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Neither Excitement Nor Sensationalism, November 15
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine
shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be
condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed,
having no evil thing to say of you.
Titus 2:7, 8
.
The Lord has a work for you to do, and if you listen to His voice, you will
not be left in darkness. The Saviour says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me” (
John 10:27
). “And a stranger will they not
follow, ... for they know not the voice of strangers” (
verse 5
). I am sure that
the Lord is revealing to you the perfection and fullness of the atoning work,
that your whole heart may be filled with love and thanksgiving, and that you
may reveal to others that which the Lord is revealing to you. The image of
Christ engraved upon the heart is reflected in character, in practical life, day
by day, because we represent a personal Saviour.
The Holy Spirit is promised to all who will ask for it. When you search the
Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is by your side, personating Jesus Christ. The truth
is a living principle made to shine in precious clearness to the understanding,
and then, oh, then, it is time to speak words from the living Christ. “We are
labourers together with God” (
1 Corinthians 3:9
). Christ said to the woman
of Samaria, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee,
Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given
thee living water.... A well of water springing up into everlasting life” (
John
4:10-14
).
Those who have the outpouring of the gospel of Christ which comes from
the heart imbued by His Holy Spirit will give light and comfort and hope to
hearts that are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. It is not excitement
we wish to create, but deep, earnest consideration, that those who hear shall
do solid work, real, sound, genuine work that will be enduring as eternity.
We hunger not for excitement, for the sensational; the less we have of this,
the better. The calm, earnest reasoning from the Scriptures is precious and
fruitful. Here is the secret of success, in preaching a living, personal Saviour
in so simple and earnest a manner that the people may be able to lay hold by
faith of the power of the Word of Life.—
The Paulson Collection, 101, 102
.
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