the desire of ages-第92节

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to　die。　There　rose　up　before　Him　a　vision　of　Lucifer；　the　〃son　of　the　morning；〃　in　glory　surpassing　all　the　angels　that　surround　the　throne；　and　united　in　closest　ties　to　the　Son　of　God。　Lucifer　had　said；　〃I　will　be　like　the　Most　High〃　（Isa。　14：12；　14）；　and　the　desire　for　self…exaltation　had　brought　strife　into　the　heavenly　courts；　and　had　banished　a　multitude　of　the　hosts　of　God。　Had　Lucifer　really　desired　to　be　like　the　Most　High；　he　would　never　have　deserted　his　appointed　place　in　heaven；　for　the　spirit　of　the　Most　High　is　manifested　in　unselfish　ministry。　Lucifer　desired　God's　power；　but　not　His　character。　He　sought　for　himself　the　highest

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place；　and　every　being　who　is　actuated　by　his　spirit　will　do　the　same。　Thus　alienation；　discord；　and　strife　will　be　inevitable。　Dominion　becomes　the　prize　of　the　strongest。　The　kingdom　of　Satan　is　a　kingdom　of　force；　every　individual　regards　every　other　as　an　obstacle　in　the　way　of　his　own　advancement；　or　a　steppingstone　on　which　he　himself　may　climb　to　a　higher　place。

While　Lucifer　counted　it　a　thing　to　be　grasped　to　be　equal　with　God；　Christ；　the　Exalted　One；　〃made　Himself　of　no　reputation；　and　took　upon　Him　the　form　of　a　servant；　and　was　made　in　the　likeness　of　men：　and　being　found　in　fashion　as　a　man；　He　humbled　Himself；　and　became　obedient　unto　death；　even　the　death　of　the　cross。〃　Phil。　2：7；　8。　Now　the　cross　was　just　before　Him；　and　His　own　disciples　were　so　filled　with　self…seekingthe　very　principle　of　Satan's　kingdomthat　they　could　not　enter　into　sympathy　with　their　Lord；　or　even　understand　Him　as　He　spoke　of　His　humiliation　for　them。

Very　tenderly；　yet　with　solemn　emphasis；　Jesus　tried　to　correct　the　evil。　He　showed　what　is　the　principle　that　bears　sway　in　the　kingdom　of　heaven；　and　in　what　true　greatness　consists；　as　estimated　by　the　standard　of　the　courts　above。　Those　who　were　actuated　by　pride　and　love　of　distinction　were　thinking　of　themselves；　and　of　the　rewards　they　were　to　have；　rather　than　how　they　were　to　render　back　to　God　the　gifts　they　had　received。　They　would　have　no　place　in　the　kingdom　of　heaven；　for　they　were　identified　with　the　ranks　of　Satan。

Before　honor　is　humility。　To　fill　a　high　place　before　men；　Heaven　chooses　the　worker　who；　like　John　the　Baptist；　takes　a　lowly　place　before　God。　The　most　childlike　disciple　is　the　most　efficient　in　labor　for　God。　The　heavenly　intelligences　can　co…operate　with　him　who　is　seeking；　not　to　exalt　self；　but　to　save　souls。　He　who　feels　most　deeply　his　need　of　divine　aid　will　plead　for　it；　and　the　Holy　Spirit　will　give　unto　him　glimpses　of　Jesus　that　will　strengthen　and　uplift　the　soul。　From　communion　with　Christ　he　will　go　forth　to　work　for　those　who　are　perishing　in　their　sins。　He　is　anointed　for　his　mission；　and　he　succeeds　where　many　of　the　learned　and　intellectually　wise　would　fail。

But　when　men　exalt　themselves；　feeling　that　they　are　a　necessity　for　the　success　of　God's　great　plan；　the　Lord　causes　them　to　be　set　aside。　It　is　made　evident　that　the　Lord　is　not　dependent　upon　them。　The　work　does　not　stop　because　of　their　removal　from　it；　but　goes　forward　with　greater　power。

