Mat 16:24 Then
said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life
for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For
what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Steps to Christ-
Chap. 13 - Rejoicing
in the Lord
The children of God
are called to be representatives of Christ, showing forth the goodness and
mercy of the Lord. As Jesus has revealed to us the true character of the
Father, so we are to reveal Christ to a world that does not know His tender,
pitying love. "As Thou hast sent Me into the world," said Jesus,
"even so have I also sent them into the world." "I in them, and
Thou in Me; . . . that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me." John
17: 18, 23.
The apostle Paul
says to the disciples of Jesus, "Ye are manifestly declared to be the
epistle of Christ," "known and read of all men." 2 Corinthians
3:3, 2. In every one of His children, Jesus sends a letter to the world. If you
are Christ's follower, He sends in you a letter to the family, the village, the
street, where you live. Jesus, dwelling in you, desires to speak to the hearts
of those who are not acquainted with Him. Perhaps they do not read the Bible,
or do not hear the voice that speaks to them in its pages; they do not see the
love of God through His works. But if you are a true representative of Jesus,
it may be that through you they will be led to understand something of His
goodness and be won to love and serve Him.
Christians are set
as light bearers on the way to heaven. They are to reflect to the world the
light shining upon them from Christ. Their life and character should be such
that through them others will get a right conception of Christ and of His
service.
If we do represent
Christ, we shall make His service appear attractive, as it really is.
Christians who gather up gloom and sadness to their souls, and murmur and
complain, are giving to others a false representation of God and the Christian
life. They give the impression that God is not pleased to have His children
happy, and in this they bear false witness against our heavenly Father.
Satan is exultant
when he can lead the children of God into unbelief and despondency. He delights
to see us mistrusting God, doubting His willingness and power to save us. He
loves to have us feel that the Lord will do us harm by His providences. It is the
work of Satan to represent the Lord as lacking in compassion and pity. He
misstates the truth in regard to Him. He fills the imagination with false ideas
concerning God; and instead of dwelling upon the truth in regard to our
heavenly Father, we too often fix our minds upon the misrepresentations of
Satan and dishonor God by distrusting Him and murmuring against Him. Satan ever
seeks to make the religious life one of gloom. He desires it to appear toilsome
and difficult; and when the Christian presents in his own life this view of
religion, he is, through his unbelief, seconding the falsehood of Satan.
Many, walking along
the path of life, dwell upon their mistakes and failures and disappointments,
and their hearts are filled with grief and discouragement.
While I was in
Europe, a sister who had been doing this, and who was in deep distress, wrote
to me, asking for some word of encouragement. The night after I had read her
letter I dreamed that I was in a garden, and one who seemed to be the owner of
the garden was conducting me through its paths. I was gathering the flowers and
enjoying their fragrance, when this sister, who had been walking by my side,
called my attention to some unsightly briers that were impeding her way. There
she was mourning and grieving. She was not walking in the pathway, following
the guide, but was walking among the briers and thorns. "Oh," she
mourned, "is it not a pity that this beautiful garden is spoiled with
thorns?" Then the guide said, "Let the thorns alone, for they will
only wound you. Gather the roses, the lilies, and the pinks."
Have there not been
some bright spots in your experience? Have you not had some precious seasons
when your heart throbbed with joy in response to the Spirit of God? When you
look back into the chapters of your life experience do you not find some
pleasant pages? Are not God's promises, like the fragrant flowers, growing
beside your path on every hand? Will you not let their beauty and sweetness
fill your heart with joy?
The briers and
thorns will only wound and grieve you; and if you gather only these things, and
present them to others, are you not, besides slighting the goodness of God
yourself, preventing those around you from walking in the path of life?
It is not wise to
gather together all the unpleasant recollections of a past life,--its
iniquities and disappointments,--to talk over them and mourn over them until we
are overwhelmed with discouragement. A discouraged soul is filled with
darkness, shutting out the light of God from his own soul and casting a shadow
upon the pathway of others.
Thank God for the
bright pictures which He has presented to us. Let us group together the blessed
assurances of His love, that we may look upon them continually: The Son of God
leaving His Father's throne, clothing His divinity with humanity, that He might
rescue man from the power of Satan; His triumph in our behalf, opening heaven
to men, revealing to human vision the presence chamber where the Deity unveils
His glory; the fallen race uplifted from the pit of ruin into which sin had
plunged it, and brought again into connection with the infinite God, and having
endured the divine test through faith in our Redeemer, clothed in the
righteousness of Christ, and exalted to His throne--these are the pictures
which God would have us contemplate.
When we seem to
doubt God's love and distrust His promises we dishonor Him and grieve His Holy
Spirit. How would a mother feel if her children were constantly complaining of
her, just as though she did not mean them well, when her whole life's effort
had been to forward their interests and to give them comfort? Suppose they
should doubt her love; it would break her heart. How would any parent feel to
be thus treated by his children? And how can our heavenly Father regard us when
we distrust His love, which has led Him to give His only-begotten Son that we
might have life? The apostle writes, "He that spared not His own Son, but
delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all
things?" Romans 8:32. And yet how many, by their actions, if not in word,
are saying, "The Lord does not mean this for me. Perhaps He loves others,
but He does not love me."
