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The Court of Holy Life, June 7
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who
hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
1 Peter 2:9
.
The church of Christ on earth is amid the moral darkness of a disloyal
world, which is trampling upon the law of Jehovah. But their Redeemer,
who has purchased their ransom with the price of His own precious blood,
has made every provision that His church shall be a transformed body,
illumined with Light of the world, possessing the glory of Emmanuel. The
bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, shining through His church,
will gather into His fold every lost, straying sheep who will come unto
Him and find refuge in Him. They will find peace and light and joy in
Him who is peace and righteousness forever.
The members of the church should individually keep the light of God’s
love burning brightly in their own souls, that it may also shine forth to
others. We have too much at stake to allow spiritual lethargy to creep
over us. Let us beware of indulging a disrelish for religious services
and religious duties. Let us resolutely battle against that sluggishness of
soul which is so fatal to the growth and even the life of the Christian.
That church will be healthy and prosperous whose members are putting
forth active, personal effort to do good to others, to save souls. This
will be a constant incentive to every good work. Such Christians will
labor with greater earnestness to secure their own salvation. The dormant
energies will be aroused, the whole soul inspired with an unconquerable
determination to win the Saviour’s plaudit of “Well done,” and to wear
the victor’s crown.
Christ makes His church a beautiful temple for God. “Where two or
three are gathered together in my name,” He declared, “there am I in the
midst of them,”
Matthew 18:20
. His church is the court of holy life, filled
with varied gifts, and endowed with the Holy Spirit. Appropriate duties
are assigned by Heaven to each member of the church on earth, and all
are to find their happiness in the happiness of those whom they help and
bless.
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