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Section 3—The Christian Physician and His Work
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Choice of Associates
Do not choose the society of those who are the servants of sin,
and thus place yourself in temptation. Nobility of character is not
gained by placing oneself in objectionable society. Do not put on
one side the grand requirements of the word of God. Your only hope
is in placing yourself in right relation to God. You have supposed
that you could so harden your heart that you would be regardless
of truth and righteousness. But this you have not been able to do.
You have longed to clasp the hand of One who could be a stay, a
strength, a support.
God’s purpose for us is that we shall ever move upward. Even in
the smaller duties of common life we are to make continual growth
in grace, supplied with high and holy motives, powerful because they
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proceed from One who gave His life to furnish us with the incentive
to be wholly successful in the formation of Christian character.
Christ has made an atonement for you. You are not to go through
life with a half-formed character. You are to be strong in the strength
of God, grounded in the hope of the gospel. You are acquainted with
God’s requirements, and I beg of you not to remain a weakling....
I am very hopeful that you will become all that the Lord desires
you to be—a gospel medical missionary. You are to be not only
an increasingly skillful physician, but one of the Lord’s appointed
missionaries, in all your work placing His service first.
Give Christ the Best
Let nothing mar your peace. Give your heart’s best and holiest
affections to Him who gave His life that you might be among the
redeemed family in the heavenly courts. Striving for the crown of
life will not make you dissatisfied or less useful. The Great Teacher
desires to acknowledge you as His helping hand. He calls for your
cooperation. Will you not now give Him all that you have and are?
Will you not consecrate your talents to His service?
This life is your sowing time. Will you not pledge yourself to
God that your seed sowing shall be that which will produce, not
tares, but a harvest of wheat? God will work with you; He will
increase your usefulness. He has entrusted to you talents that in His