Essential to Eminent Usefulness

A revived church is the best hope of a lost world. A revived ministry, the best hope of a dormant church. Under 'a great show of outward profession', there is a lamentable deficiency of vital godliness in our churches. Much of the prevailing benevolence and activity of the church, are a mere substitute for spiritual religion rather than the expression of vital godliness. 

In our churches, it is easy to perceive how much more welcome is the 'humorous' than the serious; how much more anxious the audience is to be 'entertained' than to be edified; how much greater homage is paid to the 'talent' of the preacher than to his piety! In fact, our public meetings sometimes assume rather the character of 'religious amusements' than pious worship! 

It ought never to be forgotten that a church meeting, if rightly understood, is a company of people brought together to carry out the design for which the Son of God expired upon the cross! Surely the frame of our minds, and the tone of the sermons, and the spirit and tendency of the whole worship service, ought to be in strict harmony with such a purpose. Yet many of our church meetings have rather lowered, than elevated the tone of our piety and thus enfeebled our real strength for carrying on this great work. 

Eminent piety is essential to eminent usefulness! It is eminent piety alone which will enable us to take a clear and impressive view of the object to be sought and supply the energies necessary for obtaining it. It is eminent piety alone which will purify our motives, and produce that spirit of profound humility, self-denial, dependence and entire consecration which are necessary to qualify us for the work. It is eminent piety alone which will keep up the spirit of faith and prayer, to which the divine promises are made. We must become more devout, more prayerful, more holy, more heavenly, more spiritual. 

[John Angell James] 

Titus 2:13-14 ... Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

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Handel's Messiah

With what sentiments may it be supposed that the Son of God beholds the scenes of His suffering life, sin-atoning death, and final appearance in judgment blended with all the hilarity of a musical festival, and sung by graceless men and women, for the entertainment of the multitude! 

Let those whose spiritual vision is not quite obscured by their musical taste, compare the scenes of when "Handel's Messiah" is being performed and those of the house of God when the Lord's supper is celebrated; and remembering that the subject is the same in both let them ask if both can be right?  Is the cross on which the Savior loved and died rightly appropriated, when it is used for the purposes of amusement, gaiety and fashionable vanity? 

The subject of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, is given: for the purpose of bringing men to repentance, faith and salvation; to be the great means, through faith, of overcoming the world with all of its lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eye, and the pride of life; to give a death blow to the love of the world in the heart of man; and to subjugate the senses and the imagination to unseen and eternal realities. While in "Handel's Messiah" the cross of Christ, instead of crucifying us to the world, and the world to us is employed as an amusement to add new attractions to earth, and to yield new gratifications to sense; and thus, to make man more effectually the captive of that world, of which he should seek by faith to be the conqueror. 

For what purpose is this "sacred music" performed? It is for amusement! Purely for amusement! Is it then, done for the glory of God to convert the most solemn and sacred topics of divine truth, into a source of public entertainment? No! It is done to draw people together to hear the sufferings of the Lord Jesus set forth for much the same purpose as they are called to be entertained by a dramatic representation of the sorrows of Hamlet or Romeo! 

[John Angell James] 

Revelation 5:12-13 ... Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

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We Need to Re-Study!!

We need to re-study our Bibles and learn what real Christianity is, how holy, how heavenly, how spiritual, how loving, how morally and socially excellent a matter it is. What separation from the world, what devoutness, what intense earnestness, what conscientiousness, what enlarged benevolence, what unselfishness, what zealous activity, what unearthliness, what seeds of celestial virtue our profession of godliness implies. 

Having examined this, and obtained an impressive idea of it, let us survey our own state, and ask if we do not need, and ought not to seek, more of the prevalence of such a piety as this, which, in fact, is primitive Christianity. Is our spiritual condition what it ought to be, what it might be, what it must be to fulfill our high commission as the salt of the earth and the light of the world? 

A Christian, acting up in some tolerable measure to his profession, walking in the holiness of the Gospel is the strongest and most emphatic testimony for God to our dark revolted world, next to that of Christ Himself.

[John Angell James]

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2 Timothy 2:15 ... Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Acts 17:11 ... These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Philippians 2:12 ...  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.❤

The Burden.

A Christian is truly regenerated, but at the same time only partially sanctified. Sin is dethroned, but not destroyed! His predominant taste and disposition are holy, but godly principles may not yet have struck their roots very deep into his soul. His holy purposes are somewhat vacillating, and his inclinations to evil sometimes strong. We have the burden of our fleshly corruptions to carry, which without great labor and effort, will sadly retard us in our Christian lives. 

