Chapter 57—Stewards of Influence
Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make
straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the
way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently
lest any man fail of the grace of God.
Hebrews 12:12-15
.
These words should teach us to be very careful how we snap the thread of
our faith by dwelling on our difficulties until they are large in our own eyes,
and in the eyes of others, who cannot read our inner, heart life. All should
remember that the conversation has a great influence for good or for ill....
Do not allow the enemy so to use your tongue.... Do not exert an influence
that will break the hold of any trembling soul from God....
The graces of Christ’s Spirit must be cherished and revealed by the sons
and daughters of God. By their humility, their penitence, their desire to be
like Jesus, to be conformed to His will by practicing His lessons in their
daily life, they honor Him....
“Ye are God’s husbandry” (
1 Corinthians 3:9
). As one takes pleasure in
the cultivation of a garden, so God takes pleasure in His believing sons and
daughters. A garden demands constant labor. The weeds must be removed;
new plants must be set out; branches that are making too rapid development
must be pruned back. So the Lord works for His garden, so He tends His
plants. He cannot take pleasure in any development that does not reveal
the graces of the character of Christ. The blood of Christ has made men
and women God’s precious charge. Then how careful should we be not to
manifest too much freedom in pulling up the plants that God has placed in
His garden! Some plants are so feeble that they have hardly any life, and for
these the Lord has a special care.
In all your transactions with your fellow men, never forget that you are
dealing with God’s property. Be kind; be pitiful; be courteous. Respect
God’s purchased possession. Treat one another with tenderness and courtesy.
Exert every God-given faculty to become examples to others....
93