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Placing Self Aside, October 8
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Philippians 3:7
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It is through the church that the self-sacrificing love of Jesus is to be made
manifest to the world; but by the present example of the church the character
of Christ is misrepresented, and a false conception of Him is given to the
world. Self-love excludes the love of Jesus from the soul, and this is why
there is not in the church greater zeal and more fervent love for Him who first
loved us. Self is supreme in so many hearts. Their thoughts, their time, their
money, are given to self-gratification, while souls for whom Christ died are
perishing.
This is why the Lord cannot impart to His church the fullness of His
blessing. To honor them in a distinguished manner before the world would
be to put His seal upon their works, confirming their false representation
of His character. When the church shall come out from the world, and be
separate from its maxims, habits, and practices, the Lord Jesus will work with
His people; He will pour a large measure of His Spirit upon them, and the
world will know that the Father loves them. Will the people of God continue
to be so stupefied with selfishness? His blessing hangs over them, but it
cannot be bestowed in its fullness because they are so corrupted with the
spirit and practices of the world. There is spiritual pride among them; and
should the Lord work as His heart longs to do, it would but confirm them in
their self-esteem and self-exaltation.
Shall Christ continue to be misrepresented by our people? Shall the grace
of God, the divine enlightenment, be shut away from His church, because
of their lukewarmness? It will be, unless there is most thorough seeking
of God, renunciation of the world, and humbling of the soul before God.
The converting power of God must pass through our churches.—
The Home
Missionary, November 1, 1890
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