We all imitate someone. If you set an example, someone will follow it. You need to follow Jesus' example. The love of human approval controls most. Nothing comes to a sleeper, but a dream. Especially young people follow each other. Endeavor to be lowly in mind, that you ay be gentle in spirit. Humility is healthy. Humility is insignificance. Don't dictate to Jesus how the blessing will come. Believe Christ's bare word, His naked promise. Go on obeying under daily scorn. Endure sarcastic remarks and spiteful gossips. Do you hate sin? Do you follow after righteousness? Do you keep your word even when it is to your personal loss? Do you endeavor to act fairly, kindly and uprightly to all? When you sin, are you humbled and grieved? Do you endeavor for the future to guard the points in your character which are weak? Do you watch against temptation and daily cry to God for strength to overcome it?
Seek after peace of conscience, peace with God, and peace with your fellowmen. A quiet, contented mind must be cultivated. You must be childlike in faith, not subtle in intellect. YOu need thinking-grace to help you think aright. Jesus said, "My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent Me." If a Christian grows aright, he will grow all over evenly, in knowledge and virtue, in charity and purity. We should grow up into Christ in all things. You cannot trust, love or serve God aright, unless you willingly consent and receive God's way of reconciliation, redemption, justification, and access which is only through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Only in Christ can we draw nigh unto God. Attempt not to approach God, who is a consuming fire, except through the Incarnate God. Fix your faith upon Him, the Propitiation for human sin. Come to God in God's own way. *John 14:6*
The best reason we should behave ourselves is that Jesus loves us, and we must not grieve Him that loves us so. You're up to no good most of the time. Our desires should be after the best things, if we expect the Lord to be with us. Personal appropriation is the best receiving. Accept the truth of Jesus for your own soul, seize Him by the grip of a personal faith, and then you have it. There is no such thing as human righteousness, those two words contradict one another. We have no personal merit, we must be justified by an imputed righteousness from Another. The best is good enough for me, and Christ Jesus is the best of the best. None can compare with Him for a moment, therefore I trust Him. The best way to tell a sinner the way of salvation is to just tell him. The best way to eat supper is to just eat it. Throw away your differences and get to soul winning. You'll never catch a rabbit with drums.
Come to Jesus, believe on Him, trust His Precious Blood at once. Mourn your guilt but rejoice in His grace. Do your choicest and best for Jesus, for Jesus personally. Serve Jesus humbly, sacrificially, penitently, continuously, and enthusiastically. Show your love best by ardent service for Jesus.
Endeavor to be meed and merciful, pure in heart, and peaceable in spirit. A success is a failure who never quits. The excellence of Christian endeavor. Earnest endeavors for the conversion of sinners. Fear God and think much upon His name, and wherever you go, let it be said, JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH, the Lord is there. What is the use? So little comes from our labors and protesting for the truth. YOu only earn ill-will, ridiculed as an old fogy. Being earnest about winning souls. Men are indifferent, and pine after sensationalism and amusement. Keeping to the old way. Cold spire creeps over the child of God. First, believe Jesus, believe Him to be true, to be sent from God for your salvation, and put yourself into His hands. Commit yourself to Him.
Jesus said, "Continue in My word." Get into Christ's words as a sinking sailor would get into a life boat, and never get out when waves are boisterous around you. Ridicule and reproach for Jesus' sake will come our way. Never shrink due to persecution. The right way may expose you to ridicule, be called a fanatic, mocked at as a hypocrite, despised as a fool. Bear the loss and shame of being a witness for Jesus. Self-love makes us fear ridicule, slide from integrity, unwillingness to be stand alone for Jesus, choose the smooth way. Christian people must be gentle, compassionate, generous, kind, and gracious. Help the helpless, support the widow, comfort the fatherless, succor the poor, cheer the desponding, tell the glad news to the weary heart. Maliciously witty remarks will come your way as you try to live for Jesus.
The world wants heaven without holiness, forgiveness without repentance, but this can never be. The Cross is the rallying point for the child of God, the soldier of Christ. Many are afraid to follow for fear of ridicule. The wicked's contempt and sneer is the highest compliment they can pay you. Religious human nature wants fine buildings, fine music, gorgeous rituals, big cars, nice clothes, and a display of cultured Christianity. Begin with Christ, end with Christ. Mind that. God will always help us while we are weak. We are just poor, puny creatures. We must confess our dependence upon God's blessing.
Mind that faith is your weapon. Fix it in your mind - The Bible is so. Mind that you do not grieve the Holy Spirit. If you please God, you will displease men. A real sinner always welcomes the real Savior. Shrink into nothing in your own esteem. Be willing to be accounted last. Admire the condescending Incarnate God, and worship and praise His name. Sweetly submit to His rule in all things. Grieve not the Spirit of God. Jesus is my only hope and sole trust. To come first of all to God in Christ Jesus is the wisest course. Seek Jesus Himself in prayer through His Precious Blood. Take the straight road, come to the Cross. Labor to spread the Gospel. Publish the word of God, daily endeavor to tell out God's way of salvation.
The very ABC of divine truth is that God Incarnate died for guilty men, and now whosoever will trust Jesus' blood shall be saved from the love of sin and the wrath to come.