We are like a traveler who is on a smooth road, has fine weather, is intimately acquainted with the way, and has agreeable and helpful companions but who at the same time is very lame, or has a load to carry. His lameness or his load will be a great delay to him. His attention must be directed to these things. He must cure the one or lighten the other, or he will make slow progress. 

[John Angell James] 

Romans 7:18 ... For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

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Who Can Wonder?

Look into some families of professors follow them through the history of only one week, and see their worldly-mindedness, their gaiety, their frivolity, their unsanctified tempers, their worldly reading, their amusements, their homage to talent, their low esteem of holiness, their negligence of family prayer, their neglect of godly instruction to their children  and who can wonder that young people brought up amidst such scenes, do not become pious but go off into the world or into sin? 

Too often the children are like their parents, and bring into the church no higher or better kind of religion than what they have learned at home!  And thus a low tone of piety, a lukewarm Laodicean spirit is extended and perpetuated. There must be a revival of piety in the parents!  It is vain to expect that a worldly-minded father, whose spirituality, if he ever had any, has been utterly evaporated by the exclusiveness of concern about business and politics. Or a frivolous, pleasure-loving mother, who thinks far more about adorning the bodies of her children, than about saving their souls should be at all concerned about the pious education of their children. 

Recollect what a solemn thing it is to be a parent! What a weighty responsibility attaches to those who have the immortal souls of their children committed to their care! 

[John Angell James] 

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1 Timothy 4:12 ...  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 Ephesians 6:4 ... And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.❤

The Best Mirror

 A woman unacquainted with the Bible, and ignorant of its contents affecting her own conduct, character, and history, has yet to know the finest threads of female loveliness. The Bible is the best mirror by which to know what you are, and to become what you should be.

[John Angell James]

Proverbs 31:30 ... Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.❤

Trembling Creature!!

Dwell upon the love and tenderness of our Lord Jesus! Notice who are the objects of His care: "the lambs," which means not only those of tender age but also those who have been newly converted; those who are young in Christian experience; and also those whose temperament is naturally timid, whose strength is feeble, and whose danger is great.

Yes, you are the objects of Christ's special attention, care and solicitude! You are those whom He takes up in the arms of His power, and lays on the bosom of His love! He knows your weakness, your timidity, your dangers!  He will exert for you  His tenderest sympathy,  His greatest vigilance, His mightiest power.

This expression however not only conveys the idea of great care of the weak but the exercise of that care with a view to heir preservation and growth. It means not only that He will 
  cordially receive them, provide for their safety, be concerned for their comfort, and accommodate His conduct to their needs but He will also nourish them through their infant existence, and raise them up to maturity and strength.

Let every lamb of the flock of Christ, therefore, go to Him by faith and prayer, and say: "Blessed Jesus, I come to you as a poor, weak, and trembling creature, doubtful of my own continuance, and alarmed at my numerous difficulties and enemies. I am but a lamb, and often fear I shall never be anything better. But was it not in regard to such weakness that You have been pleased to utter these gracious and tender words? I flee to You as the helpless lamb to its shepherd--when hungry, to feed it or when pursued by wild beasts, that he may defend it. Lord, take me in the arms of Your power and lay me on the bosom of Your love though I am so poor and helpless a creature. I will hope in Your nurturing power and love, that I shall continue to grow, and that You will one day rejoice in me, as one of the flock which You have purchased with Your own blood!"

[John Angell James]

Isaiah 40:11 ...  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.❤

Time Thrown Away!!

There are three things which, if lost, can never be recovered: time, the soul, and an opportunity.

In order to be useful, it is necessary to cultivate habits of order, punctuality, and the right employment of time.

There is no doing good without the proper use of time.

Two things cannot be done at once. Benevolent service requires time. And how much time is wasted, which the miseries and needs of society require! "Redeem the time!" is a warning that should ever be sounding in our ears!

We need time for the improvement of our own souls and we need it for the good of others. We can do much with a proper use of time and nothing without it. There is scarcely anything to which the injunction of our Lord more strictly applies than to time: "Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost." Order redeems time, so does punctuality, therefore order and punctuality are ways of supplying the time necessary for the exercise of deeds of mercy.

