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The Greatest Service, June 29
Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even
as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32
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The greatest service we can render to the cause of God, and which will
reflect steady beams of light upon the pathway of others, is to be patient,
kind, steadfast as a rock to principle, God-fearing. This will constitute us
the salt of the earth, the light of the world. We shall be often disappointed,
for we shall not find perfection in those who are connected with us, and
they will not see perfection in us. It is only by agonizing effort on our part
that we shall become unselfish, humble, childlike, teachable, meek and
lowly of heart, like our divine Lord. We must bring our hearts and minds
up to a high point of education in spiritual and heavenly things.
This world is not heaven, but it is the workshop of God for the fitting
up of His people for a pure and holy paradise. And while each one of
us is to feel that he is a part of the great web of humanity, he must not
expect that others in that web will be without a flaw any more than himself.
Mistakes will be made, and if the erring are willing to be corrected, a
valuable experience is gained, so that their defeat is turned to victory. You
should consider that many of your own errors are not brought to light, and
be careful not to make the mistakes and imperfection of others appear in
their worst light, either to yourself or to others. No man is perfect, and
unjust criticism indulged towards others is not wise or Christlike....
We have a serious, solemn work to do for ourselves to cleanse our own
souls from spot and stain if we will stand before the Son of man when He
shall appear, acquitted of Him. We must be educators as well as reformers.
To cut loose from every one who errs and does not follow our own ideas is
not doing as Christ is doing for us. We are all fallible, and we need pity,
forbearance, kindly consideration, and sympathetic love for those with
whom we are connected. We are all unworthy of the love and confidence
of God
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Letter 30, 1888
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