2 Samuel 12:14

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme." 2 Samuel 12:14 .

We are to consider what effect our conduct will have upon outsiders, upon observers who are not kindly disposed towards us or towards our religion. It is in vain to suppose that our evil deeds can be hidden, or can be shorn of their influence, or can be limited to the mere date and occasion of their committal. Even where they are not known publicly they leave their impress upon ourselves; we are weakened by them; our heart is lowered in courage and in moral temperature, and we who might have gone forward like giants refreshed are willing to make any concession or accept any compromise, or settle down upon any terms of humiliation. Every good man would seem to hold the reputation of God in his keeping. Every professor of religion does this in a certain sense. "When the Christian does that which is wrong he brings Jesus Christ himself into disrepute, he crucifies the Son of God afresh; not only does the man himself do that which is evil, but he humbles and grieves the Son of God. The soldier who wears the national uniform aggravates every evil he does by the very fact that he represents the power and grandeur of an empire. For other men to be cowards is bad enough, but for a soldier to be cowardly is unpardonable. For a man of the world to do that which is wrong or unjust is shameful in a high degree, but when a Christian does this he violates all the commandments of God, all the instincts of the new life, and the whole inspiration which he is supposed to derive from Jesus Christ. The contrary argument is of great effect on behalf of Christianity: when Christian men do good they make observers think that the fountain at which they refresh their spiritual life must be heavenly, not earthly; when they forgive their enemies, when they kindly use those who despitefully entreat them, they begin to excite wonder as to the origin of their feeling and the inspiration of their motive. Holiness is an argument. Charity is a mighty weapon of defence. A forgiving spirit is an eloquent sermon.