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Capabilities Increase as Spirituality Increases,
November 11
As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all
learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions
and dreams.
Daniel 1:17
.
The ignorance of many is voluntary and inexcusable
Some young persons ... do not improve their advantages. They would
like to read and write accurately, but the price of excellence is hard work,
and they will not pay it. They remind me of the youth whose father sent
him to school, and gave him every advantage for gaining a good education;
but he neglected to study, saying that his father was able to give him a
liberal education, and he was not going to bother his brains about it. You
will all say at once that he would remain ignorant, for there is no royal
road to learning. But wishing for a healthy religious experience without
making earnest, self-denying effort, will be equally useless. Sighing over
your ignorance of divine things will never make you wise unto salvation.
There are ten thousand sluggish tears and sighs toward heaven that will
never win one smile of approval from Jesus. Do not think that a Christian
experience will come to you of itself. When you make up your mind to do
something on which your heart is set, you do not give up for difficulties,
but try again and again
Daniel and his three companions ... were well-balanced because they
had yielded themselves to the control of the Holy Spirit. These youth gave
to God all the glory of their secular, scientific, and religious endowments.
Their learning did not come by chance; they obtained knowledge by the
faithful use of their powers; and God gave them skill and understanding
As in the case of Daniel, in exact proportion as the spiritual character
is developed, the intellectual capabilities are increased
The Lord will co-operate with all who earnestly strive to be faithful in
His service, as He co-operated with Daniel and his three companions
[323]
26
The General Conference Bulletin, July 1, 1900
.
27
The Youth’s Instructor, January 30, 1884
.
28
Letter 57, 1896
.
29
The Review and Herald, March 22, 1898
.
30
The Youth’s Instructor, August 20, 1903
.
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