| The Ministry of Comfort |
Chapter 14 |
Page 5 |
It is evident, therefore, that we should pay heed to the culture of our spirit, as well as to the development of our energies. Success which takes account only of one’s worldly life and its affairs, and does not also consider one’s attainments in character, in heart qualities, in the spiritual elements of one’s being, will not stand the test of life’s most serious ordeals. It is possible to be growing in the elements which make for power among men and increasing in activities which do good in a community, and yet not to be advancing in grace and beauty of life. Heart culture is essential. It is not in what we have or what we do, but in what we are that the true measure of our character must be taken. We are growing only when our mind is becoming more open to the truth, when the peace of God is possessing us more and more fully, and when we are giving our life more and more unreservedly and sweetly to the service of others in Christ’s name.
It need not be said that all spiritual work in us is wrought by the divine Spirit. Yet we are in danger of missing the real meaning of this truth by putting God far from us instead of understanding that He is with us continually, closer than closest human friend. We never can by any mere self discipline achieve in ourselves the beauty we yearn for, nor attain the gentleness, the peace, the grace which belong to true spiritual culture; but God is ready to work in us and with us if we will admit Him to our life, and then our striving to grow into loveliness will not be in vain.
No influence works upon life so deeply, so thoroughly, with such power for the cleansing and enriching of the nature, as personal friendship with Christ. If we live with Him in close daily companionship, walking with Him, talking with Him, dwelling in the very atmosphere of His presence, continually, our rudeness will be imperceptibly transformed into spiritual refinement and our earthliness into heavenliness. One tells of buying a common clay jar for a few cents, and then filling it with some rare and costly perfume. At length the jar became saturated in all its substance with the rich fragrance. So it is with the commonest life, when it is filled with Christ. The sweetness of His love an the holiness of His Spirit permeate it, until disposition, thought, feeling, and affection become like Christ indeed, and the life is the partaker of the divine nature.
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