another. We are living in a day when there is so much hatred. Sidney Harris, writing in the PITTS BURGH GAZETTE, observes, “We are no more morally or spiritually equipped to colonize other parts of the solar system, given our past level of behaviour on earth, than a hog is fit to march in the Easter Parade!" What a comment on man's nature. Paul reminds us that, as believ ers, we are to consider the other person better than ourselves. Quite frankly, most of us find it difficult to consider someone else even as good as we are. This is especially true of those rather unlovely indi viduals who always rub us the wrong way. How can we consider these people as being better? It calls for grace far beyond our own human strength. Let each esteem the other better than himself! This is the gift of love through the Holy Spirit. These gifts of mercy, peace and love are to be multiplied; they are to overflow continually. I read a story some time ago about a wo man who had ten children. Report ers asked this faithful mother how it was that she could divide her love among so many. She re sponded simply by saying, "Why, I don't divide it, I multiply it!" This is the privilege we have in living for the Lord; to multiply the mercy, peace and love we have been given so abundantly to the hearts and lives of others. May Cod help us so to live! OUR COMMON SALVATION In our study of Jude, we con sider it as the epistle of the last days, written to the mature Chris tian saints. Here the Apostle is pointing out the fact that it was Page 35
The inward perspective is that which is given to us by Christ. Mercy issues from God while peace originates with the Saviour. Here is the perfect legacy He gives to us. When people die they leave that for which they are most noted. Being a stamp collector, I have fre quently read of individuals who have died and left a vast estate of stamps. This is true in many areas such as art, money and jewelry. The newspaper has even reported the man who passed away, leaving a 13,000-pound ball of string. He had collected it in bits and pieces for over 20 years! When our Lord Jesus Christ gave His life willingly for us He left that for which He was, and is, and evermore will be most noted, namely, peace. In John 14:27 we read His blessed promise, “ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." In the orig inal the root word of “peace" means "to join." When our hearts are peaceful it means that they are joined together in Jesus Christ. The peace He has to offer is the same peace we have been promised. When by faith we receive Jesus Christ as Saviour we have peace with Cod. But when we live in the presence of the Spirit, we can know and enjoy the peace of God. This is the peace that passes all understanding. Finally, completing this introduc tion, we find that love is to be giv en. This cannot be overlooked for it represents the outward aspect of our Christian lives. Love is the primary gift of the Holy Spirit. Love not only unites us to the Lord but it also binds our hearts to one
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