Tag Archives: Women

Cut it off!

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Cut it off!

(J.R. Miller, “Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ” 1890)

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“If your hand or your foot causes you to sin,Ā cut it offĀ and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled–than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire!” Matthew 18:8

Our life is so full ofĀ temptationĀ andĀ peril, that even itsĀ bestĀ things may become stumbling-blocks. Our very qualities of strength, may become fatal forces driving us to eternal ruin.Ā 

Human beauty
Ā is a blessing from God–and yet beauty has proved a snare to many a woman, drawing her away from God.Ā 

Ability to make moneyĀ is a perilous gift,Ā which has led many a man to spiritual ruin. It is better to altogether throw away the money-making ability, and go poor through life with the talent wasted and shriveled, and reach Heaven–than to exercise the ability and grow rich, and be lost forever! These are illustrations of our Lord’s meaning when He speaks of ‘cutting off’ the hand or the foot which causes us to sin.

The appetites, desires, and affections–are part of the glory of humanity; and yet, when they areĀ unbridled,Ā they have whirled many a noble life to eternal destruction!

A steam-boat came into port which had long been out on the sea. An accident had happened which caused delay. TheĀ coalĀ gave out; then all that would burn–cargo, stores, furniture–had to be burned up, in order to bring the vessel home. At last she gained the shore,Ā but stripped of everything of value. Yet it was better to burn up all her cargo and stores,Ā than perish at sea.

Just so, some men can get to Heaven,Ā only by sacrificing every earthly pleasure and crucifying every sinful desire; but who will say that theĀ prizeĀ is not worth theĀ sacrifice?Ā 
TheĀ handĀ would be better chopped off
,Ā than steal or strike down another.Ā 
TheĀ footĀ would be better cut off
,Ā than carry one into crime or sin.Ā 
TheĀ eyeĀ would be better plucked-out
,Ā than by its lustful gazing set the soul on fire.Ā 
A man on a wrecked vessel had betterĀ throw his bags of gold into the seaĀ and have his life saved–than hold on to the gold and sink into the waves!

Ā 

You shall love him!

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You shall love him!

(J. R. Miller, “Loving Your Neighbor”)

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“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”Ā Mark 12:31

What is it toĀ loveĀ our neighbor? It is theĀ lovingĀ that is hard. We could do almost anything else, short of loving unpleasant neighbors.

ButĀ loveĀ is the word–and noĀ revised versionĀ changes it. No matter how disagreeable, unlovely, unworthy, our neighbors may be–still the commandment persistently and relentlessly says to us, “You shall love him!

Our neighbors are around us all the time, needing our love. Indeed, they touch our lives so continually, that we mustĀ guardĀ our every look, word, and act–lest we hurt some sensitive spirit.Ā 

Some people seem to forget thatĀ other people have feelings. They are constantly saying words and doing things which give pain. True love isĀ thoughtful. We ought to train our hearts to theĀ most delicate sense of kindness, that we may never, even jokingly, give pain to any other human being.

Our neighbors haveĀ hearts, and we owe to every one of them–theĀ beggarĀ we meet on the street, thedegraded wretchĀ we find crawling in the mire of sin’s debasement, theĀ enemyĀ who flings his insults in our face–to every one, we owe the love that is thoughtful, gentle, and gives no hurt.

Our love ought also to beĀ patient. Our neighbor will have his faults. But we are taught to bear with one another’s infirmities.Ā 

If we knew the story of men’s lives, theĀ hidden burdensĀ they are often carrying, theĀ unhealed woundsin their heart–we would have most gentle patience with them.Ā Life is hard for most people, certainly hard enough without our adding to its burdens–by our criticisms, our jeering and contempt, and our lack of love.

A great and noble army of holy women

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A great and noble army of holy women

(J.R. Miller, “Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ” 1890)Ā 

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(You will find it helpful toĀ listen to the audio above, as youĀ read the text below.)

“And manyĀ womenĀ were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee,Ā ministeringĀ unto Him” Matthew 27:55

These were theĀ earliestĀ ofĀ a great and noble army of holy women–attached to Christ by deep, personal love, following and ministering unto Him.Ā 

In all the ages since,Ā Christian womenĀ have shown similarĀ devotionĀ andĀ constancyĀ to Christ–and similar heroic love inĀ servingĀ Him. The record ofĀ women’s ministry to Christ, is one of the brightest in all the world’s history!

Women owe an incalculable debt to Christ. He has lifted them up from base thraldom and from degradation. Women have always beenĀ gratefulĀ too, and haveĀ servedĀ Christ with great devotion.Ā 

Women are found in everyĀ sickroom, bending over the sufferer with unwearying solicitude, with matchless tenderness ministering to bodily comfort, and pouring the warmth of affection upon feverish spirits. They are found in the wards of hospitals, and upon battlefields, moving likeĀ God’s angelsĀ in blessed, loving ministry.

FaithfulĀ Christian mothersĀ are following the Master and doing work which will shine forever in glorious luster!Ā 

FaithfulĀ Christian Sunday school teachersĀ are doing quiet service in lowly paths–which in God’s sight, is nobler than that of many of earth’s famous ones!

Everywhere, too, there is anĀ open fieldĀ for woman’s ministry. Christ is no longer here inĀ personĀ to be served, as He was served by these women who followed Him from Galilee; butĀ in His needy and suffering followers, He is ever present; and whoever will, may minister unto Him! For He said that in doing acts of kindness to the least of His people, we do them unto Him.

Much practical teaching is in this picture, which is here held up before every woman, inspiring her to wholeheartedly follow Christ.Ā 

Why do so many young Christian girls choose a life . . .
Ā  of idleness,
Ā  of love of pleasure,
Ā  of aimless, purposeless existence,
Ā  of mere dressing, promenading, and trifling–
when suchĀ a life of glorious serviceĀ is open to them?

Ā 


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