January-March
Genuine faith is operative and is made perfect by works (James 2:22; Galatians 5:6). It is a Bible declaration “that faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). And a dead faith will not sanctify anyone.
To the Romans Paul writes, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). Here is an exhortation for the brethren at Rome to present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, etc. A living sacrifice will show signs of life.
To the Corinthians Paul writes, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:26, 27). In this text we see the necessity of keeping the body under, and bringing it into subjection, i.e., into obedience to God and His truth. If Paul failed to do this he would run as uncertainly, fight as one that beateth the air, and be a castaway.
But to come more directly to the subject, we will consider the principal parts and faculties of the body, beginning with . . .
The senses are five in number, and which are commonly designated as follows: hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling, and feeling. It is through the senses that ideas are conveyed to the mind. The senses are, as it were, roads through which ideas travel to reach the mind. The sanctification of the senses consists in closing them against sinful impressions and ideas and in opening them to useful and holy impressions and thoughts. Close your senses against unholy impressions and thoughts, and they will not be so apt to invade your mind, and you will better resist the temptations of the enemy. Shut your windows and thieves will not so easily enter your dwelling. Job made a covenant with his eyes that he might not sin, Job 31:1–3, and David prayed, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way” (Psalm 119:37). He also said, “Mine eyes fail for thy word.” “Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.” “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” (verses 82, 123; 101:3).
“The ear of the wise,” says Solomon, “seeketh knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15). It is attentive to the word of God. But those whose hearts are opposed to God’s ways do not love to listen to the truth. They love to hear smooth things and will not hear the law of the Lord (Isaiah 30:8–11). Paul speaks of some who “shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:4). But the wise man says, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).
Christians should set a guard on all their senses. By doing this it will be easier to fix the attention on holy thoughts, and keep the mind from wandering. The mind is often in danger of being diverted from proper thoughts by the senses; and Christians cannot keep the Sabbath aright while they carelessly open their senses to those secular objects and impressions which have interested them during the six laboring days.
Especially should inexperienced children and youth be taught with regard to the right use of the senses, and see the necessity of receiving right impressions. It often becomes necessary for children as well as older persons to shut their eyes and stop their ears against sin. The ears were not made to feast on error and the foolish and simple conversation of the wicked; neither were the eyes designed to behold and feast on vanity. Christ often said to his hearers, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Again He said, "Blessed are your eyes; for they see: and your ears, for they hear" (Matthew 13:16).
It was indeed blessed to see Christ and the works that He performed, and to hear His rich instructions. But is it not also blessed to see the glorious work that is now going on under the last message of mercy? and to hear the messengers of truth speak in reference to our whereabouts and the necessary preparation to stand amid the perils of the last days, and to meet the Son of Man at His coming? God grant that we may duly appreciate our privileges and realize the blessedness resulting from a proper use of all the senses!
The all-wise Creator has implanted in our natures certain appetites, and it is evident that they were designed to help in perpetuating our existence, in promoting our well-being, and in carrying out the great object for which we were made.
As the appetites are peculiar to the body, it is clear that they were made to be governed by reason. Their very nature forbids the idea of their leading the individual, and shows that they should be in subjection to the higher faculties of our beings. But in consequence of the Fall and the inroads that sin has made in the children of humans, the appetites are naturally inclined to go beyond the limits assigned unto them, and usurp the authority of the higher faculties. Sanctification brings the appetites within their proper limits—under the direction and control of enlightened reason.
Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of God. Now to do this we must, as far as possible, eat and drink that which is sanitary, and avoid intemperance. We should consult the stomach and the state of the health more than the appetites; for it is not always what suits the appetites the best, that is most conducive to the health of the body. We should select for the appetites, and cultivate and cherish a taste for healthy food.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
We should eat and drink more for need than for pleasure. If pleasure is the great end we have in view, then we do not eat and drink to the glory of God but to the glory of our appetites. Then eating and drinking becomes an inordinate action, because it is not in the way to the end for which it was designed.
How can we have power to carry out all this wise counsel? Just remember, “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). When temptation comes, flee to the tower of your strength! “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).