Brothers to Sinners and Saints
Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7.
In all who suffer for My name, said Jesus, you are to recognize Me. As you
would minister to Me, so you are to minister to them. This is the evidence
that you are My disciples. {LHU 82.2}
All who have been born into the heavenly family are in a special sense the
brethren of our Lord. The love of Christ binds together the members of His
family, and wherever that love is made manifest there the divine
relationship is revealed. "Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth
God" (1 John 4:7).
Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of
theology, but they have cherished His principles. Through the influence of
the divine Spirit they have been a blessing to those about them. Even among
the heathen are those who have cherished the spirit of kindness; before the
words of life had fallen upon their ears, they have befriended the
missionaries, even ministering to them at the peril of their own lives.
Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the
light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish.
Though ignorant of the written law of God, they have heard His voice
speaking to them in nature, and have done the things that the law required.
Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and
they are recognized as the children of God.
How surprised and gladdened will be the lowly among the nations, and among
the heathen, to hear from the lips of the Saviour, "Inasmuch as ye have done
it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me"! How
glad will be the heart of Infinite Love as His followers look up with
surprise and joy at His words of approval!
But not to any class is Christ's love restricted. He identifies Himself with
every child of humanity. That we might become members of the heavenly
family, He became a member of the earthly family. He is the Son of man, and
thus a brother to every son and daughter of Adam. His followers are not to
feel themselves detached from the perishing world around them. They are a
part of the great web of humanity; and Heaven looks upon them as brothers to
sinners as well as to saints. The fallen, the erring, and the sinful,
Christ's love embraces; and every deed of kindness done to uplift a fallen
soul, every act of mercy, is accepted as done to Him (The Desire of Ages, p.
638).
>From Lift Him Up - Page 82
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