All this is harming
your own soul; for every word of doubt you utter is inviting Satan's
temptations; it is strengthening in you the tendency to doubt, and it is
grieving from you the ministering angels.
When Satan tempts
you, breathe not a word of doubt or darkness.
If you choose to
open the door to his suggestions, your mind will be filled with distrust and
rebellious questioning. If you talk out your feelings, every doubt you express
not only reacts upon yourself, but it is a seed that will germinate and bear
fruit in the life of others, and it may be impossible to counteract the
influence of your words. You yourself may be able to recover from the season of
temptation and from the snare of Satan, but others who have been swayed by your
influence may not be able to escape from the unbelief you have suggested. How
important that we speak only those things that will give spiritual strength and
life!
Angels are listening
to hear what kind of report you are bearing to the world about your heavenly
Master. Let your conversation be of Him who liveth to make intercession for you
before the Father. When you take the hand of a friend, let praise to God be on
your lips and in your heart. This will attract his thoughts to Jesus.
All have trials;
griefs hard to bear, temptations hard to resist. Do not tell your troubles to
your fellow mortals, but carry everything to God in prayer. Make it a rule
never to utter one word of doubt or discouragement. You can do much to brighten
the life of others and strengthen their efforts, by words of hope and holy
cheer.
There is many a
brave soul sorely pressed by temptation, almost ready to faint in the conflict
with self and with the powers of evil. Do not discourage such a one in his hard
struggle. Cheer him with brave, hopeful words that shall urge him on his way. Thus
the light of Christ may shine from you. "None of us liveth to
himself." Romans 14:7. By our unconscious influence others may be
encouraged and strengthened, or they may be discouraged, and repelled from
Christ and the truth.
There are many who
have an erroneous idea of the life and character of Christ. They think that He
was devoid of warmth and sunniness, that He was stern, severe, and joyless. In
many cases the whole religious experience is colored by these gloomy views.
It is often said
that Jesus wept, but that He was never known to smile. Our Saviour was indeed a
Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief, for He opened His heart to all the
woes of men. But though His life was self-denying and shadowed with pain and care,
His spirit was not crushed. His countenance did not wear an expression of grief
and repining, but ever one of peaceful serenity. His heart was a wellspring of
life, and wherever He went He carried rest and peace, joy and gladness.
Our Saviour was
deeply serious and intensely in earnest, but never gloomy or morose. The life
of those who imitate Him will be full of earnest purpose; they will have a deep
sense of personal responsibility. Levity will be repressed; there will be no
boisterous merriment, no rude jesting; but the religion of Jesus gives peace
like a river. It does not quench the light of joy; it does not restrain
cheerfulness nor cloud the sunny, smiling face. Christ came not to be
ministered unto but to minister; and when His love reigns in the heart, we
shall follow His example.
If we keep uppermost
in our minds the unkind and unjust acts of others we shall find it impossible
to love them as Christ has loved us; but if our thoughts dwell upon the
wondrous love and pity of Christ for us, the same spirit will flow out to
others. We should love and respect one another, notwithstanding the faults and
imperfections that we cannot help seeing. Humility and self-distrust should be
cultivated, and a patient tenderness with the faults of others. This will kill
out all narrowing selfishness and make us large-hearted and generous.
The psalmist says,
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and
verily thou shalt be fed." Psalm 37:3. "Trust in the Lord." Each
day has its burdens, its cares and perplexities; and when we meet how ready we
are to talk of our difficulties and trials. So many borrowed troubles intrude,
so many fears are indulged, such a weight of anxiety is expressed, that one
might suppose we had no pitying, loving Saviour ready to hear all our requests
and to be to us a present help in every time of need.
Some are always
fearing, and borrowing trouble. Every day they are surrounded with the tokens
of God's love; every day they are enjoying the bounties of His providence; but
they overlook these present blessings. Their minds are continually dwelling
upon something disagreeable which they fear may come; or some difficulty may
really exist which, though small, blinds their eyes to the many things that
demand gratitude. The difficulties they encounter, instead of driving them to
God, the only source of their help, separate them from Him because they awaken
unrest and repining.
Do we well to be
thus unbelieving? Why should we be ungrateful and distrustful? Jesus is our
friend; all heaven is interested in our welfare. We should not allow the
perplexities and worries of everyday life to fret the mind and cloud the brow.
If we do we shall always have something to vex and annoy. We should not indulge
a solicitude that only frets and wears us, but does not help us to bear trials.
You may be perplexed
in business; your prospects may grow darker and darker, and you may be
threatened with loss; but do not become discouraged; cast your care upon God,
and remain calm and cheerful. Pray for wisdom to manage your affairs with
discretion, and thus prevent loss and disaster. Do all you can on your part to
bring about favorable results. Jesus has promised His aid, but not apart from
our effort. When, relying upon our Helper, you have done all you can, accept
the result cheerfully.
