View source for THE WONDROUS RELATIONSHIP

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<p>&quot;Remember&nbsp;<em>the  words of the Lord Jesus</em>, how He said,&quot;<br><br>
  <em>&quot;For  whoever shall do the will of God — the same is My brother, and My sister, and  mother.&quot;</em>&nbsp;— Mark 3:35<br><br>
  As if no solitary earthly type were  enough to image forth the love of Jesus,  He assembles into one verse — a group of the tenderest earthly relationships.  Human affection has to focus its loveliest hues — but all is too little to  adequately expatiate the&nbsp;<em>depth</em><em>&nbsp;</em>and&nbsp;<em>intensity</em><em>&nbsp;</em>of His love. He is &quot;Son,&quot;  &quot;Brother,&quot; &quot;Friend&quot; — all in one; &quot;cleaving closer  than any brother.&quot;<br><br>
  And can we wonder at such language? He  gave&nbsp;<em>Himself</em>&nbsp;for  us; after that pledge of His affection — we must cease to marvel at any  expression of the interest He feels in us. Anything that He can&nbsp;<em>say</em>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<em>do</em>&nbsp;for  us now — is infinitely less than what He<em>has done</em>.<br><br>
  Believer! are you&nbsp;<em>solitary</em><em>&nbsp;</em>and desolate? Has&nbsp;<em>bereavement</em><em>&nbsp;</em>severed earthly ties? Has the grave made forced  estrangements — sundered the closest links of earthly affection? In Jesus you have filial and fraternal love combined; He  is&nbsp;<em>the Friend of friends</em>, whose presence and fellowship compensates for all  losses, and supplies all blanks! If you are orphaned, friendless, comfortless  here, remember that there is in the Elder Brother on the Throne — a love&nbsp;<em>deep</em><em>&nbsp;</em>as the unfathomed ocean, and<em> boundless</em><em>&nbsp;</em>as Eternity!<br><br>
  And&nbsp;<strong>who</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong>are those who can claim the blessedness spoken of  under this wondrous imagery? On&nbsp;<em>whom</em><em>&nbsp;</em>does  He lavish this unutterable affection? No mere outward profession will purchase  it. No church, no priest, no ordinances, no denominational distinctions are  sufficient.<br><br>
  It is for those who are possessed of&nbsp;<em>holy  characters</em>. &quot;He who&nbsp;<em>does</em><em>&nbsp;</em>the will of My Father who is in Heaven!&quot; He  who reflects the mind of Jesus; imbibes His Spirit; takes His Word as the  regulator of his daily walk, and makes His glory the great end of his being; he  who lives&nbsp;<em>to</em>&nbsp;God,  and&nbsp;<em>with</em>&nbsp;God,  and&nbsp;<em>for</em>&nbsp;God;  the humble, lowly, Christ-like, Heaven-seeking Christian — he it is who can  claim as his own this wondrous heritage of love!<br><br>
  If it is a worthy object of ambition to  be loved by the good and the great on earth — then what must it be to have an  eye of love ever beaming upon us from the eternal Throne, in comparison of  which the attachment here of brother, sister, kinsman, friend — all combined —  pales like the stars before the rising sun!<br><br>
  Though we are often ashamed to call Him  &quot;Brother,&quot; &quot;He is not ashamed to call&nbsp;<em>us</em><em>&nbsp;</em>brethren.&quot; He looks down on poor worms, and  says, &quot;<em>These</em><em>&nbsp;</em>are My mother, and sisters, and brothers!&quot;  &quot;I will write upon them,&quot; He says in another place, &quot;My new  name.&quot; Just as we write our name on a book to tell that it belongs to us —  so Jesus would write His own name on&nbsp;<em>us,</em>&nbsp;the<em> wondrous volumes of His grace</em>&nbsp;—  that they may be read and pondered by principalities and powers.<br><br>
  Have we known and believed this  astonishing love of God to us? Ah, how poor has been the requital! Who cannot  subscribe to these holy words: &quot;<em>Your love</em><em>&nbsp;</em>has been as a&nbsp;<em>shower</em><em>&nbsp;</em>to us — but&nbsp;<em>our  return</em><em>&nbsp;</em>but a&nbsp;<em>dew-drop</em>, and that dew-drop is stained with sin!&quot;  &quot;If a man loves Me, he will&nbsp;<em>keep</em><em>&nbsp;</em>My Words; and My Father will love him, and We will  come unto him, and make Our abode with him.&quot;</p>

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