Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

470 Testimonies for the Church Volume 1[509][510]God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body;and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in allwisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymnsand spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Andwhatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”To the Ephesians he writes: “See then that ye walk circumspectly,not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days areevil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the willof the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; butbe filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymnsand spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to theLord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father inthe name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”God is glorified by songs of praise from a pure heart filled withlove and devotion to Him. When consecrated believers assemble, theirconversation will not be upon the imperfections of others or savor ofmurmuring or complaint; charity, or love, the bond of perfectness, willencircle them. Love to God and their fellow men flows out naturallyin words of affection, sympathy, and esteem for their brethren. Thepeace of God rules in their hearts; their words are not vain, empty,and frivolous, but to the comfort and edification of one another. IfChristians will obey the instructions given to them by Christ and Hisinspired apostles, they will adorn the religion of the Bible and savethemselves severe trials and much perplexity which they attribute totheir afflictions in consequence of believing unpopular truth. This is asad mistake. Very many of their trials are of their own creating becausethey depart from the word of God. They yield to the world, placethemselves upon the enemy’s battlefield, and tempt the devil to temptthem. Those who adhere strictly to the admonitions and instructionsof God’s word, prayerfully seeking to know and do His righteous will,feel not the petty grievances daily occurring. The gratitude which theyfeel, and the peace of God ruling within, cause them to make melodyin their hearts unto the Lord and by words to make mention of thedebt of love and thankfulness due the dear Saviour, who so loved themas to die that they might have life. No one who has an indwellingSaviour will dishonor Him before others by producing strains from a