It Is To GOD That We Owe The First And Highest Duties.

It takes both of these elements to make true religion

(J.R. Miller, "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890)

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem 

called Simeon, who was just and 

devout" Luke 2:25

He was just in all his dealings with men--

and devout in his dealings toward GOD. 

It takes both of these elements 

to make true religion.

Some people are just--

and not devout! 

They are scrupulously honest 

in all their dealings--

and yet they never think of GOD, 

or of their duties to HIM. They do 

not bow to HIM in prayer, nor do 

they ever lift their hearts to HIM 

in praise. They do not love HIM. 

They confess no obligations to HIM. 

Their whole religion simply is honesty 

toward their fellow-men--

while they utterly ignore GOD, 

their CREATOR and REDEEMER, 

in WHOM they live, from WHOSE 

grace every blessing in their lives flows, 

and upon WHOM they are dependent 

every moment for breath and existence. 

It is readily seen, that such religion 

is no religion at all.

While we are just and honest 

in our transactions with men--

it is to GOD that we owe the first 

and highest duties. We are HIS 

creatures; we are saved, if at 

all, by HIS grace; we owe to 

HIM obedience, faith, love, 

honor, service. So we must 

be devout as well as just.

On the other hand, there are some 

people who profess to be devout--

who are not just! 

They attend upon ordinances, 

they sing and pray; and then 

they go out into the week-day 

world, and are hard, unjust, 

greedy, and oppressive! 

It is very evident that this kind 

of religion does not please GOD. 

HE wants our praise and honor--

but HE wants us to honor HIM 

by our lives and actions, 

as well as by our lips.

There are two tables of commandments; 

and the second table commandments 

are as binding as the first. We are to love 

GOD with all our heart (the first table)--

but we are also to love our neighbor as 

ourselves (the second table). 

While we are devout toward GOD--

we are to be honest, true, unselfish 

toward men. The two things must go 

together, and must never be torn asunder!

    ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

GraceGems has published Timothy Shay Arthur's interesting 5 page story,
 "The Last Penny".