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It　was　not　enough　for　the　disciples　of　Jesus　to　be　instructed　as　to　the　nature　of　His　kingdom。　What　they　needed　was　a　change　of　heart　that　would　bring　them　into　harmony　with　its　principles。　Calling　a　little　child　to　Him；　Jesus　set　him　in　the　midst　of　them；　then　tenderly　folding　the　little　one　in　His　arms　He　said；　〃Except　ye　be　converted；　and　become　as　little　children；　ye　shall　not　enter　into　the　kingdom　of　heaven。〃　The　simplicity；　the　self…forgetfulness；　and　the　confiding　love　of　a　little　child　are　the　attributes　that　Heaven　values。　These　are　the　characteristics　of　real　greatness。

Again　Jesus　explained　to　the　disciples　that　His　kingdom　is　not　characterized　by　earthly　dignity　and　display。　At　the　feet　of　Jesus　all　these　distinctions　are　forgotten。　The　rich　and　the　poor；　the　learned　and　the　ignorant；　meet　together；　with　no　thought　of　caste　or　worldly　preeminence。　All　meet　as　blood…bought　souls；　alike　dependent　upon　One　who　has　redeemed　them　to　God。

The　sincere；　contrite　soul　is　precious　in　the　sight　of　God。　He　places　His　own　signet　upon　men；　not　by　their　rank；　not　by　their　wealth；　not　by　their　intellectual　greatness；　but　by　their　oneness　with　Christ。　The　Lord　of　glory　is　satisfied　with　those　who　are　meek　and　lowly　in　heart。　〃Thou　hast　also　given　me；〃　said　David；　〃the　shield　of　Thy　salvation：　。　。　。　and　Thy　gentleness〃as　an　element　in　the　human　character〃hath　made　me　great。〃　Ps。　18：35。

〃Whosoever　shall　receive　one　of　such　children　in　My　name；〃　said　Jesus；　〃receiveth　Me：　and　whosoever　shall　receive　Me；　receiveth　not　Me；　but　Him　that　sent　Me。〃　〃Thus　saith　the　Lord；　The　heaven　is　My　throne；　and　the　earth　is　My　footstool：　。　。　。　but　to　this　man　will　I　look；　even　to　him　that　is　poor　and　of　a　contrite　spirit；　and　trembleth　at　My　word。〃　Isa。　66：1；　2。

The　Saviour's　words　awakened　in　the　disciples　a　feeling　of　self…distrust。　No　one　had　been　specially　pointed　out　in　the　reply；　but　John　was　led　to　question　whether　in　one　case　his　action　had　been　right。　With　the　spirit　of　a　child　he　laid　the　matter　before　Jesus。　〃Master；〃　he　said；　〃we　saw　one　casting　out　devils　in　Thy　name；　and　he　followeth　not　us：　and　we　forbade　him；　because　he　followeth　not　us。〃

James　and　John　had　thought　that　in　checking　this　man　they　had　had　in　view　their　Lord's　honor；　they　began　to　see　that　they　were　jealous　for　their　own。　They　acknowledged　their　error；　and　accepted　the　reproof　of　Jesus；　〃Forbid　him　not：　for　there　is　no　man　which　shall　do　a　miracle　in　My　name；　that　can　lightly　speak　evil　of　Me。〃　None　who　showed

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themselves　in　any　way　friendly　to　Christ　were　to　be　repulsed。　There　were　many　who　had　been　deeply　moved　by　the　character　and　the　work　of　Christ；　and　whose　hearts　were　opening　to　Him　in　faith；　and　the　disciples；　who　could　not　read　motives；　must　be　careful　not　to　discourage　these　souls。　When　Jesus　was　no　longer　personally　among　them；　and　the　work　was　left　in　their　hands；　they　must　not　indulge　a　narrow；　exclusive　spirit；　but　manifest　the　same　far…reaching　sympathy　which　they　had　seen　in　their　Master。

