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The Christian’s Legacy, May 5
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his
correction.
Proverbs 3:11
.
Do not permit yourself to be discouraged. Do not permit yourself to be
provoked, but let intelligent reason control your actions. Inquire what good it
would do to be impatient. It would only gratify the enemy and confirm the opinion
of those who would think evil of you. You may, by an even course of conduct,
prove the words of evil-minded persons untrue. Do not enter into self-defense, but
pass along doing your duty with perseverance.
God help you, my son [Edson], to make sure work for eternity. This is your
work. No one can do this work for you. Trust wholly in God. Our heavenly Father
is mindful of your infirmities. I am thankful that He is acquainted with all our
weaknesses and with all our temptations. He knows how to pity us and how to
strengthen us if we will flee to Him, the Stronghold, for help. Do not, when your
faith is tested, become reckless. Just wait and calmly submit your judgment and
your will and your way and be willing to be led.
There is no other way to be saved but that devised by our Redeemer, and of
which He has given us a practical illustration in His own life of self-denial and
self-sacrifice. You know He submitted to insult, to scorn and mockery without
retaliation. When He was reviled, He reviled not again. “I came ... not,” says
Christ, “to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (
John 6:38
). We
must have the mind of Christ. We must walk in His footsteps.
Those who have lived for others’ good and have had an eye single to the glory
of God will win eternal life. Those who will not make exertion, but drift with
the current, live for self. They will never hear the “Well done” spoken to them....
Precious souls are to be saved, and we have a work to do to win them to Christ.
Remember that hardships and trials are a part of the Christian legacy. Christ,
the Majesty of heaven, came to our world to show us how to bear the world’s
rebuffs without fainting or without retaliation. Every trial borne wisely will be a
blessing to those who have them. They will lift up, but not cast down. Those who
are continually seeking to shirk the hard and stony places but are seeking an easier
path, a pleasanter way, will ever meet with disappointment and adversity. But
if they brace the soul for trial and for duty, march forward bravely in God, they
will find the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice will lead to honor and heavenly
riches in the future, immortal life.... Pray much and exercise living faith, and you
will surely sing the song of victory.—
Letter 24, May 5, 1874
, to Edson White.
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