DUTY IMPERATIVE by M. E. S.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 29, 1860

DUTY IMPERATIVE.

By M. E. S.

It seems as though we sometimes too lightly regard the imperative obligations of duty. We profess to be in the service of the King of kings. (God's commands are equally binding upon all whether they profess or not to obey them). By duty here, we mean the service we are required to render our King whether directly to him or to our fellow men and thus indirectly to him. Now how is it that we come to consider his commandments so lightly as to think it a matter of anything less than the greatest importance whether we do them? Does any subject of an absolute earthly monarch esteem the slightest requirement of his sovereign of little importance? Does he not earnestly note, and with the greatest promptness perform the least expression of his will? Why is it that we are less attentive to him in whose hand our breath is, and whose are all our ways? Would it be a light thing for those exalted beings who stand in the presence of God day and night, and cry "holy, holy, holy," to transgress the least of his requirements? And are we higher than the angels that their master and ours can complacently bear more from us than from them? How dare the least of his subjects as far as our knowledge extends, raise the puny arm of rebellion?

Why is it our obedience is so imperfect? I will tell you. It is because we serve him by faith, and it is much easier or more natural rather, to live by sight than by faith; but are the Lord's requirements the less binding because the Lawgiver is invisible? By no means. The time is at hand when the unseen will manifest himself in great power and glory. Could we see the lips and hear the voice of his awful majesty which once shook the earth as he gave his ten commandments; could we see and hear for ourselves as he indicates to us each of our duties, think you we should be slothful or negligent about performing them? His existence is just as real, his power just as terrible as though we could actually behold him. His goodness ever preserves and is all about us. Oh the ingratitude of our half-hearted duties! God is perfection itself; and the service rendered him should be equally perfect. Our slightest deviations from entire obedience to the divine will, cost the sufferings of Jesus. How is it then that we are led to look upon the smallest of our duties as insignificant?

May God help us to be perfect men and women in Christ Jesus. This can never be until we follow our Saviour undeviatingly; and he kept all his Father's commandments; not only the written letter of the law, but the spirit also, which embraced all the particular duties classed under the ten great heads. Never can we be accepted of God while we knowingly, under any pretense whatever, violate the least of his requirements. Let us cultivate a conscience void of the least offense toward God and man, and not think it beneath our dignity to notice and to the best of our ability perform all God's will. Beneath us! to render the slightest service to him who made and sustains all things according to the ordering of his own will? Unspeakable privilege to obtain his favor by any and every means. God help us to so abide in him and watchfully perform his will as to become through him worthy of his acceptance and favor. M. E. S.