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Practical Christianity

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 23, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 47.

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Practical Christianity

By A. G. Peart

A. G. PEART
“BLESSED is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God can not be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” James 1:12-14.
Run not into temptation; maintain a constant watch against sin; keep your tongue from evil; mind your own business; study to show yourself approved; study to be quiet; study the nature of God; prepare to meet God,—these are in substance some of the plain instructions from our kind Heavenly Father to his dear children on earth. The apostle James seems to sum up the reasons for these admonitions in the third chapter and second verse of his epistle: “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” God is in earnest with us; therefore we ought to be in earnest also. We should thank him for what we have, and trust him for what we need. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but being in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
If Christ humbled himself to honor our nature, we ought to humble ourselves to honor his name. Humility is the royal road to the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 18:4. To be humble is the way to rise. Repentance begins in humiliation of heart, and ends in reformation of life, and though we lack power to repent, yet we do not lack means, nor the power to use the means.
A humble confession of sins may bring shame to ourselves, but glory to God. If we turn to God with our whole heart, he will turn to us; and then we shall be happy, though the world turns against us. No man ever prevails in prayer unless he prays in the shadow of the cross of Christ. But as Noah’s dove could find no rest for the sole of her foot, so the Spirit of God can find no residence in the heart that is filled with sin. The acceptance of Jesus Christ in the human heart is the daybreak of eternity. The anointing of God’s salvation will remove the stain of corruption.
If others neglect their duty to you, be sure that you perform yours to them. To render railing for railing is to return sin for sin. “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
The devil could as easily pluck Jesus out of heaven as out of the humble believer’s heart. Never use the garb of Christianity in which to serve the enemy of Christianity. Grace differs from glory only as the bud from the blossom. What is grace but glory begun? what is glory but grace perfected? “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
There are two things that every conscientious man should resolve upon by the grace of God; namely, to judge himself, and to judge no one else. God requires these two things—to be particular toward yourself, and charitable toward others. Take a true measure of yourself, and consider what you are. A conceited knowledge is the greatest enemy to true knowledge, and the greatest argument of ignorance. “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone.”
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like grass, and wither as the green herb.” “Though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord.” When a wicked man turns to God, a new nature is given to him, and it is far more easy for him to be rid of sin than to live in sin. He will then feel to say that he knew not what a comfortable life was till then.
There is no honor known to the world like the relationship to Christ, no riches like the grace of Christ, no learning like the knowledge of Christ. If sin were better known, Christ would be better thought of. “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” “The wages of sin is death.” Man does not die because he came from clay, but because he is infected with sin. It is our business in this world to secure an interest in the next. They that spend their days in faith and prayer, shall end them in perfect peace. “O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” O, that they would deny themselves of the pleasures of sin for a season, that they might live in the presence of the Redeemer through the ceaseless ages of eternity! It is a true saying that the devil promises comforts and pays in sorrow. If you follow Satan, you will find your tempter to be your tormenter. If you follow God, you will find your counselor to be your comforter. In every vocation of life aim at God’s glory and your eternal salvation. Covet earnestly the gift of the Holy Spirit for the renewing of your life, that you may serve the Lord acceptably with your whole heart. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me,” should be the constant prayer of every one who is striving for the mastery; for out of the heart are the issues of life.
It matters not who are our accusers, if Christ is our advocate. He made himself like unto us, that he might make us like unto himself. But remember that no one can be saved from his sins, and be approved of God, and made into the likeness of Jesus, without desiring such an experience. And no man can return to a sinful life after receiving pardon, and still retain fellowship with God. There is no salvation from sin and death in any false worship; God is not in partnership with the devil. We can do nothing without divine help; and he has provided this divine assistance for all the emergencies to which our resources are unequal. He gives his Holy Spirit to help in every time of need, to carry us through every strait, to strengthen our hope and assurance, to illuminate our mind, and to purify our heart. Let us therefore, as dear children, submit ourselves unto the influence of the Holy Spirit, which alone can purify our souls unto the day of Jesus Christ.
Port of Spain, Trinidad, British West Indies.