Christian Life by Bonar

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 21, 1865

Christian Life.

By Bonar

DID a holy life consist of one or two noble deeds,—some signal specimens of doing or enduring or suffering,—we might account for the failure, and reckon it small dishonor to turn back in such a conflict. But a holy life is made up of a multitude of small things. It is the little things of the hour, and not the great things of the age, that fill up a life like that of Paul and John, like that of Rutherford or Brainerd or Martyn. Little words, not eloquent speeches or sermons; little deeds, not miracles, nor battles, nor one great heroic act or mighty martyrdom,—make up the true Christian life. The little constant sunbeam, not the lightning; the waters of Siloah, "that go softly" in their meek mission of refreshment, not "the waters of the river, great and mighty," rushing down in torrent noise and force,—are the true symbols of a holy life. The avoidance of little evils, little sins, little inconsistencies, little weaknesses, little follies, little indiscretions and imprudencies, little foibles, little indulgences of self and of the flesh, little acts of indolence, or indecision, or slovenliness, or cowardice, little equivocations or aberrations from high integrity, little touches of shabbiness and meanness, little bits of covetousness and penuriousness, little exhibitions of worldliness and gayery, little indifferences to the feeling or wishes of others, little outbreaks of temper, or crossness, or selfishness, or vanity; the avoidance of such little things as these goes far to make up at least the negative beauty of a holy life. And then attention to the little duties of the day and hour, in public transactions or private dealings or family arrangement; to little words and tones; little benevolencies, or forbearances, or tendernesses; little self-denials, and self-restraints, and self-forgetfulnesses; little plans of quiet kindness and thoughtful consideration for others; to punctuality and method, and true aim in the ordering of each day,—these are the active developments of a holy life, the rich and divine mosaics of which it is composed. What makes yon green hill so beautiful? Not the outstanding peak or stately elm, but the bright sward which clothes its slopes, comprised of innumerable blades of slender grass. It is of small things that a great life is made up; and he who will acknowledge no life as great, save that which is built up of great things, will find little in Bible characters to admire or copy.—Bonar.