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will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ。 Pray more fervently； believe more fully。 As we come to distrust our own power； let us trust the power of our Redeemer； and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance。
The closer you come to Jesus； the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes； for your vision will be clearer； and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature。 This is evidence that Satan's delusions have lost their
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power； that the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you。
No deep…seated love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not realize its own sinfulness。 The soul that is transformed by the grace of Christ will admire His divine character； but if we do not see our own moral deformity； it is unmistakable evidence that we have not had a view of the beauty and excellence of Christ。
The less we see to esteem in ourselves； the more we shall see to esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour。 A view of our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon； and when the soul； realizing its helplessness； reaches out after Christ； He will reveal Himself in power。 The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to the word of God； the more exalted views we shall have of His character； and the more fully we shall reflect His image。
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Growing Up Into Christ
The change of heart by which we become children of God is in the Bible spoken of as birth。 Again； it is compared to the germination of the good seed sown by the husbandman。 In like manner those who are just converted to Christ are； 〃as new…born babes；〃 to 〃grow up〃 to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus。 1 Peter 2：2； Ephesians 4：15。 Or like the good seed sown in the field； they are to grow up and bring forth fruit。 Isaiah says that they shall 〃be called trees of righteousness； the planting of the Lord； that He might be glorified。〃 Isaiah 61：3。 So from natural life； illustrations are drawn； to help us better to understand the mysterious truths of spiritual life。
Not all the wisdom and skill of man can produce life in the smallest object in nature。 It is only through the life which God Himself has imparted； that either plant or animal can live。 So it is only through the life from God that spiritual life is begotten in the hearts of men。 Unless a man is 〃born from above；〃 he cannot become a partaker of the life which Christ came to give。 John 3：3； margin。
As with life； so it is with growth。 It is God who brings the bud to bloom and the flower to fruit。 It is by His power that the seed develops； 〃first the blade； then the ear； after that the full corn in the ear。〃 Mark 4：28。 And the prophet Hosea says of Israel； that 〃he shall grow as the lily。〃 〃They shall revive as the corn； and grow as the vine。〃 Hosea 14：5； 7。 And Jesus bids us 〃consider the lilies how
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they grow。〃 Luke 12：27。 The plants and flowers grow not by their own care or anxiety or effort； but by receiving that which God has furnished to minister to their life。 The child cannot； by any anxiety or power of its own； add to its stature。 No more can you； by anxiety or effort of yourself； secure spiritual growth。 The plant； the child； grows by receiving from its surroundings that which ministers to its life air； sunshine； and food。 What these gifts of nature are to animal and plant； such is Christ to those who trust in Him。 He is their 〃everlasting light；〃 〃a sun and shield。〃 Isaiah 60：19； Psalm 84：11。 He shall be as 〃the dew unto Israel。〃 〃He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass。〃 Hosea 14：5； Psalm 72：6。 He is the living water； 〃the Bread of God 。 。 。 which cometh down from heaven； and giveth life unto the world。〃 John 6：33。
In the matchless gift of His Son； God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe。 All who choose to breathe this life…giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus。
As the flower turns to the sun； that the bright beams may aid in perfecting its beauty and symmetry； so should we turn to the Sun of Righteousness； that heaven's light may shine upon us； that our character may be developed into the likeness of Christ。
Jesus teaches the same thing when He says； 〃Abide in Me； and I in you。 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself； except it abide in the vine； no more can ye； except ye abide in Me。 。 。 。 Without Me ye
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can do nothing。〃 John 15：4； 5。 You are just as dependent upon Christ； in order to live a holy life； as is the branch upon the parent stock for growth and fruitfulness。 Apart from Him you have no life。 You have no power to resist temptation or to grow in grace and holiness。 Abiding in Him； you may flourish。 Drawing your life from Him； you will not wither nor be fruitless。 You will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water。
Many have an idea that they must do some part of the work alone。 They have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin； but now they seek by their own efforts to live aright。 But every such effort must fail。 Jesus says； 〃Without Me ye can do nothing。〃 Our growth in grace； our joy； our usefulness；all depend upon our union with Christ。 It is by communion with Him； daily； hourly；by abiding in Him； that we are to grow in grace。 He is not only the Author； but the Finisher of our faith。 It is Christ first and last and always。 He is to be with us； not only at the beginning and the end of our course； but at every step of the way。 David says； 〃I have set the Lord always before me： because He is at my right hand； I shall not be moved。〃 Psalm 16：8。
Do you ask； 〃How am I to abide in Christ？〃 In the same way as you received Him at first。 〃As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord； so walk ye in Him。〃 〃The just shall live by faith。〃 Colossians 2：6； Hebrews 10：38。 You gave yourself to God； to be His wholly； to serve and obey Him； and you took Christ as your Saviour。 You could not yourself atone for your sins or change your heart； but having given
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yourself to God； you believe that He for Christ's sake did all this for you。 By faith you became Christ's； and by faith you are to grow up in Himby giving and taking。 You are to give all；your heart； your will； your service；give yourself to Him to obey all His requirements； and you must take all；Christ； the fullness of all blessing； to abide in your heart； to be your strength； your righteousness； your everlasting helper；to give you power to obey。
Consecrate yourself to God in the morning； make this your very first work。 Let your prayer be； 〃Take me； O Lord； as wholly Thine。 I lay all my plans at Thy feet。 Use me today in Thy service。 Abide with me； and let all my work be wrought in Thee。〃 This is a daily matter。 Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day。 Surrender all your plans to Him； to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate。 Thus day by day you may be giving your