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196
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students
heart exclaims, “O Lord, I will praise Thee: though Thou wast angry
with me, Thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortedst me.”
Isaiah 12:1
. Such a one will understand by his own experience the
words of Paul, “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Romans
10:10
.
Man then becomes an agent whom God can employ to work
out His purposes. He represents Christ, holding forth to the world
His mercy and love. He has a testimony that he desires others to
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hear. In the language of the psalmist he says, “Bless the Lord, O
my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the
Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgiveth all
thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy
life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and
tender mercies.”
Psalm 103:1-4
.
In Witnessing for Christ
God has given us the gift of speech that we may recite to others
His dealing with us, that His love and compassion may touch other
hearts, and that praise may arise from other souls also to Him who
has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. The Lord
has said, “Ye are My witnesses.”
Isaiah 43:10
. But all who are
called to be witnesses for Christ must learn of Him, that they may be
efficient witnesses. As children of the heavenly King, they should
educate themselves to bear testimony in a clear, distinct voice and
in such a manner that no one may receive the impression that they
are reluctant to tell of the mercies of the Lord.
In social meeting, prayer should be offered so that all may be
edified; those who take part in this exercise should follow the exam-
ple given in the Lord’s beautiful prayer for the world. This prayer
is simple, clear, comprehensive, and yet not long and spiritless, as
the prayers offered in public sometimes are. These spiritless prayers
might better not be uttered; for they are a mere form, without vital
power, and they fail to bless or edify.
The apostle Paul writes: “Even things without life giving sound,
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whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds,
how shall it be known what is piped or harped? for if the trumpet