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TWO KINDS OF WORSHIPERS
There is nothing so dangerous to the human soul, as pride and self-sufficiency. Never can we safely put confidence in self, or feel this
side of heaven, that we are secure against temptation. Those who accept the Saviour, however sincerely, should not feel they are saved. This is misleading.
Every one should cherish hope and faith while realizing they are not beyond the reach of temptation.
Daniel 12:10 (King James Version) - Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickly: and none
of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Daniel 12:10 (James Moffatt Translation) - Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the
evil shall do evilly; none of the evil shall understand things, it is the pious who understand.
James 1:12 (King James Version) - Blessed be the man that endureth temptation: for when tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James 1:12-25 (James Moffatt Translation) – Blessed is he who endures under trail; for when he has stood the test, he will gain
the crown of life which is promised to all who love Him. Let no one who is tried by temptation say, 'My temptation comes from God'; God is incapable of being tempted by evil and he tempts no one.
Everyone is tempted as he is beguiled and allured by his own desire; then Desire conceives and breeds Sin, while Sin matures and gives birth to Death. Make no mistake about this, my
beloved brothers: all we are given is good, and all our endowments are faultless, descending from above, from the Father of the heavenly lights, who knows no change of rising and
setting, who casts no shadow on the earth. It was his own will that we should be born by the Word of truth, to be a kind of first-fruits among his creatures. Be sure of that, my beloved brothers.
Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to talk, slow to be angry—for human anger does not promote divine righteousness; so clear away all the foul rank growth of malice, and make a soil
of humble modesty for the Word which roots itself inwardly with power to save your souls. Act on the Word, instead of merely listening to it and deluding yourselves. For whoever listens and
does nothing, is like a man who glances at his natural face in a mirror; he glances at himself, goes off, and at once forgets what he was like. Whereas he who gazes into the faultless law of
freedom and remains in that position, proving himself to be no forgetful listener but an active agent, he will be blessed in his activity.
First Corinthians 10:12 (King James Version) - Wherfore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
First Corinthians 10:12,13 (James Moffatt Translation) – So let anyone who thinks he stands secure, take care in case he falls. No
temptation has waylaid you that is beyond man's power; trust God, he will never let you be tempted beyond what you can stand,
but, when temptation comes, he will provide the way out of it, so that you can bear up under it.
Our only safety is in constant distrust of self, and dependence on Christ.
It is only he who knows himself to be a sinner that Christ can save.
Luke 5:31 (King James Version) - And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
Luke 5:31 (James Moffatt Translation) – Jesus replied to them. "Healthy people have no need of a doctor, but those who are ill."
We must know our real condition, or we shall not feel our need of Christ's help. We must understand our danger, or we shall not flee to
refuge. We must feel the pain of our wounds, or we shall not desire healing.
Revelations 3:17,18 (King James Version) - Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable,
and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white rainment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness
do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelations 3:17,18 (James Moffatt Translation) – You declare, 'I am rich, I am well off, I lack nothing!'—not knowing you are a
miserable creature, pitiful, poor, blind, naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich, white raiment to clothe you and prevent the shame of your nakedness
from being seen, and salve to rub on your eyes, that you may see.
The gold tried in the fire is faith that works by love. We may be active, we may do much work; but without love we can never be numbered with the family of heaven.
No man can of himself understand his errors.
Jeremiah 17:9 (King James Version) - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9,10 (James Moffatt Translation) – Deep is a man's mind, deeper than all else, on evil bent; who can fathom it?
"I the Eternal search the mind, I test the heart, rewarding every man as he has lived, and as his deeds deserve."
In one way only can true knowledge of self be obtained. We must behold Christ. It is ignorance of Him that makes men so uplifted in their own righteousness. When we contemplate His purity and
excellence, we shall see that if we are ever saved, it will not be through our own goodness, but through God's infinite grace.
No outward observances can take the place of simple faith and renunciation of self. No man can empty himself of self.
All of our good works are dependent on power outside of ourselves. Therefore there needs to be a continual reaching out of the
heart after God. Only by constant renunciation of self and dependence on Christ can we walk safely.
The nearer we come to Jesus the less we shall feel like exalting ourselves. Those whom heaven recognizes as holy ones are the last to parade their own goodness. As with the apostle Peter whose
weakness of character which had caused his fall, only the grace of Christ could avail. Peter found in himself nothing in which to glory.
None of the apostles or prophets ever claimed to be without sin. Men who lived nearest to God have confessed the sinfulness of their own
nature. They have put no confidence in flesh, have claimed no righteousness of their own, but have trusted wholly in the righteousness of Christ.
Philippians 2:12, 13 (King James Version) - Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12, 13 (James Moffatt Translation) – Therfore, my beloved, as you have been obedient always and not simply when I
was present, so, now that I am absent, work all the more strenuously at your salvation with reverence and trembling, for it is God who in his goodwill enables you to will this and to achieve it.
For it is God which worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. Fear lest self shall interpose between your soul and the great
Master. Fear lest self-will shall mar the high purpose that God, through you, desires to accomplish. Fear to trust to your own strength, fear to
withdraw your hand from the hand of Christ, and attempt to walk life's pathway without His abiding presence.
Shunning things that encourage pride and self-sufficiency is a good thing; therefore one should be more aware of giving or receiving
flattery or praise. It is Satan's work is to flatter. He deals in flattery as well as in accusing and condemnation. Giving praise to men is a bad thing.
Let self be put out of sight. Christ alone is to be exalted.
Some men nevertheless seem to want a dignified religion, desiring to walk in a path wide enough to take in their own attributes. But
self-love, love of popularity and love of praise, usually work toward excluding the Saviour from their hearts, and without Him there comes gloom and sadness.
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