Basic HTML Version
I am a Child of God, January 22
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so
be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:17
.
The influence of grace is to soften the heart, to refine and purify the feelings,
giving a heaven-born delicacy and sense of propriety. A Christian cannot be self-
exalted, for this is not Christlike. The world’s Redeemer, the sinner’s substitute
and surety, says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest” (
Matthew 11:28
)....
But let us continually bear in mind that the meek and lowly Jesus has the
spirit and the ambition of a conqueror. The vast dominions over which earthly
potentates hold sway form no adequate theater for the exercise of His grace, the
expression of His love, and the manifestation of His glory. He who loves the Lord
Jesus Christ in truth and sincerity will love those whom Christ died to save, and
will eagerly embrace every opportunity to minister to Christ in the person of His
disciples.
We must look at our lives as sons and daughters of God, as laborers with
Jesus Christ, living for a noble purpose. We are representatives of Jesus Christ in
character, and are to serve Him with our undivided affections. Not only will we
reveal the fact that we love God, but will, in accordance with His holy character,
live a pure, perfect life. We must live perfection, because in looking at Jesus we
see in Him the embodiment of perfection; and the great Center upon whom our
hope of eternal life and happiness is centered will lead us to unity and harmony....
The life we now live must be by faith in Jesus Christ. If we are Christ’s
followers our lives will not be as pieced out by little cheap spasmodic actions
according to circumstances and surroundings—jerking actions, revealing feelings
to be our master, indulging in little frettings, envious faultfindings, jealousies, and
selfish vanity. These put us all out of harmony with the harmonious life of Jesus
Christ, and we cannot be overcomers if we retain these defects....
When exposed to varied scenes in life, and words are spoken that are calculated
to cut and bruise the soul, speak to yourself: “I am a child of God, an heir with
Jesus Christ, a colaborer with God. I must not therefore have a cheap mind, easily
to take offense, always thinking of myself, for this will naturally produce an
inharmonious character. It is unworthy of my noble calling. The heavenly Father
has given me my work to do; let me be worthy of the trust.”—
Letter 78, January
22, 1893
, to E. J. Waggoner, a prominent minister.
[37]
29