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Counsels on Sabbath School Work
entrusted to the God-fearing teacher. He is Christ’s worker, and his
special and determined effort should be to save souls from perdition
and win them to Jesus Christ. God will require this at the hands of
teachers. Every one should lead a life of piety, of purity, of painstaking
effort in the discharge of every duty. If the heart is glowing with the
love of God, there will be pure affection, which is essential; prayers
will be fervent, and faithful warnings will be given. Neglect these, and
the souls under your charge are endangered. Better spend less time
in long speeches, or in absorbing study, and attend to these neglected
duties.
Perseverance Rewarded
After all these efforts, teachers may find that some under their
charge will develop unprincipled characters. They are lax in morals as
the result, in many cases, of vicious example and neglected parental
discipline. And teachers doing all they can will fail to bring these
youth to a life of purity and holiness; and after patient discipline,
affectionate labor, and fervent prayer, they will be disappointed by
those from whom they have hoped so much. And in addition to this,
the reproaches of the parents will come to them, because they did
not have power to counteract the influence of their own example and
unwise training. The teacher will have these discouragements after
doing his duty. But he must work on, trusting in God to work with him,
standing at his post manfully, and laboring on in faith. Others will
be saved to God, and their influence will be exerted in saving others.
[124]
Let the minister, the Sabbath school teacher, and the teachers in our
colleges unite heart and soul and purpose in the work of saving our
youth from ruin.—
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 116, 117
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Lifting Up Christ
The gospel is the power and wisdom of God, if it is correctly
represented by those who claim to be Christians. Christ crucified for
our sins should humble every soul before God in his own estimation.
Christ risen from the dead, ascended on high, our living Intercessor
in the presence of God, is the science of salvation, which we need to
learn and teach to children and youth. Said Christ, “I sanctify Myself,
that they might also be sanctified.” This is the work that ever devolves