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The Voice of Christ
My child, stand firm and trust in Me. For what are
words but words? They fly through the air but hurt
not a stone. If you are guilty, consider how you
would gladly amend. If you are not conscious of any
fault, think that you wish to bear this for the sake
of God. It is little enough for you occasionally to
endure words, since you are not yet strong enough to
bear hard blows.
And why do such small matters pierce you to the
heart, unless because you are still carnal and pay
more heed to men than you ought? You do not wish to
be reproved for your faults and you seek shelter in
excuses because you are afraid of being despised. But
look into yourself more thoroughly and you will learn
that the world is still alive in you, in a vain
desire to please men. For when you shrink from being
abased and confounded for your failings, it is plain
indeed that you are not truly humble or truly dead to
the world, and that the world is not crucified in
you.
Listen to My word, and you will not value ten
thousand words of men. Behold, if every malicious
thing that could possibly be invented were uttered
against you, what harm could it do if you ignored it
all and gave it no more thought than you would a
blade of grass? Could it so much as pluck one hair
from your head?He who does not keep his heart
within him, and who does not have God before his eyes
is easily moved by a word of disparagement. He who
trusts in Me, on the other hand, and who has no
desire to stand by his own judgment, will be free
from the fear of men. For I am the judge and
discerner of all secrets. I know how all things
happen. I know who causes injury and who suffers it.
From Me that word proceeded, and with My permission
it happened, that out of many hearts thoughts may be
revealed. I shall judge the guilty and the innocent;
but I have wished beforehand to try them both by
secret judgment.
The testimony of man is often deceiving, but My
judgment is true -- it will stand and not be
overthrown. It is hidden from many and made known to
but a few. Yet it is never mistaken and cannot be
mistaken even though it does not seem right in the
eyes of the unwise.
To Me, therefore, you ought to come in every
decision, not depending on your own judgment. For the
just man will not be disturbed, no matter what may
befall him from God. Even if an unjust charge be made
against him he will not be much troubled. Neither
will he exult vainly if through others he is justly
acquitted. He considers that it is I Who search the
hearts and inmost thoughts of men, that I do not
judge according to the face of things or human
appearances. For what the judgment of men considers
praiseworthy is often worthy of blame in My sight.
The Disciple
O Lord God, just Judge, strong and patient, You Who
know the weakness and depravity of men, be my
strength and all my confidence, for my own conscience
is not sufficient for me. You know what I do not
know, and, therefore, I ought to humble myself
whenever I am accused and bear it meekly. Forgive me,
then, in Your mercy for my every failure in this
regard, and give me once more the
grace of greater endurance. Better to me is Your
abundant mercy in obtaining pardon than the justice
which I imagine in defending the secrets of my
conscience. And though I am not conscious to myself
of any fault, yet I cannot thereby justify myself,
because without Your mercy no man living will be
justified in Your sight.
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