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!

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    Yours in Christ,
    Paul N. F.