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Study to Be Approved, April 20
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men,
apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose
themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth.
2 Timothy 2:24, 25
.
Every one engaging in the work needs these words framed and hung in
memory’s hall: “We are labourers together with God” (
1 Corinthians 3:9
).
Then there will not be so many decided failures in the efforts made to win
souls to Jesus Christ. There is need of bringing them to the foundation, and
building them into a firm structure, that will abide the fires of the last great
day. The people cannot be reached, and their hearts broken, except by God’s
divine power (see
1 Corinthians 3:9-15
)....
Let the men who are engaged in the solemn work of bearing the last
message to the world, heed the exhortation of Paul, “Preach the Word.”
Not the science of phrenology, or the productions from human speculations,
but listen to the words of inspiration addressed to Timothy: “I charge thee
therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick
and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant
in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned
unto fables” (
2 Timothy 4:1-4
)....
The minister of the gospel is never exhorted to strive to be a smart preacher,
a popular speaker, but is commanded to “study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto
more ungodliness” (
chap. 2:15, 16
). Will every messenger of God give heed
to these words? We are laborers together with God, and if those who accept
the responsibility of holding forth the Word of life to others do not daily yoke
up with Christ, and lift His burdens, and learn of Jesus day by day; it were
better for them to seek some other employment.—
Manuscript 29, April 20,
1893
, “Laborers to Learn Lessons at the Foot of the Cross.”
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