| The Best Things in Life |
Chapter 4 |
Page 5 |
We need to look well to the culture of our lives, that in every feature they may be beautiful, and that we may be blessing to others in the largest measure. And in no way can we attain such spiritual culture so surely, so richly, as by letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. Peace is the composite of all the graces. Love, joy, gentleness, thoughtfulness, humility, kindness, patience – all are blended in peace. The absence of peace in a heart produces a life without beauty. Peace ruling in the heart gives a life that is full of all lovely things.
Christ wants us to be beautiful. There is a little prayer in the ninetieth Psalm which means a great deal – “Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.” God himself is beautiful. All moral excellences are in him – truth, justice, purity, patience, gentleness, long suffering, love; and the ideal Christian life is one in which all these features and qualities are found. A Christian ought to be gentle like his Master, full of helpfulness, good tempered, slow to anger, enduring wrong without resentment, returning good for evil, refined and courteous, sincere in his friendships, in honour preferring others, humble, not seeking his own advancement. As Christian people, we should seek to be like our Master in all things; we should be above reproach, without blame in all matters, even in what may be called the minor moralities.
Our dispositions should be sweet and our conduct in all things so beautiful that all who know us, or do business with us, or are associated with us in any capacity, will testify to our Christ likeness, and will receive from their contacts with us touches of blessing and of beauty. The way to have such a character, such a disposition, is to let the peace of Christ have sway in our hearts.
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