The Signs of the Times
October 2, 1901
Love to God and Man
Every Christian should be determined that he will not, in word or action, dishonor the law of God. This law is an expression of the character of God, a revelation of what every minister of the Gospel, every teacher, every man, woman, and child, should be. The Christian will become excellent in wisdom, if he will surrender himself to the guidance of the principles of God's law. This is not to be an influence among many influences. God designs the heaven-born principles of His law to be the all-powerful influence in the lives of His children, sanctifying and purifying them. It is God's purpose that these principles shall be followed in our homes, our institutions, our churches. They are His everlasting truths, proclaimed in righteousness, mercy, and love. ST October 2, 1901, par. 1
Supreme love for God, and unselfish love for one another,—these are the two great arms on which hang all the law and the prophets. The greatest of all gifts, all talents, is true, Christlike love. It is the brightest evidence of the power of religion. By it, a daily witness for Christ is borne to the world. The Lord calls upon His churches to manifest this love. ST October 2, 1901, par. 2
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” This was the answer the lawyer gave when Christ asked, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” And before priests and rulers Christ replied, “Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live.” Thus He forever settled the great question, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ST October 2, 1901, par. 3
Christ has expressly enjoined His followers to respect and love one another. He says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” ST October 2, 1901, par. 4
He who takes the position of teacher, yet fails to show a tender regard for his brethren, might better cease his labors until the converting power of God teaches him the lessons he must learn in order to do successful work. He who really desires to be a vessel meet for the Master's use must submit to the molding and polishing process carried on by the wheel of God's providence, until all unshapeliness and roughness have vanished. Only thus can he become a vessel unto honor. ST October 2, 1901, par. 5
No man should take up the work of a minister of Jesus Christ until he has complied with the invitation, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” God's ministers are to show forth in their lives the unselfish love which Christ constantly taught and perfectly exemplified. Thus is to be shown the marked distinction between those who love God and keep His commandments, and those who are standing under the black banner of Satan. ST October 2, 1901, par. 6
No man can separate fellowship with God from a life of holiness. Sanctification takes in the whole being. To walk in the light is to know and obey the truth. To have fellowship with God is to treat one another as children of God. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” ST October 2, 1901, par. 7
Many in this our day claim fellowship with God while by their lives they deny the claim. They do not love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves. They are not willing to do to others as they wish them to do to them. Selfishness is shown in the use of God's money. Extravagance is seen where economy should be practised in order that the cause of God may be advanced. Man ventures to use for self-indulgence means which should be used for the Lord. This is entirely contrary to the lessons Christ has given. It is impossible to harmonize a selfish use of the Lord's money with the principles of Christ's life. ST October 2, 1901, par. 8
He whose mind is so filled with his own devisings that he has little time to study the Word of God, no time to find out, by looking into the Divine Mirror, what kind of character he is forming, should not think that he is fitted to hold forth the Word of life to others. Perhaps he catches a glimpse of the mistakes he is making. He sees that his building is unlike the design given him. But he is so absorbed in correcting others that he has no time to correct his own defects, and therefore continues to present before angels and men a miserable representation of Christ. He knows not what it is to feel the saving power of divine grace. He is too busy to act like a Christian, too busy to give expression by courteous words and kindly deeds to Christlike love. Angels vail their faces in sorrow. Men see that he is not what he professes to be, and they turn from him as a counterfeit. ST October 2, 1901, par. 9
The acceptance of Christ's atonement is the ground-work of true faith. To those who repent and confess their sins, the Holy Spirit, the Author of all sanctification, will give grace to speak kind, tender, respectful words. Those who will look long enough into the Divine Mirror to see and despise their unlikeness to the meek and lowly Saviour, will have strength to overcome. All who truly believe will confess and forsake their sins. They will co-operate with Christ in the work of bringing their hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong under the control of the Divine Will, so that sin shall not have dominion over them. Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of their faith, they will be changed into His likeness. They will grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. ST October 2, 1901, par. 10
Mrs. E. G. White