Sinning in the Name of the Sinless One

        By A. W. Tozer

        Love suffereth long and is kind; doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own.  ---1 Corinthians 13:4, 5

           Religious acts done out of low motives are twice evil in
        themselves and evil because they are done in the name of God!

           This is equivalent to sinning in the name of the sinless One,
        lying in the name of One who cannot lie and hating in the
        name of the One whose nature is love.

           Christians, and especially very active ones, should take time
        out frequently to search their souls to be sure of their motives.

           Many a solo is sung to show off; many a sermon is preached
        as an exhibition of talent; many a church is founded as a slap
        at some other church.

           Even missionary activity may become competitive, and soul
        winning may degenerate into a sort of 'brush-salesman' project
        to satisfy the flesh.

           A good way to avoid the snare of empty religious activity is
        to appear before God every once in awhile with our Bibles
        open to the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians. This passage, though rated one of the most beautiful in the Bible, is also one of  the severest to be found in Sacred   Writ.

           The apostle takes the highest religious service and consigns it to futility unless it is motivated by love.  Lacking love, prophets and teachers, orators, philanthropists and martyrs are sent away
without reward.

          To sum it up, we may say simply that in the sight of God we are judged not so much by what we do as by our reasons for doing it!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Yours in Christ,
        Paul N. F.