Living In The Light

July 27, True Conversion And Faithful Labor

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
—Matthew 5:48 LL 221.1

Many poor souls are groping in darkness, looking for the feelings which others say they have had in their experience. They overlook the fact that the believer in Christ must work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. The convicted sinner has something to do. He must repent and show true faith. LL 221.2

When Jesus speaks of the new heart, He means the mind, the life, the whole being. To have a change of heart is to withdraw the affections from the world and fasten them upon Christ. To have a new heart is to have a new mind, new purposes, new motives. What is the sign of a new heart?—A changed life. There is a daily, hourly dying to selfishness and pride. LL 221.3

Some make a great mistake by supposing that a high profession will compensate for real service. But a religion which is not practical is not genuine. True conversion makes us strictly honest in our dealings with our fellow men and women. It makes us faithful in our every-day work. Every sincere follower of Christ will show that the religion of the Bible qualifies him to use his talents in the Master’s service. LL 221.4

“Not slothful in business.” These words will be fulfilled in the life of every true Christian. Even though your work may seem to be a drudgery, you may ennoble it by the way in which you do it. Do it as unto the Lord. Do it cheerfully, and with heaven-born dignity. It is the noble principles which are brought into the work that make it wholly acceptable in the Lord’s sight. True service links the lowliest of God’s servants on earth with the highest of His servants in the courts above. LL 221.5

It means much to be a consistent Christian. It means to walk circumspectly before God, to press toward the mark of the prize of our high calling in Christ. It means to bear much fruit to the glory of Him who gave His Son to die for us. As sons and daughters of God, Christians should strive to reach the high ideal set before them in the gospel. They should be content with nothing less than perfection; for Christ says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”— The Youth’s Instructor , September 26, 1901. LL 221.6

Further Reflection: How can someone who dislikes their job do it in a spirit that glorifies God? Does one have to love their work to do it “as unto the Lord”? LL 221.7