Redeem time from useless reading, and other selfish entertainments and also from that excessive addictedness to the worldly accomplishments of music, arts, and fancy craft-works, which are so characteristic of the present day. That some portion of time may be given to these things is admitted. I am not for parting with the exquisite polish which skill in these matters imparts to female elegance. I love to see the decorations of female mind and manners. Of this I may have to speak again in a future chapter, and therefore shall merely now enquire--when the cries of misery are entering into her ears, and the groans of creation are arising all around her; when countless millions abroad are living and dying without the light of the gospel and the hope of salvation; when at our own doors will be found so many passing in ignorance and wickedness to their eternal destinies is it humane for a Christian woman to spend so much precious time each day over her knitting, crotchet, or embroidery work? As she sits plying those needles, and bringing out, it may be, the tasteful design, hour after hour does she never hear the cry of human woe, "Come over and help us!" Does it never occur to her, how many souls have gone into eternity unprepared to meet their God, since she took her chair and commenced her daily entertainment?

Or, even leaving out of view the employment of her time for deeds of mercy to others; is it not an afflicting sight to behold so much time thrown away on these elegant trifles, which might be employed in cultivating one's own mind and heart, by reading useful Christian literature?

You cannot, systematically, do good either to yourself or others, without redeeming time for the purpose!

[John Angell James]

Ephesians 5:16 ...  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.❤

The Domestic Slave

There are various kinds of slavery in the world, and many classes of victims of this cruel bondage. There is among others, the domestic slave, whose tyrant is her husband and the scene of her bondage is her home!

His stinginess allows her scanty supplies for bare necessities. His selfishness is so engrossing and exacting, that his demands for his own personal ease and indulgence are incessant, and leave her no time for the consideration of her own comfort. His disposition is so bad, that all her diligence to please are unavailing to give him satisfaction, or to avert the sallies of his irritability, discontent, and complaints.

When such a man protests against Negro-slavery, let him begin the work of emancipation at home, by raising the oppressed woman he holds in bondage there, from the condition of a drudge into the station of a wife!

But there are also many sad cases in which the slavery is self-imposed! The bondage comes from the wife herself! The husband would gladly release her but she will not let him!

Some are slaves to neatness and make their fidgety anxiety about this matter a misery to themselves and all around them!

Others are slaves to fashion and are always anxious and troubled about elegance and refinement!

Others are slaves to domestic display, parties and amusements and are always full of anxiety about making a splendid appearance!

Others are slaves to frugality and are ever vexing themselves to economize!

In these ways women will torment themselves and fill their minds with unnecessary cares and self-imposed troubles! To all such we say, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about so many things!" (Luke 10:41)

 

[John Angell James]

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Self ...

SELF is the great idol which is the rival of God, and which divides with Him the worship of the human race. It is surprising and affecting to think how much SELF enters into almost all we do. Besides the grosser form of self-righteousness, which leads many unconverted people actually to depend upon their own doings for acceptance with God; how much of self-seeking, self-valuing, self-admiration, self-dependence,  there is in many converted ones!

How covertly do some seek their own praise in what they professedly do for God, and their fellow-creatures! How eager are they for the admiration and applause of their fellow-creatures! How much of self, yet how little suspected by themselves is seen by One who knows them better than they know themselves, at the bottom of their most splendid services, donations, and most costly sacrifices!

In how many ways does self steal away the heart from God! How subtle are its workings, how concealed its movements, yet how extensive is its influence. How SELF  perverts our motives, lowers our aims, corrupts our affections, and taints our best actions!  How much incense is burned and how many sacrifices are offered on the altar of this idol!

[John Angell James]

1 John 5:21 ... Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

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The World...

 Such is the world that assails the Christian, and which he must overcome--or perish eternally! He is aware of his danger from the strength, subtlety, and ever-present activity of this enemy of his soul. The whole current of Scripture commands runs against the love of the world. In every possible form, it is forbidden.

Worldliness is the most thronged road to everlasting ruin!

Worldliness does not merely consist in an intense love of money and an excessive eagerness to be rich, but in a supreme regard to that which is visible and temporal whether these relate to the quiet scenes of domestic comfort, or to those elegancies, splendors, and accumulations of wealth, which lead a man to seek his highest bliss in these.

The world is a foe which attacks us in various places. In the shop by all the temptations incident to trade and wealth. In the halls of politics and public business by all the enticements to pride and ambition. In the places  of amusement by all the soft blandishments of pleasure. In the haunts of vice by all the gratifications of the flesh. In the walks of science and literature by all the delights of intellectual gratification.

