Dignity Without Pride

[Daily Devotional]

Dignity Without Pride 

     My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. . .
. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall
not reproach me so long as I live. Job 27:4-6.  

     We should preserve the strictest chastity in thought, and word, and
deportment. Let us remember that God sets our secret sins in the light
of His countenance. There are thoughts and feelings suggested and
aroused by Satan that annoy even the best of men, but if they are not
cherished, if they are repulsed as hateful, the soul is not contaminated
with guilt, and no other is defiled by their influence. O that we each
might become a savor of life unto life to those around us!  

     There is great need of a deeper appreciation of the holy truth of
God. If all had a realization of the solemnity and weight of the
message, many sins that are now carelessly committed would cease from
among us. Is there not too often the common thought and communication
mingled with the sacred themes of truth? Wherever this is done, the
standard is lowered. Your example leads others to regard the truth
lightly, and this is one of the greatest sins in the sight of God.  

     It is the privilege of every one to so live that God will approve
and bless him. You may be hourly in communion with Heaven; it is not the
will of your heavenly Father that you should ever be under condemnation
and darkness. It is not pleasing to God that you should demerit
yourself. You should cultivate self-respect by living so that you will
be approved by your own conscience, and before men and angels.  

     It is not an evidence of true humlity that you go with your head
bowed down and your heart filled with thoughts of self. It is your
privilege to go to Jesus and be cleansed, and to stand before the law
without shame and remorse. "There is therefore now no condemnation to
them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after
the Spirit" (Rom. 8:1). While we should not think of ourselves more
highly than we ought, the Word of God does not condemn a proper
self-respect. As sons and daughters of God we should have a conscious
dignity of character, in which pride and self-importance have no part  

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