Post by Lee on Feb 17, 2014 3:25:43 GMT
A disciple of Christ will shine in this matter—not because it is "the thing," or because
it is of advantage socially, but because it is a matter of command:
"This I command you, that ye love one another."
Recognizing this, a man will be able to persevere amid all
the mortifications of the degraded state of society surrounding
us. He will, for Christ's sake, do what Christ has commanded,
knowing that it is only for a brief season that we are asked to
act a gracious part amid all ungraciousness and evil.
And this leads to another class of commandment. The commands
to love God, and Christ, and our neighbor, are comparatively
easy to obey, but there are other commands that are
not easy to obey, our obedience to which, are the test whether
we really obey those already mentioned. Of this, Jesus says—
"Teach them to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded
you" (Matt. 28:20).
Some of these we have observed. We have believed; we have
been baptized; we meet for the celebration of the Lord's death;
we read the Scriptures; we love the Lord; we love the brethren.
What lack we yet? Perhaps we do not lack; but perhaps we do....
There are other commandments—
"Love your enemies;"
"Pray for them that despitefully use you;"
"Resist not evil;"
"Avenge not yourselves;"
"Do good to the unthankful and evil."
These are commandments not easy to obey.
And for what purpose were they given? Evidently for obedience.
For no other purpose could they have been intended.
It is not according to God's own will—it is not according to
His declared purpose—that the evil should have the upper hand,
that wrong should have a free course, that righteous men should
be trampled under foot of the wicked.
It is only for a season these things are permitted.
When God required of Abraham the sacrifice of Isaac, it was
not that God had delight in seeing Abraham put his beloved
son to death—it was that He might prove him. When God asks
us to submit to evil, it is not that He has delight in the triumph
of evil—it is that we may be chastened and proved under His
mighty hand.
Wherefore, says Peter—
"Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that
He may exalt you in due time" (1 Pet. 5:6).
Affliction is only for a moment. Weeping may endure for a
night, but joy cometh in the morning. It was for the comfort
of all his brethren, in every generation during his absence, that
the Lord said to the company of his disciples in Galilee—
"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted;
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth;
"Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven."
Robert Roberts
it is of advantage socially, but because it is a matter of command:
"This I command you, that ye love one another."
Recognizing this, a man will be able to persevere amid all
the mortifications of the degraded state of society surrounding
us. He will, for Christ's sake, do what Christ has commanded,
knowing that it is only for a brief season that we are asked to
act a gracious part amid all ungraciousness and evil.
And this leads to another class of commandment. The commands
to love God, and Christ, and our neighbor, are comparatively
easy to obey, but there are other commands that are
not easy to obey, our obedience to which, are the test whether
we really obey those already mentioned. Of this, Jesus says—
"Teach them to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded
you" (Matt. 28:20).
Some of these we have observed. We have believed; we have
been baptized; we meet for the celebration of the Lord's death;
we read the Scriptures; we love the Lord; we love the brethren.
What lack we yet? Perhaps we do not lack; but perhaps we do....
There are other commandments—
"Love your enemies;"
"Pray for them that despitefully use you;"
"Resist not evil;"
"Avenge not yourselves;"
"Do good to the unthankful and evil."
These are commandments not easy to obey.
And for what purpose were they given? Evidently for obedience.
For no other purpose could they have been intended.
It is not according to God's own will—it is not according to
His declared purpose—that the evil should have the upper hand,
that wrong should have a free course, that righteous men should
be trampled under foot of the wicked.
It is only for a season these things are permitted.
When God required of Abraham the sacrifice of Isaac, it was
not that God had delight in seeing Abraham put his beloved
son to death—it was that He might prove him. When God asks
us to submit to evil, it is not that He has delight in the triumph
of evil—it is that we may be chastened and proved under His
mighty hand.
Wherefore, says Peter—
"Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that
He may exalt you in due time" (1 Pet. 5:6).
Affliction is only for a moment. Weeping may endure for a
night, but joy cometh in the morning. It was for the comfort
of all his brethren, in every generation during his absence, that
the Lord said to the company of his disciples in Galilee—
"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted;
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth;
"Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven."
Robert Roberts