Pilgrim
Portions
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Weeks
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God’s nature, love without alloy, Our hearts are given e’en now to share.When love leads
us, men are indeed those for whom we give ourselves; but God, He to
whom we offer ourselves. (Eph. 5:2.) It is a serious
though a most happy thing to undertake direct service. … The mere fact
of an inclination does not shew that we are called to it. I believe the
surest sign is earnest love to souls, and intercourse through the need
of the heart with Christ about it. … It is not the desire to speak, but
for souls and the building up of saints which is the real moving spring
of service. How many needs,
hidden even in the most degraded souls, would confess themselves … if a
love, a goodness, which could give them confidence were presented to
them. … How many souls are whirling in pleasure, in order to silence
the moral griefs which torment them. Divine love not only answers
needs, it makes them speak. “He that dwelleth
in love dwelleth in God.”… I beseech you … earnestly to maintain this
spirit of love which is the presence of God. … For sin is separating,
and God is uniting, for He is love; and this will be the healing of all
things, for they are to be gathered into one in Christ. … Walk then in
love … and you will walk in power, and in the glory of God. I dread
narrowness of heart more than anything for the church of Christ. Love enables a
man to meet all trials. Should one spit in his face, this makes no
difference, for love abides; because it never draws its strength from
circumstances, but rides above all circumstances. Love … is the
true means of holiness, when it is real. “Love to all the
saints” is an element of the blessing spoken of by the apostle, and
even as to intelligence—“able to comprehend with all saints”; because
they are in Christ’s heart, and if not in ours, He has not His place,
and self has so far excluded Him. Love, free from
self, can and does think of all that concerns others and understands
what will affect them. Love does not
grow weary of serving, though service may be often in trial … indeed,
save with rare encouragement, always in the general run of it, is.
“Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake.” How few so
present their charity to God, and bring God into their charity,
exercising it for and towards Him, though in behalf of man, so that
they persevere nothing the less in its exercise, though the more they
love the less they be loved! it is for God’s sake. The fruits of the
Spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, &c. …
Remark that the first of these fruits are love, joy, peace. The Spirit
will surely produce those practical fruits which manifest the life of
Christ in the sight of men, but the inward fruits, the fruits Godward,
come first, the condition of soul needful for producing the others. Pilgrim Portions - Meditations for the Day of Rest - Selected from the Writings, Hymns,
Letters, etc., of J. N. Darby SEDIN-Servicio Evangélico |
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