November 10Love … rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth — 1 Cor. 13:4, 6.
Are the principles of right and wrong so firmly fixed in my mind, and am I so thoroughly in accord with the right and so opposed to the wrong, that I would not encourage the wrong, but must condemn it, even if it brought advantage to me? Am I so in accord with right, with truth, that I could not avoid rejoicing in the Truth and in its prosperity, even to the upsetting of some of my preconceived opinions, or to the disadvantage of some of my earthly interests? The love of God, which the Apostle is here describing as the spirit of the Lord's people, is a love which is far above selfishness, and is based upon fixed principles which should, day by day, be more and more distinctly discerned, and always firmly adhered to at any cost—Z '03, 57 (R 3150). Iniquity is untruth in theory and practice. Charity, being based on a delight in good principles, cannot rejoice in iniquity. While it sympathizes with the brethren and pities the world in their iniquities, it is pained and distressed by the latter, which it abhors correspondingly as it rejoices in the Truth in theory and practice. It cannot but rejoice in God's Plan and Spirit because they are the embodiment of every good principle in faith and conduct. It rejoices in the principles, aims, conflicts, works, successes, triumphs and spirit of the Truth, and that because of its delight in good principles and things—P '32, 167. Parallel passages: Psa. 10:3; Rom. 1:32; 2 John 4; Neh. 8:10-12; Psa. 9:2; 13:5; 19:8; 40:16; 46:4; 89:15; 97:11, 12; 119:1, 16, 55, 111, 165; Isa. 12; Jer. 15:16; Heb. 10:34; 1 Pet. 1:8; Acts 11:18, 22, 23. Hymns: 95, 130, 136, 165, 149, 179, 204. Poems of Dawn, 120: Master, Say On! Tower Reading: Z '02, 197 (R 3033). Questions: Have I this week rejoiced in iniquity or in the Truth? Why? How? With what results? |
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MASTER, SAY ON!
MASTER, speak! Thy servant heareth,
Longing for Thy gracious word,
Longing for Thy voice that cheereth;
Master, let it now be heard.
I am listening, Lord, for Thee;
What hast Thou to say to me?
Often through my heart is pealing
Many another voice than Thine,
Many an unwilled echo stealing
From the walls of this Thy shrine.
Let Thy longed-for accents fall;
Master, speak! and silence all.
Master, speak! I cannot doubt Thee;
Thou wilt through life's pathway lead;
Savior, Shepherd, oh! without Thee
Life would be a blank indeed.
Yet I seek still fuller light,
Deeper love, and clearer sight.
Resting on the "faithful saying,"
Trusting what Thy gospel saith,
On Thy written promise staying
All my hope in life and death;—
Yet I ask for more and more
From Thy love's exhaustless store.
Master, speak! And make me ready,
As Thy voice is daily heard,
With obedience glad and steady
Still to follow every word.
I am listening, Lord, for Thee:
Master, speak, speak on, to me!
MASTER, speak! Thy servant heareth,
Longing for Thy gracious word,
Longing for Thy voice that cheereth;
Master, let it now be heard.
I am listening, Lord, for Thee;
What hast Thou to say to me?
Often through my heart is pealing
Many another voice than Thine,
Many an unwilled echo stealing
From the walls of this Thy shrine.
Let Thy longed-for accents fall;
Master, speak! and silence all.
Master, speak! I cannot doubt Thee;
Thou wilt through life's pathway lead;
Savior, Shepherd, oh! without Thee
Life would be a blank indeed.
Yet I seek still fuller light,
Deeper love, and clearer sight.
Resting on the "faithful saying,"
Trusting what Thy gospel saith,
On Thy written promise staying
All my hope in life and death;—
Yet I ask for more and more
From Thy love's exhaustless store.
Master, speak! And make me ready,
As Thy voice is daily heard,
With obedience glad and steady
Still to follow every word.
I am listening, Lord, for Thee:
Master, speak, speak on, to me!
