The Spirit of Christ
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June 22, 1886 The Spirit of Christ.
By Mrs. E. G.
White.
The religion of Jesus Christ means
something more than talk. The righteousness of Christ consists in right actions
and good works from pure, unselfish motives. Outside righteousness, while the
inward adorning is wanting, will be of no avail. "This, then, is the
message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him,
and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in the light
as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of
Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
If we have not the light and love of God, we are not his children. If we gather
not with Christ, we scatter abroad. We all have an influence, and that
influence is telling upon the destiny of others, for their present and future
good, or for their eternal loss. {RH, June 22, 1886 par. 1}
All have lessons to learn in the school of
Christ, in order to perfect Christian characters, and have a
oneness with Christ. Said Christ to his disciples, "Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of heaven." He explained his meaning to them. He did not wish them to
become children in understanding, but in malice. Little children do not
manifest feelings of superiority and aristocracy. They are simple and natural
in their appearance. Christ would have his followers cultivate unaffected
manners, that their whole bearing might be humble and Christ-like. He has made
it our duty to live for others' good. He came from the royal courts of heaven
to this world, to show how great an interest he had in man; and the infinite
price paid for the redemption of man shows that man is of so great value that
Christ could sacrifice his riches and honor in the royal courts, to lift him
from the degradation of sin. {RH, June 22, 1886 par. 2}
If the Majesty of heaven could do so much
to evidence his love for man, what ought not men to be willing to do for each
other, to help one another up out of the pit of darkness and suffering? Said
Christ, "Love one another as I have loved you;" not with a greater
love, for "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends." Our love is frequently selfish; for we confine it
to prescribed limits. When we come into close union and fellowship with Jesus
Christ, our love and sympathy, and our works of benevolence, will reach down
deeper, and will widen and strengthen with exercise. The love and interest of
Christ's followers must be as broad as the world; and those who live merely for
"me and mine" will fail of heaven. {RH, June 22, 1886 par. 3}
"Now if any man
have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." This is close
language. Who can stand the test? The word of God is to us a daguerreotype of
the mind of God and of Christ, also of man fallen, and man renewed after the
image of Christ, possessing the divine mind. We may compare our thoughts,
feelings, and intentions, with the picture of Christ. We have no relationship
with him unless we are willing to work the works of Christ. {RH, June 22, 1886
par. 4}
Christ came to do his Father's will. Are
we following in his steps? All who have named the name of Christ should be
constantly seeking for a more intimate acquaintance with him,
that they may walk even as he walked, and do the works of Christ. We
should appropriate the lessons of his life to our lives. "Christ gave
himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Hereby perceive we the love
of God; because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our
lives for the brethren." Here is the work of self-denial which we must
enter upon with cheerfulness, in imitation of the example of our Redeemer. The
Christian's life must be one of conflict and of sacrifice. The path of duty
should be followed; not the path of inclination and of choice. {RH, June 22,
1886 par. 5}
We must let Christ into our hearts and
homes if we would walk in the light. Home should be made all that the name
implies. It should be a little heaven upon the earth, a place where the
affections are cultivated instead of being studiously repressed. Our happiness
depends upon this cultivation of love, sympathy, and polite courtesy to one
another. The reason why there are so many hard-hearted men and women in our world, is because true affection has been regarded as
weakness, and has been discouraged and repressed. The better part of the nature
of those of this class was perverted and dwarfed in childhood; and unless rays
of divine light can melt away their coldness and hard-hearted selfishness, the
happiness of such is buried forever. If we would have tender hearts, such as
Jesus had when he was upon the earth, and sanctified sympathy, such as the
angels have for sinful mortals, we must cultivate the sympathies of childhood,
which are simplicity itself. Then we shall be refined, elevated, and directed
by heavenly principles. {RH, June 22, 1886 par. 6}
A cultivated intellect is a great
treasure; but without the softening influence of sympathy and sanctified love,
it is not of the highest value. We want words and deeds of tender consideration
for others. A thousand little attentions we can manifest in friendly words and
pleasant looks, which will be reflected back upon us again. Thoughtless
Christians manifest in their neglect of others that they are not in union with
Christ. It is impossible to be in union with Christ and yet be forgetful of
others' rights, and be unkind to others. Many long intensely for friendly
sympathy. God has given each of us an identity of our own, which cannot be
submerged in another; but our individual characteristics will be much less
prominent if we are indeed Christ's, and his will is ours. Our lives should be,
as was our Saviour's, consecrated to the good and happiness of others. We
should be self-forgetful, and ever looking out for opportunities, even in
little things, to show gratitude for the favors we
have received of others, and watching for opportunities to cheer and lighten,
and relieve the sorrows and burdens of others, by acts of tender kindness and
little deeds of love. These thoughtful courtesies in our families,
that extend outside the family circle, help make up the sum of life's
happiness; and the neglect of these little things makes up the sum of life's
bitterness and sorrow. {RH, June 22, 1886 par. 7}
It is the work we do, or do not do, that
tells with tremendous power upon our lives and destinies. God requires us to
improve every opportunity for usefulness that is offered us. Neglect in doing
this is perilous to our spiritual growth. We have a great work to do. Let us
not pass in idleness the precious hours that God has given us in which to
perfect characters for heaven. We must not be inactive or slothful in this
work; for we have not a moment to spend without a purpose or object. God will
help us to overcome our wrongs, if we will pray, and believe on him. We shall
be more than conquerors through Him who hath loved us. When this short life in
this world is ended, and we see as we are seen, and know as we are known, how
short in duration and how small will appear to us the things of this world in
comparison with the glory of the better world. Christ would never have left the
royal courts and taken humanity, and become sin for the race, had he not seen
that man might, with his help, become infinitely happy, and attain durable
riches, and a life that would run parallel with the life of God. He knew that
without his help sinful man could not attain these things. {RH, June 22,
1886par. 8}
We should have the spirit of progress. We
must guard continually against being fixed in our views, feelings, and actions.
