he had
overcome the world. He gave them his peace and his joy; not sinking
down into the depths of sad helplessness with them, but rather lifting
them up to sympathy with him in his victorious life.

The wondrous hopefulness of Jesus pervades all his ministry on behalf
of others. He was never discouraged. Every sorrow was to him a path
to a deeper joy. Every battle was a way to the blessing of
victoriousness. Every load under which men bent was a secret of new
strength. In all loss gain was infolded. Jesus lived this life
himself; it was no mere theory which he taught to his followers, and
had never tried or proved himself. He never asked his friends to
accept any such untested theories. He lived all his own lessons. He
was not a mere teacher; he was a leader of men. Thus his strong
friendship was full of magnificent inspiration. He called men to new
things in life, and was ready to help them reach the highest
possibilities in achievement and attainment.

This friendship of Jesus is the inspiration which is lifting the world
toward divine ideals. "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw
all men unto me," was the stupendous promise and prophecy of Jesus, as
his eye fell on the shadow of the cross at his feet, and he thought of
the fruits of his great sorrow and the influence of his love. Every
life that is struggling to reach the beauty and perfectness of God's
thought for it is feeling the power of this blessed friendship, and is
being lifted up into the likeness of the Master.

This friendship of Jesus waits as a mighty divine yearning at the door
of every human heart "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock," is its
call. "If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and he with me." This blessed friendship
waits before each life, waits to be accepted, waits to receive
hospitality. Wherever it is received, it inspires in the heart a
heavenly love which transforms the whole life. To be a friend of
Christ is to be a child of God in the goodly fellowship of heaven.

Rev. Dr. Miller's Books

A HEART GARDEN
BUILDING OF CHARACTER
COME YE APART
DR. MILLER'S YEAR BOOK
EVENING THOUGHTS
EVERY DAY OF LIFE
FINDING THE WAY
FOR THE BEST THINGS
GLIMPSES THROUGH LIFE'S WINDOWS
GOLDEN GATE OF PRAYER
HIDDEN LIFE
JOY OF SERVICE
LESSON OF LOVE
MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE
MINISTRY OF COMFORT
MORNING THOUGHTS
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