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Bury All Bitterness, December 30
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.
Job 7:6
.
If we have but little time, let us improve that little earnestly. The Bible
assures us that we are in the great day of atonement. The typical Day
of Atonement was a day when all Israel afflicted their souls before God,
confessed their sins, and came before the Lord with contrition of soul,
remorse for their sins, genuine repentance, and living faith in the atoning
sacrifice.
If there have been difficulties, ... if envy, malice, bitterness, evil
surmisings, have existed, confess these sins, not in a general way, but go
to your brethren and sisters personally. Be definite. If you have committed
one wrong and they twenty, confess that one as though you were the chief
offender. Take them by the hand, let your heart soften under the influence
of the Spirit of God, and say, “Will you forgive me? I have not felt right
toward you. I want to make right every wrong, that naught may stand
registered against me in the books of heaven. I must have a clean record.”
Who, think you, would withstand such a movement as this?
There is too much coldness and indifference—too much of the “I
don’t care” spirit—exercised among the professed followers of Christ.
All should feel a care for one another, jealousy guarding each other’s
interests. “Love one another.” Then we should stand a strong wall against
Satan’s devices. Amid opposition and persecution we would not join the
vindictive ones, not unite with the followers of the great rebel, whose
special work is to accuse the brethren, to defame and cast stain upon their
characters.
Let the remnant of this year be improved in destroying every fiber of
the root of bitterness, burying them in the grave with the old year. Begin
the new year with more tender regard, with deeper love, for every member
of the Lord’s family. Press together. “United, we stand; divided, we fall.”
Take a higher, nobler stand than you ever have before.
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