity.
It is indulgence in these things that puts us out of harmony with the harmonious
life of Christ, and prevents us from becoming overcomers. We should be actuated
by the noble purpose of winning daily victories, and by watchfulness and sincere
prayer attain to complete control of self. When petty trials come upon us, and
words are spoken that cut and bruise the soul, speak to yourself and say, “I am a
child of God, heir with Jesus Christ, a colaborer with heaven, and I cannot afford to
easily take offense, to be always thinking of self; for this will produce a distorted
character, and is unworthy of my high calling. My heavenly Father has given me
a work to do, and let me do it worthily for His name’s sake.”
We should consider earnestly and continually the excellence of the character
of Jesus Christ, that we may impart His blessings and lead men to follow in His
footsteps.—
The Signs of the Times, July 10, 1893
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