THE GREAT OBJECT OF OUR LIVES!

To exalt the Lord Jesus,
to comfort His beloved people,
and to benefit our fellow-men--
should be the great object of our lives.

For this purpose we were . . .
  chosen by the Father,
  redeemed by the blood of the Son,
  and are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

To accomplish this end . . .
  grace is given us,
  gifts are conferred upon us,
  and life is continued to us.

We only live consistently--as we live for the benefit of others. No Christian should make SELF his main end; therefore the apostle says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
 
If we are influenced by the grace of God,
if we study to commend ourselves to God,
if we are ruled by the Word of God--
our principal object will be, to "do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

Upon this, we shall keep the eye steadily fixed,
toward this, we shall bend all our energies, and
upon this, we shall habitually set our hearts.

-an excerpt from "Christ Exalted, Saints Comforted, and Sinners Directed", by preacher James Smith, 1855 A.D.


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