The work of God is onward. Reforms must be carried on, and we must take hold
and help move on the car of reform. Energy, tempered with patience and
ambition, balanced by wisdom, are now needed by every Christian. The work of
saving souls is yet left to us, the disciples of
Christ. We are not one of us excused. Many in their Christian life have become
dwarfed and stunted, from inaction. We should employ our time diligently while
in this world. How earnestly should we improve every opportunity of doing good, of bringing others to the knowledge of the truth. Our
motto should ever be, "Onward, higher,"--surely, steadily onward to
duty and to victory. {RH,June
22, 1886 par. 9}
"And he shall sit as a refiner and
purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as
gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in
righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto
the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years." Here is the
process, the refining, purifying process, to be carried on by the Lord of
hosts. The work is most trying to the soul, but it is only through this process
that the rubbish and defiling impurities can be removed. Our trials are all
necessary to bring us close to our Heavenly Father, in obedience to his will,
that we may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. God has given each
of us capabilities, talents to improve. We need a new and living experience in
the divine life, in order to do the will of God. No amount of past experience
will suffice for the present, or will strengthen us to overcome the
difficulties in our path. We must have new grace and fresh strength daily in
order to be victorious. {RH, June 22, 1886 par. 10}
We are seldom, in all respects, placed in
the same condition twice. Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and many others, were
all sorely tried, but not in the same way. Every one
has his individual tests and trials in the drama of life, but the very same
trial seldom comes twice. Each has his own experience, peculiar in its
character and circumstances, to accomplish a certain work. God has a work, a
purpose, in the life of each and all of us. Every act, however small, has its
place in our life experience. We must have the continual light and experience
that come from God. We all need them, and God is more than willing we should
have them, if we will take them. He has not closed the windows of heaven to our
prayers, but there are those who have felt satisfied to pass on without the
divine help they so much need. {RH, June 22, 1886 par. 11}
How little many of us realize the bearing
of our daily acts upon the history of others. We may think that what we do and
what we say are of little consequence, when the most important results for good
or evil are the consequence of our words and actions. The words and actions
looked upon as so unimportant and so small, are links in the long chain of
human events. With our first parents, the desire for a single gratification of
appetite opened the flood-gate of woe and sin to this world. Would that all
might feel that every step they take may have a lasting and controlling
influence upon their own lives and the characters of others. Oh, how much need,
then, of communion with God! What need of divine grace to direct every step,
and show us how to perfect Christian characters! {RH,June 22, 1886 par. 12}
Christians will have new scenes and new
trials to pass through, where their past experience cannot be a sufficient
guide. We need to learn of the divine Teacher as much now as at any period of
our lives, and even more. And the more experience we gain, the nearer we draw
toward the pure light of heaven, the more shall we discern in ourselves that
needs reforming. We may all do a good work in blessing others, if we will seek
counsel of God, and follow on in obedience and faith. The path of the just is a
progressive one, from strength to strength, from grace to grace, and from glory
to glory. The divine illumination will increase more and more, corresponding
with our onward movements, qualifying us to meet the responsibilities and
emergencies before us. {RH, June 22, 1886par. 13}
Real godliness is diffusive and
communicative. The psalmist says, "I have not hid thy righteousness within
my heart. I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation. I have not
concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation."
Wherever the love of God is, there is always a desire to express it. It is hard
for us to submit to the crucifixion of self; but when the work is all submitted
to God, to him who knows our weaknesses and our sinfulness, he takes the very
best way to bring about the desired results. It was through constant conflict
and simple faith that Enoch walked with God. We may all do the same. We may be
thoroughly converted and transformed, and be indeed children of God, enjoying
not only the knowledge of his will, but leading others, by our example, in the
same path of humble obedience and consecration. {RH, June 22, 1886 par. 14}