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We Grow Up in Christ, November 20
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, ... but speaking the truth
in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even
Christ.
Ephesians 4:14, 15
.
You cannot weaken your own influence and standing more than in
trying to weaken each other
Constantly let your confidence in your brethren increase, for when you
think evil, you speak evil. Thus you hurt yourself and make yourself weak
when you ought to be strong in God
It is not our privilege to measure the actions of others or to criticize
their failings. God has not made us the bearers of others’ sins. It is with
our own selves we have to do. The more thorough the work of repentance
and reform in our own lives, the less we shall see to criticize in others.
We do wrong when we measure ourselves by the defects we see in others.
God does not do so. He understands the circumstances of every life,
and He measures the human being by the advantages that each one has
had for perfecting a Christian character. He takes into consideration the
opportunities the human agent has had for obtaining a knowledge of God
and His truth. He who has a true estimation of the law of God will not
compare his character with the character of others. He will judge his life
by the holy law of God....
In His instruction to His disciples the Saviour shows how complete
must be the work of eradication of evil. “If thy right eye offend thee,” He
declares, “pluck it out, and cast it from thee.” ...
We are to make continual advancement in the perfecting of Christian
character, that we may be no more “children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, ... but speaking the truth in love, may
grow up unto him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
The growing is a continuous work
[332]
41
Letter 16, 1886
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42
Letter 182, 1901
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43
The Youth’s Instructor, February 11, 1908
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44
Testimonies for the Church 4:367
.
343