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Daily Devotionals
Music For the Soul
Devotional: February 22nd

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THE CHRISTIAN’S CHARACTER

And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 5:23

A PRIEST must be pure. And Christ washes us from all stain, and clothes us in priestly garments of holiness, which is better than innocence; for His blood cleanses from all sin, and the spirit which He puts within all who have faith in Him makes them love righteousness and hate iniquity.

Thus consecrated, admitted to the innermost shrine, appointed to offer the richest sacrifice of self, and clothed in purity, they who were captives of sin are made priests of the Most High God.

Their double dignity is but part of their assimilation to their Lord. Every one that is perfect shall be as his Master, and even here on earth the Christian life is the life of Christ in the soul, and consists in growing likeness to Him. Is He a King? So are we. Is He a Priest? So, therefore, are we. Is He a Son? So are we. Is He the Heir? So are we. Is He the "Anointed?" "He that in Christ hath anointed us is God." His offices, His dignity, His character, His very life becomes ours, if we are His.

This royal diadem and priestly mitre are offered to us all. They are the prerogative of no class. Earthly royalties have no place within the church of the redeemed, where all are brethren; and not even an apostle has "dominion over " his brethren’s "faith." There is no place in it for human priests who offer outward sacrifices and claim a special standing as channels of sacramental grace. We may all have Christ’s hand laid on our heads, which will make us kings and priests to God by a true coronation and ordination. If we come to Him in penitence and faith, as knowing our sins and looking to Him to loose us from them by His own blood, He will set us on high to reign as the vassal kings of His great empire, and bring us near, that we may stand ministering before the Lord the sweet savored offering of our ransomed selves. Thus we shall be kings and priests here, and look forward to dim glories yet to come, when we shall reign with Him as kings, and as His servants shall do priestly service in the Eternal Temple.

The one question for us all is. Do our eyes fix and fasten on that dear Lord, and is it the description of our whole lives, that we see Him and walk with Him? Oh! if so, then life will be blessed, and death itself will be but as "a little while," when we "shall not see Him," and then we shall open our eyes and behold Him close at hand, whom we saw from afar, and with wandering eyes, amidst the mists and illusions of earth. To see Him as He has become for our sakes is heaven on earth. To see Him as He is will be the heaven of heaven; and before that Face, as the sun shining in his strength, all sorrows, difficulties, and mysteries will melt as morning mists.

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