The Spirit of Christ

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 23, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 37.

The Spirit of Christ.

THE spirit of the world is a selfish spirit. The men of the world live for themselves. Selfishness, which never fails to manifest itself in some form or other, is the ruling, governing principle of their lives, the inspiration of their acts. They form their plans, they prosecute their enterprises, and they hoard up their wealth for selfish purposes. Even when their conduct assumes the appearance of benevolence, it is to gratify some secret, selfish ambition. They are often imperious and resentful. Whatever interferes with their selfish designs and interests, calls forth a spirit of vindictiveness. But a truly godly man manifests a spirit far different from this, even the spirit of the great Father himself, who causeth his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and who sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. The Christian exhibits a spirit of self-sacrifice, of patient endurance, and of sincere benevolence. He does not, in the spirit of the world, resist every evil, resent every insult, and, as opportunity offers, avenge every injury, but instead of this, he shows a spirit of meekness, gentleness, and forbearance. This is the spirit of the Master, who, “when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” This is the spirit that every Christian must possess and manifest to the world; for “if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” This is the spirit which Paul manifested. He says, “Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat.”—Sel.