Chapter 23—To Teachers
The Lord Jesus Christ has infinite tenderness for those whom He
has purchased at the cost of His own sufferings in the flesh, that they
should not perish with the devil and his angels, but that we may claim
them as His chosen ones. They are the claims of His love, of His
own property; and He looks upon them with unutterable affection, and
the fragrance of His own righteousness He gives to His loved ones
who believe in Him. It requires tact and wisdom and human love and
sanctified affection for the precious lambs of the flock, to lead them
to see and appreciate their privilege in yielding themselves up to the
tender guidance of the faithful shepherds. The children of God will
exercise the gentleness of Jesus Christ.
The teacher may bind these children to his or her heart by the love
of Christ abiding in the soul temple as a sweet fragrance, a savor of life
unto life. The teachers may, through the grace of Christ imparted to
them, be the living human agency—be laborers together with God—to
enlighten, lift up, encourage, and help to purify the soul from its moral
defilement; and the image of God shall be revealed in the soul of the
child, and the character become transformed by the grace of Christ.
The gospel is the power and wisdom of God, if it is correctly
represented by those who claim to be Christians. Christ crucified for
our sins should humble every soul before God in his own estimation.
Christ risen from the dead, ascended on high, our living Intercessor
in the presence of God, is the science of salvation, which we need to
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learn and teach to children and youth. Said Christ, “I sanctify Myself,
that they also might be sanctified.” This is the work that ever devolves
upon every teacher. There must not be any haphazard work in this
matter, for even the work of educating the children in the day schools
requires very much of the grace of Christ and the subduing of self.
Those who naturally are fretful, easily provoked, and have cherished
the habit of criticism, of thinking evil, should find some other kind of
work, that will not reproduce any of their unlovely traits of character
in the children and youth, for they have cost too much. Heaven sees
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