Live Up to Your Profession

[Daily Devotional]

Live Up to Your Profession 

     I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Eph. 4:1.  

     Christ demands that those who take His name honor that name in
spirit and word and deportment. In thought, word, and deed they are to
be Christlike. Those who claim to be Christians and yet do not reveal in
the life the virtues of Christ's character bear witness against the
Saviour. They dishonor Him, putting Him to open shame. . . .  

     The revelation of His grace in humanity is an evidence of the power
of the truth. Those who profess to follow Christ and yet do not reveal
this grace . . . must know that their profession is a fraud. . . . A
professing Christian cannot descend to the world's level without
dishonoring the religion of Christ and making himself disloyal. Such a
one is offensive to God. The Lord cannot own him as His disciple.  

     The Christian is to stand on vantage ground as a laborer together
with God. But he is never to exalt himself. He is firmly to refuse the
inducements presented by those who have no love for truth and
righteousness, but his refusal is to be made in a Christlike spirit, not
Pharisaically, with an attitude which says, "Stand aside; I am holier
than thou." He must show that he cannot enter into sin because he is
pledged by a most holy profession to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. By
precept and example he is to discountenance all departure from Bible
principles. But at the same time, by the manifestation of Christlike
love, he is to make the religion of Christ attractive. He is to allow no
bigotry to be seen in his life, but is to reveal tender compassion for
those who have wandered away from Christ. . . .  

     Walk and work in the spirit of Christ. Stand ever on guard, for
temptations will come, and the Lord's disciples are to be as true as
steel to principle. . . .  

     Be sure to reveal the character of Christ. The Lord will be your
efficiency, your strength, and your exceeding great reward if you will
trust constantly in Him.  

>From That I May Know Him - Page 128