Teacher and His Work
69
them such an example. He who would be accepted as a laborer together
with God must not be found imitating the tone, manners, or ideas of
any other man. He must learn of God, and be endowed with heavenly
wisdom. God has given the gift of reason and intellect to one worker
the same as He has to another; and according to your ability you are to
put your talents out to the exchangers. The Lord would not have any
worker the mere shadow of another whom he admires. The teacher
must grow up into the measure of the stature of Christ, not to the
measure of some finite erring mortal. You are to “grow in grace,” and
where is grace to be found?—Only in Christ, the divine Pattern.
Then let every one look to Christ and copy the divine Model. Let
every worker tax his powers to the utmost to work in harmony with
the plan of God. Let him learn in the school of Christ, that he may be
wise in instructing others. Those who are committed to the care of the
teacher in the Sabbath school will need the wisdom and experience that
God can give to the follower of Christ. Let the teacher learn of Christ’s
meekness and lowliness of heart, that he may be a true teacher, and win
his pupils to Christ, that they, in turn, may become faithful missionaries
in the great harvest field.—
Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, 76,
77
.
Love the Constraining Power
There is altogether too little sympathy brought into our labor for
souls. There is not that beseeching, wooing, drawing power that God
[107]
requires us to exert that souls may be reconciled to Him. If we teach the
truth as it is in Jesus, religion will not be regarded as a drudgery, but as
a delight. Let the teachers bring sunshine, gratitude, and hearts full of
tenderness and Christlike compassion, into their work, and leaven the
hearts of their scholars with the spirit of unselfish love; for this is the
spirit that pervades heaven. Shall not the workers in the Sabbath school
divest themselves of all pride and self-love, and heartily and sincerely
become doers of the word? “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Genuine
faith confides in Christ, and renders implicit submission, consenting to
follow Him wheresoever He goeth. When this is fulfilled, as a result of
well-directed efforts, many souls will be brought as precious sheaves
to the Master.