change us? God is in the transform ing business. The Scriptural promise is, “I f any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” There is relief for our souls as we follow the invitation the Lord extends to us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). * While giving is a grace for the Christian, not giving is a disgrace. * * * SELF-DESTRUCTION It was envy and jealousy which lurked in the sinful depths of this earth’s first murder. That was what caused Cain to kill Abel, his brother. A deacon of a certain church was asked how the ministry was coming along. He was rather dejected and re plied sadly, “Well, we’re in bad straits; we’ve been slipping back. Things seem to be getting worse all the time. But thank the Lord, none of the other churches in the neighbor hood are doing any better.” How sad such a philosophy. Sometimes we get the mistaken idea that we elevate our standing when we bring someone else down to our own level. The Word of God warns us of the danger of having bitter envy and strife in our hearts. There is nothing in which we can glory. I f we do seek such prominence in pride we are only deceiving our selves. How many people rationalize their errors, excusing themselves. It is like the man who, seeking to re duce, when his wife and family aren’t looking, begins to eat like one con demned. He is only fooling himself. When there is jealousy in our hearts, we are only destroying our own selves. From the urisdom of the book of Proverbs we read: “For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he unll not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou giv- est many gifts” (Proverbs 6:84, 85). 18 * *
isn’t it, that while the business world is filled with hypocrisy we don’t stop working. Society itself is full of hy pocrisy, yet we don’t become hermits. Married life also contains hypocrisy and yet there are still marriages. God’s message of eternal life is di rected to the individual. We unll be held responsible, not for what others have done, or for how others have lived, but for our own response to the question, “What will you do with Jesus who is Christ the Lord?” Do not keep one eye on the temptation you have prayed God you would not be led into. * * * REFUGE FROM ABOVE A man complains that he had taken a vacation to get away from it all, b u t unfortunately, the t r i p was spoiled because he had to take himself along. It is true, we can’t get away from our dispositions or our thought patterns. A nervous person soon finds that there is plenty to upset him on a trip. One who has an uncontrolled lust finds temptations lurking even in vacation spots. The Psalmist David also felt his need of getting away from it all. He knew the pressures of responsibility and the tensions that come from trying to satisfy people. In introspection he asked, “How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?” (Psalm 11:1). He soon realized that the strength and calm ness one needs is not to be found in escaping from the problems right where we are. Our refuge is not from around about, but from above. We need not just a new view but rather a different viewpoint. It is not an alti tude but an attitude we must face. What did David do? Listen to his tes timony, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” We may want the Lord to change our circumstances or other people about us, but how often have we gone to Him and honestly asked Him to
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