John learned his lesson by
lying on the bosom of JESUS!
(J.R. Miller, "On the Control of Temper" 1898)
Many Christian people are willing
to confess to an ungentle temper.
They seem to think it a matter
of not very grave importance.
Perhaps the very commonness
of the infirmity, blinds our eyes
to its unbeauty and its sinfulness.
We are apt to regard the malady
more as a weakness--
than as a sin which makes
us guilty before GOD.
But there is no question that
bad temper is unchristlike.
We cannot think of JESUS as
acrimonious, touchy, irritable,
peevish, or vindictive. Love
ruled all HIS dispositions,
HIS words, HIS feelings.
HE was put to the sorest tests--
but never failed. HE endured all
manner of wrongs, insults, and
hurts; but, like those flowers
which yield their sweetest
perfume only when crushed--
HIS life gave out the more
sweetness, the more it was
exposed to men's rudeness
and unkindness.
We are like CHRIST, only in
the measure in which we have
the patience, gentleness, and
good-temper of CHRIST.
We all agree that bad temper
is very unlovely in other people.
We know, too, what discomfort and
pain a bad temper causes wherever
the person goes. Bad temper is
not any more lovely in us, as
we appear to others' eyes.
An essential teaching of Christianity,
is that marred human nature can
be changed. The worst temper
can be schooled into the most
divine sweetness of spirit.
The tongue which no man can tame--
CHRIST can tame, so that, instead
of bitterness, it shall give out
only words of love.
Paul was quite an old man when
he said he had learned in whatever
state he was therein, to be content.
His language implies also that it
was not easy for him to learn this
lesson, and that he had not attained
full proficiency in it until he had
reached old age.
The lesson of sweet temper
is probably quite as hard as that
of contentment. It has to be learned,
too, for it does not come naturally.
This lesson can be learned.
We need only to put ourselves
into the school of CHRIST and
stay there, accepting HIS teaching
and discipline, and advancing little
by little, until at last we can say,
"I have learned in whatever
circumstances I am, under
whatever provocation, irritation,
or temptation to anger or impatience--
always to keep sweet-tempered!"
This lesson can be learned.
Among JESUS' own disciple
family, there was one who at first
was hasty, fiery, and vindictive--
but who at length grew into such
sweet beauty of disposition
and character--
that he was known
as the beloved disciple,
the disciple of love.
John learned his lesson by
lying on the bosom of JESUS.
Intimacy with CHRIST, close,
personal friendship with HIM,
living near HIS heart of love,
will transform the most unloving,
selfish nature--into sweetness of spirit!
Such love within the heart--
will soon get control of all the outer life--
the dispositions, the speech, the manners,
and all the expressions of the inner life.
Thus bitterness, wrath, clamor,
and all evil speaking--
will give place to gentleness,
goodness, and grace.
lying on the bosom of JESUS!
(J.R. Miller, "On the Control of Temper" 1898)
Many Christian people are willing
to confess to an ungentle temper.
They seem to think it a matter
of not very grave importance.
Perhaps the very commonness
of the infirmity, blinds our eyes
to its unbeauty and its sinfulness.
We are apt to regard the malady
more as a weakness--
than as a sin which makes
us guilty before GOD.
But there is no question that
bad temper is unchristlike.
We cannot think of JESUS as
acrimonious, touchy, irritable,
peevish, or vindictive. Love
ruled all HIS dispositions,
HIS words, HIS feelings.
HE was put to the sorest tests--
but never failed. HE endured all
manner of wrongs, insults, and
hurts; but, like those flowers
which yield their sweetest
perfume only when crushed--
HIS life gave out the more
sweetness, the more it was
exposed to men's rudeness
and unkindness.
We are like CHRIST, only in
the measure in which we have
the patience, gentleness, and
good-temper of CHRIST.
We all agree that bad temper
is very unlovely in other people.
We know, too, what discomfort and
pain a bad temper causes wherever
the person goes. Bad temper is
not any more lovely in us, as
we appear to others' eyes.
An essential teaching of Christianity,
is that marred human nature can
be changed. The worst temper
can be schooled into the most
divine sweetness of spirit.
The tongue which no man can tame--
CHRIST can tame, so that, instead
of bitterness, it shall give out
only words of love.
Paul was quite an old man when
he said he had learned in whatever
state he was therein, to be content.
His language implies also that it
was not easy for him to learn this
lesson, and that he had not attained
full proficiency in it until he had
reached old age.
The lesson of sweet temper
is probably quite as hard as that
of contentment. It has to be learned,
too, for it does not come naturally.
This lesson can be learned.
We need only to put ourselves
into the school of CHRIST and
stay there, accepting HIS teaching
and discipline, and advancing little
by little, until at last we can say,
"I have learned in whatever
circumstances I am, under
whatever provocation, irritation,
or temptation to anger or impatience--
always to keep sweet-tempered!"
This lesson can be learned.
Among JESUS' own disciple
family, there was one who at first
was hasty, fiery, and vindictive--
but who at length grew into such
sweet beauty of disposition
and character--
that he was known
as the beloved disciple,
the disciple of love.
John learned his lesson by
lying on the bosom of JESUS.
Intimacy with CHRIST, close,
personal friendship with HIM,
living near HIS heart of love,
will transform the most unloving,
selfish nature--into sweetness of spirit!
Such love within the heart--
will soon get control of all the outer life--
the dispositions, the speech, the manners,
and all the expressions of the inner life.
Thus bitterness, wrath, clamor,
and all evil speaking--
will give place to gentleness,
goodness, and grace.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GraceGems has just posted Miller's 3 page article,
"That Will Do!"
This is one of the best character-building articles which Miller has ever written.
Must reading for everyone in the family!
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