It is not the will
of God that His people should be weighed down with care. But our Lord does not
deceive us. He does not say to us, "Do not fear; there are no dangers in
your path." He knows there are trials and dangers, and He deals with us plainly.
He does not propose to take His people out of a world of sin and evil, but He
points them to a never-failing refuge. His prayer for His disciples was,
"I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou
shouldest keep them from the evil." "In the world," He says,
"ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world." John 17:15, 16:33.
In His Sermon on the
Mount, Christ taught His disciples precious lessons in regard to the necessity
of trusting in God. These lessons were designed to encourage the children of
God through all ages, and they have come down to our time full of instruction
and comfort. The Saviour pointed His followers to the birds of the air as they
warbled their carols of praise, unencumbered with thoughts of care, for
"they sow not, neither do they reap." And yet the great Father
provides for their needs. The Saviour asks, "Are ye not much better than
they?" Matthew 6:26. The great Provider for man and beast opens His hand
and supplies all His creatures. The birds of the air are not beneath His
notice. He does not drop the food into their bills, but He makes provision for
their needs. They must gather the grains He has scattered for them. They must
prepare the material for their little nests. They must feed their young. They
go forth singing to their labor, for "your heavenly Father feedeth them."
And "are ye not much better than they?" Are not you, as intelligent,
spiritual worshipers, of more value than the birds of the air? Will not the
Author of our being, the Preserver of our life, the One who formed us in His
own divine image, provide for our necessities if we but trust in Him?
Christ pointed His
disciples to the flowers of the field, growing in rich profusion and glowing in
the simple beauty which the heavenly Father had given them, as an expression of
His love to man. He said, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow."
The beauty and simplicity of these natural flowers far outrival the splendor of
Solomon. The most gorgeous attire produced by the skill of art cannot bear
comparison with the natural grace and radiant beauty of the flowers of God's
creation. Jesus asks, "If God so clothe the grass of the field, which
today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe
you, O ye of little faith?" Matthew 6: 28, 30. If God, the divine Artist,
gives to the simple flowers that perish in a day their delicate and varied
colors, how much greater care will He have for those who are created in His own
image? This lesson of Christ's is a rebuke to the anxious thought, the
perplexity and doubt, of the faithless heart.
The Lord would have
all His sons and daughters happy, peaceful, and obedient. Jesus says, "My
peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." "These things have I spoken
unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be
full." John 14:27; 15:11.
Happiness that is
sought from selfish motives, outside of the path of duty, is ill-balanced,
fitful, and transitory; it passes away, and the soul is filled with loneliness
and sorrow; but there is joy and satisfaction in the service of God; the
Christian is not left to walk in uncertain paths; he is not left to vain
regrets and disappointments. If we do not have the pleasures of this life we
may still be joyful in looking to the life beyond.
But even here
Christians may have the joy of communion with Christ; they may have the light
of His love, the perpetual comfort of His presence. Every step in life may
bring us closer to Jesus, may give us a deeper experience of His love, and may
bring us one step nearer to the blessed home of peace. Then let us not cast
away our confidence, but have firm assurance, firmer than ever before.
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us," and He will help us to the end. 1
Samuel 7:12. Let us look to the monumental pillars, reminders of what the Lord
has done to comfort us and to save us from the hand of the destroyer. Let us
keep fresh in our memory all the tender mercies that God has shown us,--the
tears He has wiped away, the pains He has soothed, the anxieties removed, the
fears dispelled, the wants supplied, the blessings bestowed,--thus
strengthening ourselves for all that is before us through the remainder of our
pilgrimage.
We cannot but look
forward to new perplexities in the coming conflict, but we may look on what is
past as well as on what is to come, and say, "Hitherto hath the Lord
helped us." "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." Deuteronomy
33:25. The trial will not exceed the strength that shall be given us to bear
it. Then let us take up our work just where we find it, believing that whatever
may come, strength proportionate to the trial will be given.
And by and by the
gates of heaven will be thrown open to admit God's children, and from the lips
of the King of glory the benediction will fall on their ears like richest
music, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world." Matthew 25:34.
Then the redeemed
will be welcomed to the home that Jesus is preparing for them. There their
companions will not be the vile of earth, liars, idolaters, the impure, and
unbelieving; but they will associate with those who have overcome Satan and
through divine grace have formed perfect characters. Every sinful tendency,
every imperfection, that afflicts them here has been removed by the blood of
Christ, and the excellence and brightness of His glory, far exceeding the
brightness of the sun, is imparted to them. And the moral beauty, the
perfection of His character, shines through them, in worth far exceeding this
outward splendor. They are without fault before the great white throne, sharing
the dignity and the privileges of the angels.
In view of the
glorious inheritance that may be his, "what shall a man give in exchange
for his soul?" Matthew 16:26. He may be poor, yet he possesses in himself
a wealth and dignity that the world could never bestow. The soul redeemed and
cleansed from sin, with all its noble powers dedicated to the service of God,
is of surpassing worth; and there is joy in heaven in the presence of God and
the holy angels over one soul redeemed, a joy that is expressed in songs of
holy triumph. '
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