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To God Be the Glory, February 23
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that
have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness
of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:1
.
What a grand theme this is for contemplation—the righteousness
of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ! Contemplating Christ and His
righteousness leaves no room for self-righteousness, for the glorifying of
self. In this chapter there is no standstill. There is continual advancement
in every stage in the knowledge of Christ....
In God we are to glory. The prophet says, “Thus saith the Lord, Let
not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in
his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth
glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord
which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth.”
Jeremiah 9:23, 24
....
We have been called to the knowledge of Christ, and that is to the
knowledge of glory and virtue. It is a knowledge of the perfection of
the divine character, manifested to us in Jesus Christ, that opens up to us
communion with God.... Scarcely can the human mind comprehend what
is the breadth and depth and height of the spiritual attainments that can be
reached by becoming partakers of the divine nature.
I long to address the young men and women who are so willing to
reach only cheap standards. O that the Lord might influence their minds
to see what perfection of character is! O that they might know the faith
that works by love, and purifies the soul! We are living in days of peril.
Christ alone can help us and give us the victory. Christ must be all in all
to us; He must dwell in the heart; His life must circulate through us, as the
blood circulates through the veins. His Spirit must be a vitalizing power
that will cause us to influence others to become Christlike and holy.
If our youth would take heed to the rules laid down in this chapter,
and practice them, what an influence they would exert on the side of right!
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