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Peter’s Counsel to Parents
dependent, He will wash us in His own blood, put His Spirit within us,
and make us to reflect His image.
Round three: Knowledge—Benefits from associating with Christ
Every moment of our lives is intensely real, and charged with
solemn responsibilities. Ignorance will be no excuse for lack of spir-
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itual understanding and attainment; for we are exhorted to add to
virtue, knowledge. Many are very ignorant of Bible truth, and they do
not realize the duty and necessity of becoming intelligent Christians.
The disciples learned of Jesus, and men perceived the benefits of His
association and service, as they saw the change in these men. The
uncultured fishermen became men of refinement and ability; and the
lessons that they were privileged to learn are written for our admoni-
tion and instruction. We are invited to become learners in the school
of Christ. We need to acquire all the knowledge possible. We cannot
afford to be ignorant of the things that pertain to our eternal welfare.
If all would cease gossip and evil communication, devoting the time to
contemplation of Christ and the plan of salvation, they would add the
knowledge essential to a growth in grace. We are to add knowledge
from “whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, what-
soever things are of good report.” God wants us to understand why He
has placed us in the world, and given us the sacred burden of life to
bear. He would have us develop the faculties of mind and body, that
we may be a blessing to those around us, and that His glory may be
reflected from us to the world. It is not His will that our powers should
be bound up in torpid stupidity and ignorance. “God is light, and in
him is no darkness at all.”
Round four: Temperance
“And to knowledge temperance.” This is the ... [fourth] step in the
path toward perfection of character. On every side there is indulgence
and dissipation, and the result is degeneration and corruption. The
inhabitants of our earth are depreciating in mental, moral, and physical
power, because of the intemperate habits of society. Appetite, passion,
and love of display are carrying the multitudes into the greatest ex-
cesses and extravagance. Temptations present themselves on every