steps to christ-第19节
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ith brave； hopeful words that shall urge him on his way。 Thus the light of Christ may shine from you。 〃None of us liveth to himself。〃 Romans 14：7。 By our unconscious influence others may be encouraged and strengthened； or they may be discouraged； and repelled from Christ and the truth。
There are many who have an erroneous idea of the life and character of Christ。 They think that He was devoid of warmth and sunniness； that He was stern； severe； and joyless。 In many cases the whole religious experience is colored by these gloomy views。
It is often said that Jesus wept； but that He was never known to smile。 Our Saviour was indeed a Man of Sorrows； and acquainted with grief； for He opened His heart to all the woes of men。 But though His life was self…denying and shadowed with pain and care； His spirit was not crushed。 His countenance did not wear an expression of grief and repining； but ever one of peaceful serenity。 His heart was a wellspring of life； and wherever He went He carried rest and peace； joy and gladness。
Our Saviour was deeply serious and intensely in earnest； but never gloomy or morose。 The life of those who imitate Him will be full of earnest purpose； they will have a deep sense of personal responsibility。 Levity will be repressed； there will be no
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boisterous merriment； no rude jesting； but the religion of Jesus gives peace like a river。 It does not quench the light of joy； it does not restrain cheerfulness nor cloud the sunny； smiling face。 Christ came not to be ministered unto but to minister； and when His love reigns in the heart； we shall follow His example。
If we keep uppermost in our minds the unkind and unjust acts of others we shall find it impossible to love them as Christ has loved us； but if our thoughts dwell upon the wondrous love and pity of Christ for us； the same spirit will flow out to others。 We should love and respect one another； notwithstanding the faults and imperfections that we cannot help seeing。 Humility and self…distrust should be cultivated； and a patient tenderness with the faults of others。 This will kill out all narrowing selfishness and make us large…hearted and generous。
The psalmist says； 〃Trust in the Lord； and do good； so shalt thou dwell in the land； and verily thou shalt be fed。〃 Psalm 37：3。 〃Trust in the Lord。〃 Each day has its burdens； its cares and perplexities； and when we meet how ready we are to talk of our difficulties and trials。 So many borrowed troubles intrude； so many fears are indulged； such a weight of anxiety is expressed； that one might suppose we had no pitying； loving Saviour ready to hear all our requests and to be to us a present help in every time of need。
Some are always fearing； and borrowing trouble。 Every day they are surrounded with the tokens of God's love； every day they are enjoying the bounties of His providence； but they overlook these present
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blessings。 Their minds are continually dwelling upon something disagreeable which they fear may come； or some difficulty may really exist which； though small； blinds their eyes to the many things that demand gratitude。 The difficulties they encounter； instead of driving them to God； the only source of their help； separate them from Him because they awaken unrest and repining。
Do we well to be thus unbelieving？ Why should we be ungrateful and distrustful？ Jesus is our friend； all heaven is interested in our welfare。 We should not allow the perplexities and worries of everyday life to fret the mind and cloud the brow。 If we do we shall always have something to vex and annoy。 We should not indulge a solicitude that only frets and wears us； but does not help us to bear trials。
You may be perplexed in business； your prospects may grow darker and darker； and you may be threatened with loss； but do not become discouraged； cast your care upon God； and remain calm and cheerful。 Pray for wisdom to manage your affairs with discretion； and thus prevent loss and disaster。 Do all you can on your part to bring about favorable results。 Jesus has promised His aid； but not apart from our effort。 When； relying upon our Helper； you have done all you can； accept the result cheerfully。
It is not the will of God that His people should be weighed down with care。 But our Lord does not deceive us。 He does not say to us； 〃Do not fear； there are no dangers in your path。〃 He knows there are trials and dangers； and He deals with us plainly。 He does not propose to take His people out of a world of sin and evil； but He points them to a never…failing
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refuge。 His prayer for His disciples was； 〃I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world； but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil。〃 〃In the world；〃 He says； 〃ye shall have tribulation： but be of good cheer； I have overcome the world。〃 John 17：15； 16：33。
In His Sermon on the Mount； Christ taught His disciples precious lessons in regard to the necessity of trusting in God。 These lessons were designed to encourage the children of God through all ages； and they have come down to our time full of instruction and comfort。 The Saviour pointed His followers to the birds of the air as they warbled their carols of praise； unencumbered with thoughts of care； for 〃they sow not； neither do they reap。〃 And yet the great Father provides for their needs。 The Saviour asks； 〃Are ye not much better than they？〃 Matthew 6：26。 The great Provider for man and beast opens His hand and supplies all His creatures。 The birds of the air are not beneath His notice。 He does not drop the food into their bills； but He makes provision for their needs。 They must gather the grains He has scattered for them。 They must prepare the material for their little nests。 They must feed their young。 They go forth singing to their labor； for 〃your heavenly Father feedeth them。〃 And 〃are ye not much better than they？〃 Are not you； as intelligent； spiritual worshipers； of more value than the birds of the air？ Will not the Author of our being； the Preserver of our life； the One who formed us in His own divine image； provide for our necessities if we but trust in Him？
Christ pointed His disciples to the flowers of the
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field； growing in rich profusion and glowing in the simple beauty which the heavenly Father had given them； as an expression of His love to man。 He said； 〃Consider the lilies of the field； how they grow。〃 The beauty and simplicity of these natural flowers far outrival the splendor of Solomon。 The most gorgeous attire produced by the skill of art cannot bear comparison with the natural grace and radiant beauty of the flowers of God's creation。 Jesus asks； 〃If God so clothe the grass of the field； which today is； and tomorrow is cast into the oven； shall He not much more clothe you； O ye of little faith？〃 Matthew 6： 28； 30。 If God； the divine Artist； gives to the simple flowers that perish in a day their delicate and varied colors； how much greater care will He have for those who are created in His own image？ This lesson of Christ's is a rebuke to the anxious thought； the perplexity and doubt； of the faithless heart。
The Lord would have all His sons and daughters happy； peaceful； and obedient。 Jesus says； 〃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。〃 〃These things have I spoken unto you； that My joy might remain in you； and that your joy might be full。〃 John 14：27； 15：11。
Happiness that is sought from selfish motives； outside of the path of duty； is ill…balanced； fitful； and transitory； it passes away； and the soul is filled with loneliness and sorrow； but there is joy and satisfaction in the service of God； the Christian is not left to walk in uncertain paths； he is not left to vain regrets and disappointments。 If we do not have the
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pleasures of this life we may still be joyful in looking to the life beyond。
But even here Christians may have the joy of communion with Christ； they may have the light of His love； the perpetual comfort of His presence。 Every step in life may bring us closer to Jesus； may give us a deeper experience of His love； and may bring us one step nearer to the blessed home of peace。 Then let us not cast away our confidence； but have firm assurance； firmer than ever before。 〃Hitherto hath the Lord helped us；〃 and He will help us to the end。 1 Samuel 7：12。 Let us look to the monumental pillars； reminders of what the Lord has done to comfort us and to save us from the hand of the destroyer。 Let us keep fresh in our memory all the tender mercies that God has shown us；the tears He has wiped away； the pains He has soothed； the anxieties removed； the fears dispelled； the wants supplied； the blessings bestowed；thus strengthening ourselves for all that is before us through the remainder of our pilgrimage。
We cannot but look forward to new perplexities in the coming conflict； but we may look on what is past as well as on what is to come； and say； 〃Hitherto hath the Lord helped us。〃 〃As thy days； so shall thy strength be。〃 Deuteronomy 3
