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“Take Heed Unto Thyself”, June 20
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for
in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1
Timothy 4:16
.
Some seem to think that there is a certain amount of virtue in expressing
their dissatisfaction in whatever is being done by others....
There was Judas; Christ permitted him to be a member of the church,
notwithstanding his covetous, avaricious character. He had some traits that
might have been used to the glory of God, but he did not try to overcome the
defects in his character. Christ bore with him long and patiently.... He had
the same lessons set before him that were given to the other apostles, which
would have set him right had he made a right use of them, but he did not
sustain a right relation to Heaven. Christ knew his true condition, and gave
him an opportunity. He connected John with the church, not because John
was above human frailties, but that He might bind him to His great heart of
love. If John overcame his defects of character, he would stand as a light
to the church. Peter, if he corrected his faults, would inherit the promises
of God. And Jesus said to him, after His resurrection, notwithstanding that
he had but a few days before denied Him, “Feed my sheep,” and “Feed my
lambs” (
John 21:16, 15
). He could trust Peter now, for he had obtained an
experience in the things of God....
John was constantly learning to copy the life of Jesus. He was learning
in Christ’s school.... Lesson after lesson Christ gave to His disciples, that
they might know the will of the Father and shine as lights in the world.
John and Peter were men whom God could trust, but Judas was not. They
had received and heeded the lessons and gained the victory, but Judas
had failed at every trial. He saw his faults, but instead of correcting them
revenged himself by picking flaws in others around him.... Paul says to
Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself”; that is, seek God first for thyself. Let us
individually turn our attention to ourselves, diligently guard our own souls,
and set a Christlike example before those whom we would criticise
[178]
28
The Review and Herald, August 18, 1885
.
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