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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
companions, and endeavor to draw them to Jesus; Christ should be
in their hearts as a well of water springing up into everlasting life,
refreshing all with whom they come in contact.
It is this willing, loving ministry for others in times of necessity
that is accounted precious with God. Thus even while attending school,
students may, if true to their profession, be living missionaries for God.
All this will take time; but the time thus employed is profitably spent,
for in this way the student is learning how to present Christianity to
the world.
Christ did not refuse to mingle with others in friendly intercourse.
When invited to a feast by Pharisee or publican, He accepted the
invitation. On such occasions every word that He uttered was a savor
of life unto life to His hearers; for He made the dinner hour an occasion
of imparting many precious lessons adapted to their needs. Christ thus
taught His disciples how to conduct themselves when in the company
of those who were not religious as well as of those who were. By
His own example He taught them that, when attending any public
gathering, their conversation need not be of the same character as that
usually indulged in on such occasions.
When students sit at the table, if Christ is abiding in the soul there
will come forth from the treasure house of the heart words which are
pure and uplifting; if Christ is not abiding there, a satisfaction will
be found in frivolity, in jesting and joking, which is a hindrance to
spiritual growth and a cause of grief to the angels of God. The tongue
is an unruly member, but it should not be so. It should be converted;
for the talent of speech is a very precious talent. Christ is ever ready to
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impart of His riches, and we should gather the jewels that come from
Him, that, when we speak, these jewels may drop from our lips.
The temper, the personal peculiarities, the habits from which char-
acter is developed—everything practiced in the home will reveal itself
in all the associations of life. The inclinations followed will work out
in thoughts, in words, in acts of the same character. If every student
composing the school family would make an effort to restrain all un-
kind and uncourteous words, and speak with respect to all; if he would
bear in mind that he is preparing to become a member of the heavenly
family; if he would guard his influence by sacred sentinels, that it
should not scatter away from Christ; if he would endeavor to have
every act of his life show forth the praises of Him who has called him