The Zealous Christian # 2

The Zealous Christian # 2

Chosen for his own glory, purchased by the precious blood of His only begotten Son, sanctified and made the temples of His Holy Spirit - He cares for them with the tenderest care.

He wishes us to view them, just as He does, to love them, just as He does, to care for them, just as He does, to act toward them, just as we would act toward Him.

If therefore we are cold, distant, and haughty in our bearing toward them - it grieves Him. If we do not feel interested in their welfare, concerned for their comfort, and desirous of promoting their holiness - He is, He must be, displeased with us.

We should be zealous to encourage them. They need it. They have enough to discourage them. satan, sin, and the world - unite to distress, beguile, or discourage them! They need our tenderest sympathy, our brotherly affection, our kind attentions! Viewing them as the children of God, as members of the mystical body of Jesus, as the pupils of the Holy Spirit - we should be zealous to encourage them in their way to the kingdom.

We should zealously assist them. Many of them are poor. Many of them are ignorant. Many of them are afflicted. In these circumstances we ought not to requite frequent applications, urgent entreaties, or touching appeals; but our zeal should prompt us to search them out, to minister to their necessities, to instruct their minds, and to endeavor to comfort them under their sufferings and sorrows.

What is done to a believer - Jesus takes as done to Himself. As we imagine therefore that if He were on earth - we would zealously search Him out, minister to His need, and if possible increase His comforts - so ought we do to His poor people. They are placed near us for this purpose. They are thus so circumstanced, to test the reality and the power of our love.

We should zealously endeavor to cement them together. They are in reality - one body, one flock, one family. satan has divided them, and he endeavors by all means to keep them in a state of division. Love is the cement of the Church. Not the love of opinions - but the love of people - of all people who love Jesus. We must allow liberty of thought, opinion, and action - and we should love ardently while we do so.

Here is one who thinks differently to me in the matter of Church government; he differs with me in his opinion of certain points of minor doctrines; he acts differently to me in some practical matters - but he is a sincere Christian. He believes in Christ, he walks in fellowship with God, his life and conversation are holy. Then I must love him, and I ought zealously to endeavor to cement and unite all such together, in the bonds of holy brotherhood.

Let us be zealously attached to the persons of the Lord's people, notwithstanding their differences. We must be viewing them in Christ, loving them for the sake of Christ, and endeavoring to bring them closer and closer to each other. Happy is he who unites differing Christians together. But we cannot think well of him who separates, alienates, and divides them.

We should be zealous for the Lord's cause. He has a cause upon the earth. It is the cause of holiness and truth. It is distinct from the world - but is intended to be a blessing to the world. It is called His Church. The Church in which He dwells, by which He works, through which He communicates His blessings. It is founded on Christ, taught by the Holy Spirit, ruled only by His Word, and intended to carry out His deep and divine purposes.

Every Christian is really identified with it, and should never look upon himself as isolated from it. The cause of God is our cause - and our cause ought to be the cause of God.

We should be zealous therefore, to increase it. To bring sinners under the sound of the Gospel, under the influence of the truth. To lead souls to Jesus, and then into the Church of God. Never should we be satisfied until the largest promises of His Word are fulfilled, until the most glowing predictions are made good. Not one of the Lord's family, male or female, should be happy - but as employed, and employed to the full extent of their ability, in endeavoring to increase the empire of the Messiah.

~James Smith~

(continued with # 3)