The Measure of Christianity

Those who are placed in positions of trust must have the authority of action, but they are never to use this authority as a power to refuse help to the needy and helpless. It is never to be exercised to discourage or depress one struggling soul. Let those to whom have been given positions of influence ever remember that God desires them to carry out the mind of Christ. . .
True godliness is measured by the work done. Profession is nothing; position is nothing; a character like the character of Christ is the evidence we are to bear that God has sent His Son into the world. Those who profess to be Christians, yet do not act as Christ would were He in their place, greatly injure the cause of God. They misrepresent their Saviour, and are standing under false colors.
The true disciple, in whose heart Christ abides, shows forth to the world Christ’s love for humanity. He is God’s helping hand. The glow of spiritual health thrills his whole being as he receives from the Saviour grace to give to others. . . .
Pure and undefiled religion is not a sentiment, but a doing of works of love and mercy. This religion is necessary to health and happiness. It enters the polluted soul-temple, and with a scourge drives out the sinful intruder. Taking the throne, it consecrates all by its presence, illuminating the heart with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. It opens the windows of the soul heavenward, letting in the sunshine of God’s love. With it comes serenity and composure. Physical, mental, and moral strength increase, because the atmosphere of heaven, as a living, active agency, fills the soul. . . .
When Christians do not reveal Christ, of what value are they? Are they not like savorless salt, “good for nothing”? But when they reveal in their lives the saving properties of the truth, poor, sin-hardened souls are not left to perish in corruption. Good works are seen; for the living principles of righteousness cannot be hidden. The gospel acted is like salt which contains all its savor. It is powerful in the saving of souls.–Letter 7, Jan. 17, 1901, to “Brethren Who Occupy Positions of Trust.”
This Day With God p. 25
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—– Please pray for Jackie a member of our church who is struggling with cancer. Wanangwa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
When my grandfather was a little boy, he greatly feared his father. He, his brother, and his mother hated to see him come home from work. As soon as my great-grandfather came into the house, he made the boys come to him for their punishment. He didn’t ask if they had done something wrong. He was very sure that they had to deserve punishment just because they were boys and boys always did something that deserved a spanking.
Harold, the younger of the two boys, was made to lie across his knees and the spanking would start. It was not a gentle spanking either. Harold had soon found a way of coping with this injustice. After about two or three swats, he would start crying loudly. Satisfied that he had been punished enough, his father let him go.
Then it would be my grandfather’s turn. Even though he knew that by crying he could escape quickly from his father’s hand, he stubbornly would not make a sound. Soon the spanking would turn into a beating. Still my grandfather would not cry. Finally his father would tire of this and let him go. Because of his abusive father, he ran away from home at age 10 and spent his teen years roaming the forests of the eastern United States, eating the the fish he could catch and wild plants his grandmother had taught him were safe. When he got married and had children of his own, he left all the disciplining to his wife. He did not want to become like his father.
How often people think God is like my great-grandfather. They think He is severe and angry with us continually They picture Him as looking down upon the earth just watching for reasons punish us. Praise God! He is not like that at all. He loves us with an everlasting love. He draws us with his loving kindness. Our Great Creator assures us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jer 29:11 “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me.” Isa 49:15,16 “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Ps 103:8-12 “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened [made us alive] us together with Christ, Eph 2:4
Jesus gave us the parable of the prodigal son’s father to help us realize our Heavenly Father’s love. “A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again, he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” Luke 15:11-24
May we see God as He really is—loving and kind, just and fair, the Giver of all true happiness and goodness. May we respond to His Great Heart of Love by loving Him with all of our heart, mind, and strength. May we serve Him gladly throughout all our live is my prayer.
Rose