steps to christ-第14章
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strengthens the spirit of beneficence in the giver's heart； allying him more closely to the Redeemer of the world； who 〃was rich； yet for your sakes 。 。 。 became poor； that ye through His poverty might be rich。〃 2 Corinthians 8：9。 And it is only as we thus fulfill the divine
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purpose in our creation that life can be a blessing to us。
If you will go to work as Christ designs that His disciples shall； and win souls for Him； you will feel the need of a deeper experience and a greater knowledge in divine things； and will hunger and thirst after righteousness。 You will plead with God； and your faith will be strengthened； and your soul will drink deeper drafts at the well of salvation。 Encountering opposition and trials will drive you to the Bible and prayer。 You will grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ； and will develop a rich experience。
The spirit of unselfish labor for others gives depth； stability； and Christlike loveliness to the character； and brings peace and happiness to its possessor。 The aspirations are elevated。 There is no room for sloth or selfishness。 Those who thus exercise the Christian graces will grow and will become strong to work for God。 They will have clear spiritual perceptions； a steady； growing faith； and an increased power in prayer。 The Spirit of God； moving upon their spirit； calls forth the sacred harmonies of the soul in answer to the divine touch。 Those who thus devote themselves to unselfish effort for the good of others are most surely working out their own salvation。
The only way to grow in grace is to be disinterestedly doing the very work which Christ has enjoined upon usto engage； to the extent of our ability； in helping and blessing those who need the help we can give them。 Strength comes by exercise； activity is the very condition of life。 Those who endeavor to maintain Christian life by passively accepting the blessings that come through the means of grace； and
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doing nothing for Christ； are simply trying to live by eating without working。 And in the spiritual as in the natural world； this always results in degeneration and decay。 A man who would refuse to exercise his limbs would soon lose all power to use them。 Thus the Christian who will not exercise his God…given powers not only fails to grow up into Christ； but he loses the strength that he already had。
The church of Christ is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men。 Its mission is to carry the gospel to the world。 And the obligation rests upon all Christians。 Everyone； to the extent of his talent and opportunity； is to fulfill the Saviour's commission。 The love of Christ； revealed to us； makes us debtors to all who know Him not。 God has given us light； not for ourselves alone； but to shed upon them。
If the followers of Christ were awake to duty； there would be thousands where there is one today proclaiming the gospel in heathen lands。 And all who could not personally engage in the work； would yet sustain it with their means； their sympathy； and their prayers。 And there would be far more earnest labor for souls in Christian countries。
We need not go to heathen lands； or even leave the narrow circle of the home； if it is there that our duty lies； in order to work for Christ。 We can do this in the home circle； in the church； among those with whom we associate； and with whom we do business。
The greater part of our Saviour's life on earth was spent in patient toil in the carpenter's shop at Nazareth。 Ministering angels attended the Lord of
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life as He walked side by side with peasants and laborers； unrecognized and unhonored。 He was as faithfully fulfilling His mission while working at His humble trade as when He healed the sick or walked upon the storm…tossed waves of Galilee。 So in the humblest duties and lowliest positions of life； we may walk and work with Jesus。
The apostle says； 〃Let every man； wherein he is called； therein abide with God。〃 1 Corinthians 7：24。 The businessman may conduct his business in a way that will glorify his Master because of his fidelity。 If he is a true follower of Christ he will carry his religion into everything that is done and reveal to men the spirit of Christ。 The mechanic may be a diligent and faithful representative of Him who toiled in the lowly walks of life among the hills of Galilee。 Everyone who names the name of Christ should so work that others； by seeing his good works； may be led to glorify their Creator and Redeemer。
Many have excused themselves from rendering their gifts to the service of Christ because others were possessed of superior endowments and advantages。 The opinion has prevailed that only those who are especially talented are required to consecrate their abilities to the service of God。 It has come to be understood by many that talents are given to only a certain favored class to the exclusion of others who of course are not called upon to share in the toils or the rewards。 But it is not so represented in the parable。 When the master of the house called his servants； he gave to every man his work。
With a loving spirit we may perform life's
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humblest duties 〃as to the Lord。〃 Colossians 3：23。 If the love of God is in the heart； it will be manifested in the life。 The sweet savor of Christ will surround us； and our influence will elevate and bless。
You are not to wait for great occasions or to expect extraordinary abilities before you go to work for God。 You need not have a thought of what the world will think of you。 If your daily life is a testimony to the purity and sincerity of your faith； and others are convinced that you desire to benefit them； your efforts will not be wholly lost。
The humblest and poorest of the disciples of Jesus can be a blessing to others。 They may not realize that they are doing any special good； but by their unconscious influence they may start waves of blessing that will widen and deepen； and the blessed results they may never know until the day of final reward。 They do not feel or know that they are doing anything great。 They are not required to weary themselves with anxiety about success。 They have only to go forward quietly； doing faithfully the work that God's providence assigns； and their life will not be in vain。 Their own souls will be growing more and more into the likeness of Christ； they are workers together with God in this life and are thus fitting for the higher work and the unshadowed joy of the life to come。
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A Knowledge of God
Many are the ways in which God is seeking to make Himself known to us and bring us into communion with Him。 Nature speaks to our senses without ceasing。 The open heart will be impressed with the love and glory of God as revealed through the works of His hands。 The listening ear can hear and understand the communications of God through the things of nature。 The green fields； the lofty trees； the buds and flowers； the passing cloud； the falling rain； the babbling brook； the glories of the heavens； speak to our hearts； and invite us to become acquainted with Him who made them all。
Our Saviour bound up His precious lessons with the things of nature。 The trees； the birds； the flowers of the valleys； the hills； the lakes； and the beautiful heavens； as well as the incidents and surroundings of daily life； were all linked with the words of truth； that His lessons might thus be often recalled to mind； even amid the busy cares of man's life of toil。
God would have His children appreciate His works and delight in the simple； quiet beauty with which He has adorned our earthly home。 He is a lover of the beautiful； and above all that is outwardly attractive He loves beauty of character； He would have us cultivate purity and simplicity； the quiet graces of the flowers。
If we will but listen； God's created works will teach us precious lessons of obedience and trust。
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From the stars that in their trackless courses through space follow from age to age their appointed path； down to the minute
