Basic HTML Version
Lighting the Path, March 13
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be
blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst
of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights
in the world.
Philippians 2:14, 15
, R.S.V.
Christians must be light-givers, holding forth the words of life. They are
exhorted by the apostle to the highest achievements of piety. The world will
not be convinced by what the pulpit teaches, but by what the church lives. The
path to heaven is dark or bright, just in proportion as the church gives forth a
clear and strong, or doubtful, fitful light. The preacher in the desk announces
the theory of the gospel, but the practical piety of the church demonstrates
the power of truth, showing its real value.
The gospel is a system of practical truths destined to work great changes
in human character. If it does not work the transformation in life, in habits,
and practice, it is no truth to those who claim to believe it. Man must be
sanctified through the truth. And said Jesus, “Thy word is truth” (
John 17:17
).
Unless the truth of God shall lift up man out of his depravity, his intemperate
and profligate habits, and make him reflect the image of God, he is lost.
Your lives, my brethren and sisters, must be after a different model than
they have hitherto been, and constitute the demonstration in the sight of
heaven and earth that you are lights in the world, holding forth the words of
life. The piety of the members of the church constitutes the world’s standard
of the gospel. Then let every church member in St. Clare do his duty well;
for you are laborers together with God. Let your example be in harmony with
the great pattern.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings, without grumbling,
without envy. Do not repeat or believe the old slander that the man of one
talent brought against God, “I feared thee, because thou art an austere man:
thou takest up that thou layest not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow”
(
Luke 19:21
). This parable represented the many professors of religion who
gauged their piety to reach the lowest standard possible, and escape perdition.
There is need of your being diligent, prayerful students of the Bible, then
you will see the exalted standard, and aim to reach it.—
Letter 14, March 13,
1885
, to the church at St. Clare, Nevada.
[82]
80