In the social circle by all the enjoyments of friendship.

Oh, how many are the scenes where the world meets man and subdues him!

Sometimes the world approaches the believer with a smiling face, making promises and offering caresses, like the serpent to our first mother in the garden; or like Satan to our Lord when he said, "All these things will I give you--if you will fall down and worship me!" How difficult is it on such occasions to turn away from the lovely enchantress, to keep the eye steadily fixed on heavenly glories and instead of greedily quaffing the cup of poisoned sweets, to dash it to the ground!

If immorality slays its thousands, the world slays its tens of thousands! 

[John Angell James]

 1 John 2:15-16 ...  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

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A Pardon From Condemnation

God created man in His own image, which consisted of true holiness. No spot of guilt was upon his conscience, nor spot of depravity upon his heart.

The light of truth irradiated his understanding.  The glow of perfect love warmed his heart.  The choices of his will were all on the side of purity.  His conscience was the seat of perfect peace.  The beauties of holiness adorned his character.

His whole soul was in harmony with the untainted scenes of Paradise in which bowers he walked in undisturbed friendship with God.  No sorrow wrung his heart.  No care wrinkled his brow.  No anxiety broke his rest.  He was happy because he was holy.

When he sinned, his whole moral condition was altered! He fell under the condemnation of the law he had violated, and became the subject of inward corruption. An entire change passed over his nature. He not only became guilty but depraved!

His understanding became darkened!  His affections became selfish and earthly!  His will became prone to choose what is wrong! His conscience became benumbed!  If he would ever be recovered from this state of misery, he must be both pardoned and sanctified.  The covenant of God's love and mercy in Christ Jesus, the glorious scheme of redeeming grace, meets the whole case of fallen man by providing not only justification but sanctification as well.

Wonderful gospel provision!  Pardon for the guilty!  Sanctification for the unholy!

The condition of the sinner may be likened to that of a condemned criminal shut up in prison and infected with a deadly plague! What he needs, is both the cure of his plague and the reversal of his sentence. Neither alone, will meet his case. If he is only pardoned, he will die of the plague. If he is only cured of the plague, he will suffer the just sentence of the law.

So it is with fallen man he is both depraved and condemned! If he is only pardoned, his depravity will be his misery. If he could by any means be reformed, he is still under sentence of death.

The glory and completeness of the gospel scheme is that it provides a cure for the diseases of the soul in sanctification; as well as a pardon from the condemnation of the law in justification!

[John Angell James]

Romans 8:1 ... There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

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The Highest Class

By patience, we mean a quiet waiting, amidst sufferings and sorrows for the heavenly kingdom. Patience is an uncomplaining willingness to remain any length of time, and amidst any tribulation, for eternal glory. No circumstances of life let the sufferer hear and drink in the soul-comforting thought no circumstances of life seem to ripen the Christian so fast or so perfectly for Heaven as the experience of sorrow and affliction. Oh! then let our comforts go, then let our eyes weep, then let our hearts bleed if our Father is thus ripening us for everlasting fruition and inconceivable bliss!

When we are enabled to exercise the grace of patience, we have reached the highest class in the school of Christ, have nothing more to learn upon earth, and are ready and fit to depart, and to be with Jesus and have then obtained as much grace as can be possessed, short of glory itself!

Patience then, sufferer, patience! The first moment, and the first glance of Heaven will be an infinite recompense for all that you suffer for all that you lose on earth! If every step on earth is a step of suffering then let each be a step of patience!

Weep you may, murmur you must not. Nature may pay the tribute of a groan but grace must pay it with a smile. The shower of your tears may fall but the rays of the Sun of Righteousness must reflect the beauteous rainbow of the promise.

Christian, you make your way to glory along the path of patient resignation, which, if it is like the Valley of Weeping, and has its briars and its thorns has also its refreshing rain-pools of heavenly consolation!

[John Angell James]

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Hebrews 6:12 … That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

James 1:4 … But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.❤

He Will Not Forget The Lambs

Are you alarmed at the difficulties and dangers of the wilderness way? Consider that you enjoy the notice, the love, intercession, and the support of the Great and Good Shepherd, who carries the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart.

He will not forget the lambs; their feeble bleat attracts His notice, their helplessness draws His attention; and for them He puts forth all His pastoral kindness and skill.

