Chapter 298—Spiritual Exercise a Must
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
1
Corinthians 16:13
.
An elevated standard is presented before the youth, and God is inviting
them to come into real service for Him. True-hearted young men who delight
to be learners in the school of Christ, can do a great work for the Master, if
they will only give heed to the command of the Captain as it sounds down
along the lines to our time, “Quit you like men, be strong.”
Strength comes by exercise. All who put to use the ability which God
has given them will have increased ability to devote to His service. Those
who do nothing in the cause of God will fail to grow in grace and in the
knowledge of the truth. A man who would lie down and refuse to exercise
his limbs would soon lose all power to use them. Thus the Christian who will
not exercise his God-given powers not only fails to grow up into Christ, but
he loses the strength which he already has; he becomes a spiritual paralytic.
It is those who, with love for God and their fellow men, are striving to help
others that become established, strengthened, settled, in the truth. The true
Christian works for God, not from impulse, but from principle; not for a day
or a month, but during the entire period of life.
This world is not a parade ground, but a battlefield. All are called to
endure hardness, as good soldiers. They are to be strong and quit themselves
like men.... The true test of character is found in the willingness to bear
burdens, to take the hard place, to do the work that needs to be done, though
it bring no earthly recognition or reward.
O that each one would place a proper estimate upon the capabilities that
have been given him of God! Through Christ you may climb the ladder of
progress, and bring every power under the control of Jesus.... In your own
strength you can do nothing; but in the grace of Jesus Christ, you can employ
your powers in such a way as to bring the greatest good to your own soul,
and the greatest blessing to the souls of others. Lay hold of Jesus, and you
will diligently work the works of Christ, and will finally receive the eternal
reward.
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