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    January 18, 1887

    Unity and Love Among Believers

    EGW

    The Spirit of God will not abide where there is disunion and contention among believers in the truth. Even if these feelings are unexpressed, they take possession of the heart and drive out the peace and love that should characterize the Christian church. They are the result of selfishness in its fullest sense. This evil may take the form of inordinate self esteem, or an undue longing for the approbation of others, even if it is obtained undeservedly. Self exaltation must be renounced by those who profess to love God and keep his commandments, or they need not expect to be blessed by his divine favor.RH January 18, 1887, par. 1

    We call God our Father. We claim to be children of one family; and when there is a disposition to lessen the respect and influence of one another, to build up ourselves, we please the enemy and grieve Him whom we profess to follow. The tenderness and mercy that Jesus has revealed in his own precious life, should be an example to us of the manner in which we should treat our fellow-beings, and especially those who are our brothers in Christ.RH January 18, 1887, par. 2

    God is continually benefiting us, but we are too indifferent to his favors. We have been loved with an infinite tenderness, and yet many of us have little love for one another. We are too severe upon those whom we suppose to be in error, and are very sensitive to the least blame or question in regard to our own course. Hints are thrown out, and sharp criticisms of each other, but at the same time the very ones who do this are blind to their own failings. Others can see their errors, but they cannot see their own mistakes. We are daily recipients of the bounties of Heaven, and should have loving gratitude springing up in our hearts to God, which should cause us to sympathize with our neighbors and make their interests our own. Thoughts and meditations upon the goodness of God to us would close the avenues of the soul to Satan's suggestions.RH January 18, 1887, par. 3

    God's love for us is proved daily, yet we are thoughtless of his favors and indifferent to his entreaties. He seeks to impress us with his spirit of tenderness, his love and forbearance. But we scarcely recognize the marks of his kindness, and have little sense of the lesson of love he desires us to learn. It is a wicked pride that delights in the vanity of one's own works, boasts of one's excellent qualities, seeking to make others seem inferior in order to exalt self, claiming more glory than the cold heart is willing to give to God.RH January 18, 1887, par. 4

    The disciples of Christ will heed the Master's instruction. He has bade us love one another even as he has loved us. Religion is founded upon love to God, which also leads us to love each other. It is full of gratitude, humility, long-suffering. It is self-sacrificing, forbearing, merciful, and forgiving. It sanctifies the whole life, and extends its influence over others.RH January 18, 1887, par. 5

    Those who love God cannot harbor hatred or envy. When the heavenly principle of eternal love fills the heart, it will flow out to others, not merely because favors are received of them, but because love is the principle of action, and modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, subdues enmity, and elevates and ennobles the affections. This love is not contracted so as merely to include “me and mine,” but is as broad as the world and as high as heaven, and is in harmony with that of the angel workers. This love cherished in the soul sweetens the entire life and sheds a refining influence on all around. Possessing it, we can but be happy, let fortune smile or frown. If we love God with all the heart, we must also love his children. This love is the Spirit of God. It is the heavenly adorning that gives true nobility and dignity to the soul, and assimilates our lives to that of the Master. No matter how many good qualities we may have, however honorable and refined we may consider ourselves, if the soul is not baptized with the heavenly grace of love to God and one another, we are deficient in true goodness and unfit for heaven, where all is love and unity.RH January 18, 1887, par. 6

    Some who have formerly loved God and lived in the daily enjoyment of his favor, are now in continual unrest. They wander in darkness and despairing gloom. This is because they are nourishing self. They are seeking so hard to favor themselves that all other considerations are swallowed up in this. God, in his providence, has willed that no one can secure happiness by living for himself alone. The joy of our Lord was in enduring toil and shame for others that they might reap a benefit thereby. We are capable of being happy in following his example and living to bless our fellowmen.RH January 18, 1887, par. 7

    We are invited by our Lord to take his yoke and bear his burden. In doing this we may be happy. In bearing our own self-imposed yoke and carrying our own burdens, we find no rest; but in bearing the yoke of Christ there is rest to the soul. Those who want some great work to do for the Master can find it just where they are, in doing good and in being self-forgetful and self-sacrificing, remembering others, and carrying sunshine wherever they go.RH January 18, 1887, par. 8

    There is great need that the pitying tenderness of Christ should be manifested at all times and in all places; not that blind sympathy which would gloss over sin and allow God's cause to be reproached by ill-doing, but that love which is a controlling principle of the life, which flows out naturally to others in good works, remembering that Christ has said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”RH January 18, 1887, par. 9

    We are slow to learn the mighty influence of trifles, and their bearing upon the salvation of souls. Those who desire to be missionaries, have in our world of need a large field in which to work. God does not mean that any of us shall constitute a privileged few, who shall be looked upon with great deference, while others are neglected. He was the Majesty of heaven, yet he stooped to minister to the humblest, having no respect to persons or station. Our Lord, after performing the most humiliating office for his disciples, recommended them to follow his example. This was to keep constantly before them the thought that they must not feel superior to the lowliest saint.RH January 18, 1887, par. 10

    Those who profess our exalted faith, who are keeping God's commandments and expecting the soon coming of our Lord, should be distinct and separate from the world around them, a peculiar people zealous of good works. Among the peculiarities which should distinguish God's people from the world in these last days is their humility and meekness. “Learn of me,” says Christ; “for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Here is the repose which so many crave and in vain spend time and money to obtain.RH January 18, 1887, par. 11

    Instead of being ambitious to be equal with or higher than another in honor and position, we should seek to be the humble, faithful servants of Christ. This spirit of self-aggrandizement made contention among the apostles even while Christ was with them. They disputed who should be greatest among them. Jesus sat down and called the twelve, and said unto them, “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”RH January 18, 1887, par. 12

    When the mother of two sons made a request that her sons should be especially favored, one sitting on the right hand and the other on the left in his kingdom, Jesus impressed upon them that the honor and glory of his kingdom were to be the reverse of the honor and glory of this world. Whoever would be great must be a humble minister unto others, and who would be chief must be a servant even as the Son of God was a minister and servant unto the children of men.RH January 18, 1887, par. 13

    Again, our Saviour taught his disciples not to be anxious for position and name. “Be not ye called Rabbi, ... neither be ye called masters; ... but he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased.” Jesus cited the lawyer to the sacred law code, given from Sinai: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: .. and .. thy neighbor as thy self.” He told him that if he did this, he should enter into life.RH January 18, 1887, par. 14

    “Thy neighbor as thyself,”—the question arises, “Who is my neighbor?” The Saviour's reply is found in the parable of the good Samaritan, which teaches us that any human being who needs our sympathy and our kind offices, is our neighbor. The suffering and destitute of all classes are our neighbors; and when their wants are brought to our knowledge it is our duty to relieve them as far as possible. A principle is brought out in this parable that it would be well for the followers of Christ to adopt. First meet the temporal necessities of the needy, and relieve their physical wants and sufferings, and you will then find an open avenue to the heart, where you may plant the good seeds of virtue and religion.RH January 18, 1887, par. 15

    In order to be happy, we must strive to attain to that character which Christ exhibited. One marked peculiarity of Christ was his self-denial and benevolence. He came not to seek his own. He went about doing good, and this was his meat and drink. We may, by following the example of the Saviour, be in holy communion with him, and in daily seeking to imitate his character and follow his example, we shall be a blessing to the world, and shall secure for ourselves contentment here, and eternal reward hereafter.RH January 18, 1887, par. 16

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