Monday, June 05, 2006

A Life Well Lived: Charity and Its Fruits (2)

"What could God have done more for you than he has done?"

"God is seeking your love, and you are under unspeakable obligation to render it."

Jonathan Edwards

"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing"

(1 Cor. 13:1-2, NASB).

From Lecture Two: "Charity More Excellent Than The Extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit."

"What could God have done more for you than he has done? What privilege could he have bestowed, better in itself, or more worthy to engage your heart in thankfulness? And consider how you are living — how little you have done for him — how much you do for self — how little this divine love hath wrought in your heart to incline you to live for God and Christ, and for the extension of his kingdom. Oh, how should such as you, show your sense of your high privileges, by the exercises of love! Love that is manifest toward God in obedience, submission, reverence, cheerfulness, joy, and hope; and toward your neighbor, in meekness, sympathy, humility, charitableness, and doing good to all as you have opportunity."

"God is seeking your love, and you are under unspeakable obligation to render it. The Spirit of God has been poured out wonderfully here. Multitudes have been converted. Scarcely a family has been passed by. In almost every household some have been made nobles, kings, and priests unto God, sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty! What manner of persons, then, ought all of us to be! How holy, serious, just, humble, charitable, devoted in God’s service, and faithful to our fellowmen! As individuals and as a people, God has most richly blessed us, and as both individuals and a people, it becomes us to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, showing forth the praises of him that hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. "

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