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The Perfume of Christ’s Character in You, January 14
Thanks be to God who leads us, wherever we are, on Christ’s triumphant
way and makes our knowledge of him spread throughout the world like a
lovely perfume!
2 Corinthians 2:14
, Phillips.
There is no hope for the success of any religious organization where criticism
is cherished as a fine art, and called spiritual discernment. Men might far better be
blind to others’ faults than to be inspired by that keen, detective spirit that will
watch for defects in those whom the Lord loves, and through whom He works.
We all need to humble ourselves, not to have an exalted idea of self....
Lose sight of all others except Christ. We want Christ in our humanity, and
Christ wants to abide in us. We are human and fallible, every one of us, and unless
Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, we shall make wonderful blunders in
estimating our fellow workers according to our pattern and measurement. God
sees beneath the surface. He sees all the good, and He marks all the evil. Leave to
Him the work of passing judgment on your brethren.
Have a care for the young men and young women who are now forming their
characters. Converse with them, and help them all you possibly can. Let no one
educate the young men and young women in the science of picking flaws. Let
not the youth hear you finding fault with those who do not please your fancy.
The youth are Christ’s servants, to be cared for, to be encouraged in good, pure,
holy thoughts. They need no lessons in evil surmising. Satan stands ready to
instruct them in this line. Teach them to be kind, to respect and love one another
as Christ has loved us. Keep the perfume of Christ’s character in your own words
and actions. Let querulous complaints forever cease. Then there will flow into
your heart the sunbeams of the righteousness of Christ. God will bless you, and
make you a blessing....
It is the character, not the placing of our names on the church books, that
makes us Christians. What manifestations will appear when Christ, abiding in the
heart, is shining in the faces of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Truth is written there. The man is transformed into Christ’s image. A worldling
may pass by and not mark the change, but those who have had communion with
Christ discern the expression of Christ in word, in spirit. The influence upon the
heart is seen in a habitual gentleness, a more than human love. The sweet peace
of heaven will be in the soul, and will be revealed in the countenances.—
Letter 6,
January 14, 1899
, to “Brethren and Sisters in Camp Meeting at Ballarat.”
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