ately, I had the good sense to realize that maybe the fault was mine, rath er than the Lord's. The verse says, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." Immediately we can see the reason for my prob lem. Salvation does not change things externally but rather intern ally. It revolutionizes the person who is doing the believing. What happens is that we begin to see old things from an entirely new viewpoint. I began to see my ge ometry teacher as one for whom Christ died. When our viewpoints change the whole of our experi ence is transformed. We need to see people whom we may dislike in the light of their need for salva tion. Our attitudes begin to change when things happen on the inside. This is because we see things in the light of Cod's sovereign grace. This makes all the difference in the world. Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, "Be ye kind one to anoth er, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as Cod for Christ's sake has forgiven you" (4:32). We are to be so like our blessed Lord that we could be mistaken for Him (II Corinthians 2:14-17). "We are unto Cod a sweet savor of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish." As we contact peo ple, whether they be lost or saved, we are the fragrance of our Lord in their presence. Let us make cer tain that we do not corrupt the word of Cod (vs. 17). The word Paul uses for "corrupt" is a very interesting one. When we go to the stores here in America the prices are fixed. In the Orient that is not true. One will often have to barter or "haggle." This is the back ground of this word "corrupt." We are not to live the Christian life
at a bargain price. If Christ gave His all on Calvary then we should give our all to Him in return. How can we argue Him down and live a discounted existence for Jesus? Think of the words to the hymn, "Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present for too small. Could it be that you have been living an unhappy life because it has been on a "discount" basis? The price is really high because it is total. You must live your all for Him who gave His all for you! LIVING FOR HIS G LORY Although the church at Corinth had much for which to be con demned as a spiritual body, the experiences of those people can teach us a great deal. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul warns the believers, "Give no of fense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to be church of God, even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of many that they might be saved" (I Corin thians 10:31 ff). In the early days of my ministry, my church was rather small and quite poor. To be a member one was not allowed to smoke. We were so pleased when someone offered us an organ. The only diffi culty was that the person smoked. That was quite a problem. Some of the people went all through the Love so amazing so divine, Demands my life, my soul, my all."
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