p. 4 | Duty | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 30, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 21.

Duty

SOME Christians do not like the word "duty," because it has a hard and cold sound. D. L. Moody used to object to the use of this term in reference to religious life. He did not like to hear people talk about the duty of prayer or reading the Bible or worship. He insisted that we should do these and all other things that ought to be done from the noble impulse of love. Love is a warmer, sweeter word than duty.

But duty and love are inseparable. Duty is a debt, and doing duty is paying one's debt. Love is a debt, a duty, the one all-comprehending duty. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and . . . thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." "Love is the fulfilling of the law."

We are all indebted to God. He is the Author of all our mercies. "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?" asks the psalmist; and Jesus answers, "Render . . . unto God the things that are God's." Render to Him thanksgiving and praise and honor and worship. All these are due, and more. We owe Him ourselves. We are His. We shall never fulfil this precept until we have rendered and surrendered ourselves to Him.—Anon.