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Cheerfulness Glorifies God, November 19
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:17
.
Where there is a heart in which the light of heaven does not radiate, there
is a solitude in which Christ cannot abide. By the side of every soul is an
angel presence. I have been instructed that with Christ there was given to
our world all the treasures of heaven. Nothing was reserved. If man does not
open the door of his heart to Christ Jesus and commune with Him, satanic
agencies will commune with him.
It is to the glory of God that cheerfulness abound. If the softening,
subduing influence of the grace of Christ be present, pleasant words will
always be spoken. If one makes mistakes, go to the erring one alone. Speak
not words of counsel with a vim, but modulate your voice. He who occupies
an influential position as God’s steward should take special care not to irritate
by word or act. He should speak pleasantly to every worker, and reveal no
irritability or sourness of disposition....
Let everyone placed in a position of trust be as much more careful how he
speaks and acts, as his position is greater in responsibility than the position
of his fellow workers, for those connected with the work of God can please
the Master by speaking kindly only. Any word spoken thoughtlessly or
unadvisedly should be retracted on the spot. If the speaker forgets to do this,
or if he does not regret his thoughtlessness, someone should in the spirit of
Christ remind him of his duty to apologize, for we are to remember that as
Christians professing to work in unity, we must not act like sinners, whose
sinful words and works, unless repented of, will condemn them....
Christians are to love one another, as Christ has loved them. Upon the
manifestation of this love hinges the world’s recognition of the truth of
the gospel. It was for this that Christ prayed in the last prayer He offered.
Christians must not act like unruly children. Before the world those who
claim to be God’s children must give evidence that they have left behind them
the childish ways of their unconverted life.—
Letter 179, November 19, 1902
,
to C. P. Bollman, editor of the
Southern Watchman
, published in Nashville,
Tennessee.
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