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His Purchased Possession, March 31
For the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power
to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud
obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to
obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4, 5
, R.S.V.
In dealing with unreasonable and wicked men, those who believe the truth
are to be careful not to bring themselves down to the same level, where they
will use the same Satanic weapons that their enemies use, by giving loose rein
to strong personal feelings, and arousing against themselves and against the
work the Lord has given them to do, passion and bitter enmity. Keep Jesus
uplifted. We are laborers together with God. We are provided with spiritual
weapons, mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds of the enemy. We
must in no case misrepresent our faith by weaving unChristlike attributes into
the work. We must exalt the law of God, as binding us up with Jesus Christ
and all who love Him and keep His commandments. We are also to reveal a
love for the souls for whom Christ has died. Our faith is to be demonstrated
as a power of which Christ is the Author. And the Bible, His word, is to make
us wise unto salvation.
Let the righteousness of Christ, with its life-giving influence, into the
soul, and then you can sing, He forgiveth all our iniquities. You say, I am full
of spiritual disease. The great Physician is calling you to come to Him, that
He may heal you. He healeth all our diseases. The worst of these diseases
are envy, jealousy, evil-surmising, evil-speaking, a desire to follow plans that
counterwork the work of God. The lives of all ought to be holy, but they
are full of depravity, and because of this, men are easy subjects for Satan’s
temptations. But if Christ abides in your heart, you can say, He redeemeth
our life from destruction: He crowneth us with lovingkindness and tender
mercy. Then let songs of praise be upon our lips and in our heart. Meditate
upon Christ’s sufferings for us. In the place of watching to find something to
accuse and condemn in others, thank the Lord that there is forgiveness with
Him. Christ is grieved when we criticize and accuse; for this is the work of
Satan. Let us draw water from the wells of salvation, and praise the Lord.
It is not sermonizing that gives evidence that the soul is born again. An
appreciation of Christ’s tenderness toward the sheep of His pasture gives
evidence of this.—
Manuscript 46, March 31, 1898
, “The Work Before God’s
People.”
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