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Studying the Character of Christ, August 28
Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto thy
commandments.
Psalm 119:6
.
In this world we might become hopelessly perplexed, as the devil
wants us to be, if we keep looking upon those things that are perplexing;
for by dwelling upon them, and talking of them, we become discouraged.
In criticizing others because they fail to manifest love, we shall kill the
precious plant of love in our own hearts. Have we individually appreciated
and felt the warmth of love which Christ represented in His life? Then it
is our duty to manifest this love to the world. Let us fear to dwell upon, to
behold and talk of the great mistakes that others are making....
You may create an unreal world in your own mind and picture an
ideal church, where the temptations of Satan no longer prompt to evil; but
perfection exists only in your imagination. The world is a fallen world,
and the church is a place represented by a field in which grow tares and
wheat. They are to grow together until the harvest. It is not our place to
uproot the tares, according to human wisdom, lest under the suggestions
of Satan, the wheat may be rooted up....
None need to lose the golden moments of time in their short life history
through seeking to weigh the imperfections of professed Christians. Not
one of us has time to do this. If we see clearly what is the manner of
character Christians should develop, and yet see in others that which is
inconsistent with this character, let us determine that we will firmly resist
the enemy in his temptations to make us act in an inconsistent way, and
say, “I will not make Christ ashamed of me. I will more earnestly study
the character of Christ in whom there was no imperfection, no selfishness,
no spot, no stain of evil, who lived not to please and glorify Himself, but
to glorify God and save fallen humanity. I will not copy the defective
characters of these inconsistent Christians, and the mistakes that they have
made shall not lead me to be like them. I will turn to the precious Saviour,
that I may be like Him.”
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