“For we also were sometimes foolish, living in
malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” –Tit. iii.3.
“What a dark picture of the state of human
nature and of human society! Whence comes such a sad condition of things, worse
even than we see among animals? The answer is: “From Adam’s Fall.” Just think
how Cain, the first child born on earth, born of man whom God had created, shed
the blood of his brother Abel. Yes, the first child born on earth was the
murderer of his own brother, and came under the power of the devil, who “was a
murderer from the beginning.” “God saw that the wickedness of man was great on
the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only
evil continually.” No wonder that he destroyed mankind by a flood. Yet soon
after the flood there were signs that man was still under the power of sin.
No wonder that man’s love of his own people,
implanted in his heart by nature, soon changed to hatred of other peoples. Love
of country became the fruitful source of race-hatred, war, and bloodshed. Note
how, here in South Africa, God has placed the two races side by side, as in a
school, to see if our Christianity will enable us to overcome race-hatred, and
in the power of Christ’s love, prove that “in the new creature there is neither
Greek nor Jew, barbarian nor Scythian, bond or free, but are all one in Christ
Jesus.”
What an opening there is for the Church of
Christ and her ministers to preach and proclaim the love of God, and to prove
its might to change race-hatred into brotherly love! God has abundant power to
bring this to pass.
What a call to every Christian to pray for
himself and his brethren, that we may not make the Word of God of none effect
by our unbelief!
O God, make known to us Thy love in Heavenly
power, and let it take full possession of our lives!”
-Andrew Murray, (1828-1917) Reformed Pastor in
South Africa, from God’s Best Secrets
Published by Zondervan 1979
USA September 13 Meditation.
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