December 19Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off — 1 Kings 20:11.
The test of endurance is certainly one of the severest tests of faithfulness to which the elect Church is subjected. It is the test which gauges and registers the strength of every other virtue and grace, and no soldier of the cross will be crowned with the laurels of victory who has not stood this test. … In the battle of this day, as in all other battles, the effort of the enemy is to surprise and suddenly attack and overwhelm the Lord's people; and the only preparation, therefore, that can be made for such emergencies is constant vigilance and prayer and the putting on of the whole armor of God—the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth—Z '94, 155 (R 1656). While the Lord's people may and do glory in the Lord, it is unseemly for them to boast; for that is nothing less than self-laudation. There may be some justification to speak at times of our past achievements modestly, but never boastingly. Much less is it in order to boast of future acts whose performance is uncertain. Such boasting exalts self, usually disparages others, and almost invariably insults God. The boaster not only usually fails to make good but also usually achieves disaster. There is no room for boasting in ourselves. What have we that we have not received? Should the beggar boast of the alms that he receives? Is not the good that we have attained of the Lord's grace? Let us, therefore, be zealous to give Him the glory for our place and attainments, and to think of ourselves as the objects of His unmerited goodness and love—P '35, 172. Parallel passages: Prov. 27:1; Isa. 10:15; Psa. 49:6-9; 52:1; 94:4; Rom. 3:27; 11:17-21; 1 Cor. 1:17-31; 4:6, 7; 2 Cor. 10:12-17; Eph. 2:8-10. Hymns: 184, 13, 15, 63, 123, 135, 291. Poems of Dawn, 236: Deeds, Not Words. Tower Reading: Z '94, 155 (R 1656). Questions: Have I boasted this week? How? Why? With what results? |
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DEEDS, NOT WORDS
THEY do the least
Who talk the most,
Whose good designs
Are all their boast;
Let words be few.
They do the most
Whose lives possess
The sterling stamp
Of righteousness;
For deeds are true.
THEY do the least
Who talk the most,
Whose good designs
Are all their boast;
Let words be few.
They do the most
Whose lives possess
The sterling stamp
Of righteousness;
For deeds are true.