e
us a light in the world. Christians are termed jewels in the Scriptures.
"And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make
up my jewels."

Oh, to be a brilliant jewel,
Sparkling, shining for the Lord,
Polished by the great Refiner,
Washed and winnowed through the blood.

Christian perfection includes soundness and inoffensiveness of speech. "If
any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to
bridle the whole body." Jas. 3:2. We consider this a very strong text, and
an abundance of grace is required to enable us to perfectly fulfil it.

God's Perfection Is The Standard Of Christian Perfection.

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect." Mat. 5:48. The perfection which God designs that Christians
shall have equal with his own relates to the purity of his nature and
affection. In the immediate preceding verses the Savior commands
Christians to love their enemies, bless them that curse them, do good to
them that hate them, and pray for them which despitefully use them and
persecute them. As Christians this is our nature. We will not "render evil
for evil." We will befriend our persecutors, feed our enemy when he
hungers, and give him drink when he thirsts. In verse forty-five the
Savior tells us of the Father's behavior toward his enemies: "He maketh
his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just
and on the unjust." Here we behold the merciful nature of God and how he
does good for evil. If we love only those who love us and do good only to
those who do good to us (ver. 46, 47) we are not in the nature of God; we
are no more than publicans and sinners. But if we love our enemies and do
good to those who hate us, we are reflecting the character of God. In this
respect he would have us to be "perfect, even as he is perfect." O
beloved, see that you entertain right feelings toward all men. Do good to
your enemies; love them, pray for them, and convince them that you are
more than the ordinary sinful man, and God will bless you now and
eternally.

In the parable of the sower and its explanation the Savior said the seed
which fell among thorns are they which hear the word and go forth and are
choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit
to perfection. Luke 8:14. Christian fruit is loving our enemies, doing
them good, doing good unto all men, speaking evil