[John Angell James]

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Isaiah 40:11 ... He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

John 10:11 ...  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Luke 12:32 ...  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.❤

His Lambs

Notice who are the objects of His care, "the lambs," which means not only those of tender age but also those who have been newly converted; those who are young in Christian experience; and also those whose temperament is naturally timid, whose strength is feeble, and whose danger is great.

Yes, you are the objects of Christ's special attention, care, and solicitude! You are those whom He takes up in the arms of His power and lays on the bosom of His love! He knows your weakness, your timidity, your dangers!

He will exert for you His tenderest sympathy, His greatest vigilance, His mightiest power.

This expression however not only conveys the idea of great care of the weak but the exercise of that care with a view to their preservation and growth. It means not only that He will   cordially receive them,   provide for their safety,   be concerned for their comfort, and accommodate His conduct to their needs but He will also nourish them through their infant existence, and raise them up to maturity and strength.

 

[John Angell James]

Isaiah 40:11 ... He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Psalm 100:3 ... Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

2 Corinthians 1:4 ... Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.❤

Our Life Is A Bubble

Our world is a valley of tears. Our life is a bubble, raised from those tears, inflated by sighs; which, after floating a little while, decked with a few gaudy colors is touched by the hand of death, and dissolves!

Poverty, disease, misfortune, unkindness, instability, death, all assail the travelers as they journey onward to eternity through this gloomy valley.

[John Angell James]

James 4:14 ... Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

2 Corinthians 4:18 ... While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Psalm 23:4 ... Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. ❤

Justification

Justification is the opposite to condemnation.

Justification is the act of God's boundless mercy in forgiving all the transgressions of the penitent believer, for the sake of atoning sacrifice of His beloved Son; and restoring the once guilty transgressor to the favor of God, and the hope of eternal life.

The ground on which justification proceeds, is the death of Christ as an atoning sacrifice for sin.

The the source from which justification flows, is the mercy of God.

The instrumental cause or means of justification, is faith in Christ.

 

[John Angell James]

 

 

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Titus 3:5-7 ... Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

 

Romans 5:1 ... Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

 

 

Galatians 3:24 ... Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 6:11 ... And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. ❤

Genuine Piety

The evidence of genuine piety is to be found in  real humility, reliance on CHRIST, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, sincere sorrow for sin, and a continual effort to regulate our thoughts, words, and conduct by the Word of GOD. 

Genuine piety will not thrive and increase without effort but is of so tender and delicate a nature as to require great, constant, and persevering concern, watchfulness, and care.

[John Angell James]

Philippians 2:12-13 ... Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.


James 4:10 ... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.


2 Peter 1:5-7 ... And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.


1 John 1:7 ... But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.❤

God's Hatred of Sin

The death of Christ, apprehended by faith, presents the strongest motives to personal holiness by setting forth in the most vivid and striking manner,   the holiness and justice of God;   His determination to punish transgression;   the immutable authority of the Divine law;  the evil nature of sin; and   the fearfulness of falling into the hands of the living God.

Not all the judgments God ever inflicted, nor all the threatenings he ever denounced, give such an impressive warning against sin, and admonition to righteousness as the death of Christ.

The torments of the bottomless pit are not so dreadful a demonstration of God's hatred of sin, as the agonies of the cross!

[J. A. James]

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Isaiah 53:10 ... Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

 

 

Psalm 7:11 ... God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

 

 

Proverbs 6:16-19 ... These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

 

Hebrews 12:2 ... Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.❤

A Lamb With A Wolf's Head

Christians should excel in the manifestation of Christ's character. The mind which was in Jesus, should be in them. They should consider His character as a model of their own; and be conspicuous for their   poverty of spirit,  meekness,  gentleness,  and love.

It is matter of surprise and regret, that many people seem to think that Christianity has nothing to do with character! And that provided they are free from gross sins, and have lively feelings in devotional exercises, they may be as petulant, irritable, and implacable as they please! This is a dreadful error, and has done great mischief to the cause of God!

A sour, ill-natured Christian, is like a lamb with a wolf's head! Or like a dove with a vulture's beak!

If there be any one word which above all others should describe a Christian's character, it is that which represents his divine Father; and as it is said, that 'God is love', so should it be also affirmed, that a Christian is love; love embodied, an incarnation of love! His words, his conduct, his very looks should be so many expressions of love!

 

[John Angell James]

 

 

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Philippians 2:5 ... Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

 

 

John 13:34-35 ... A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

 

Ephesians 4:31-32 ... Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. ❤