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Christian Service
them that you have found the pearl of great price. Let your cheerful,
encouraging words show that you have certainly found the higher way.
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This is genuine missionary work, and as it is done, many will awake
as from a dream.—
Testimonies for the Church 9:38
.
Those whom God employs as His instruments may be regarded by
some as inefficient; but if they can pray, if in simplicity they can talk the
truth because they love it, they may reach the people through the Holy
Spirit’s power. As they present the truth in simplicity, reading from the
Word, or recalling incidents of experience, the Holy Spirit makes an
impression on mind and character. The will becomes subordinate to
the will of God; the truth heretofore not understood comes to the heart
with living conviction, and becomes a spiritual reality.—
Testimonies
for the Church 6:444
.
Illustrations Effective
His messages of mercy were varied to suit His audience. He
knew “how to speak a word in season to him that is weary;” for grace
was poured upon His lips, that He might convey to men in the most
attractive way the treasures of truth. He had tact to meet the prejudiced
minds, and surprise them with illustrations that won their attention.
Through the imagination He reached the heart. His illustrations were
taken from the things of daily life, and although they were simple, they
had in them a wonderful depth of meaning. The birds of the air, the
lilies of the field, the seed, the shepherd and the sheep,—with these
objects Christ illustrated immortal truth; and ever afterward, when His
hearers chanced to see these things in nature, they recalled His words.
Christ’s illustrations constantly repeated His lessons.—
The Desire of
Ages, 254
.
The apostles endeavored to impart to these idolaters a knowledge
of God the Creator, and of His Son, the Saviour of the human race.
They first directed attention to the wonderful works of God,—the sun,
the moon, and the stars, the beautiful order of the recurring seasons, the
mighty snow-capped mountains, the lofty trees, and other varied won-
ders of nature, which showed a skill beyond human comprehension.
Through these works of the Almighty, the apostles led the minds of the
heathen to a contemplation of the great Ruler of the universe.—
The
Acts of the Apostles, 180
.
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