The　fact　that　one　does　not　in　all　things　conform　to　our　personal　ideas　or　opinions　will　not　justify　us　in　forbidding　him　to　labor　for　God。　Christ　is　the　Great　Teacher；　we　are　not　to　judge　or　to　command；　but　in　humility　each　is　to　sit　at　the　feet　of　Jesus；　and　learn　of　Him。　Every　soul　whom　God　has　made　willing　is　a　channel　through　which　Christ　will　reveal　His　pardoning　love。　How　careful　we　should　be　lest　we　discourage　one　of　God's　light　bearers；　and　thus　intercept　the　rays　that　He　would　have　shine　to　the　world！

Harshness　or　coldness　shown　by　a　disciple　toward　one　whom　Christ　was　drawingsuch　an　act　as　that　of　John　in　forbidding　one　to　work　miracles　in　Christ's　namemight　result　in　turning　the　feet　into　the　path　of　the　enemy；　and　causing　the　loss　of　a　soul。　Rather　than　for　one　to　do　this；　said　Jesus；　〃it　is　better　for　him　that　a　millstone　were　hanged　about　his　neck；　and　he　were　cast　into　the　sea。〃　And　He　added；　〃If　thy　hand　cause　thee　to　stumble；　cut　it　off：　it　is　good　for　thee　to　enter　into　life　maimed；　rather　than　having　thy　two　hands　to　go　into　hell；　into　the　unquenchable　fire。　And　if　thy　foot　cause　thee　to　stumble；　cut　it　off：　it　is　good　for　thee　to　enter　into　life　halt；　rather　than　having　thy　two　feet　to　be　cast　into　hell。〃　Mark　9：43…45；　R。　V。

Why　this　earnest　language；　than　which　none　can　be　stronger？　Because　〃the　Son　of　man　is　come　to　save　that　which　was　lost。〃　Shall　His　disciples　show　less　regard　for　the　souls　of　their　fellow　men　than　the　Majesty　of　heaven　has　shown？　Every　soul　has　cost　an　infinite　price；　and　how　terrible　is　the　sin　of　turning　one　soul　away　from　Christ；　so　that　for　him　the　Saviour's　love　and　humiliation　and　agony　shall　have　been　in　vain。

〃Woe　unto　the　world　because　of　occasions　of　stumbling！　for　it　must　needs　be　that　the　occasions　come。〃　Matt。　18：7；　R。　V。　The　world；　inspired　by　Satan；　will　surely　oppose　the　followers　of　Christ；　and　seek　to　destroy　their　faith；　but　woe　to　him　who　has　taken　Christ's　name；　and　yet　is　found

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doing　this　work。　Our　Lord　is　put　to　shame　by　those　who　claim　to　serve　Him；　but　who　misrepresent　His　character；　and　multitudes　are　deceived；　and　led　into　false　paths。

Any　habit　or　practice　that　would　lead　into　sin；　and　bring　dishonor　upon　Christ；　would　better　be　put　away；　whatever　the　sacrifice。　That　which　dishonors　God　cannot　benefit　the　soul。　The　blessing　of　heaven　cannot　attend　any　man　in　violating　the　eternal　principles　of　right。　And　one　sin　cherished　is　sufficient　to　work　the　degradation　of　the　character；　and　to　mislead　others。　If　the　foot　or　the　hand　would　be　cut　off；　or　even　the　eye　would　be　plucked　out；　to　save　the　body　from　death；　how　much　more　earnest　should　we　be　to　put　away　sin；　that　brings　death　to　the　soul！

In　the　ritual　service；　salt　was　added　to　every　sacrifice。　This；　like　the　offering　of　incense；　signified　that　only　the　righteousness　of　Christ　could　make　the　service　acceptable　to　God。　Referring　to　this　practice；　Jesus　said；　〃Every　sacrifice　s