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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
an aimless, selfish life but that he might live unto Jesus Christ, who
died for his salvation. All are not called upon to enter the ministry, but
nevertheless, they are to minister. It is an insult to the Holy Spirit of
God for any man to choose a life of self-serving.—
Letter 10, 1897
.
(
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 4:1159
.)
Right Motives to Be Cultivated—The true motives of service are
to be kept before old and young. The students are to be taught in
such a way that they will develop into useful men and women. Every
means that will elevate and ennoble them is to be employed. They are
to be taught to put their powers to the best use. Physical and mental
powers are to be equally taxed. Habits of order and discipline are
to be cultivated. The power that is exerted by a pure, true life is to
be kept before the students. This will aid them in the preparation
for useful service. Daily they will grow purer and stronger, better
prepared through His grace and a study of His Word to put forth
aggressive efforts against evil.—
The Review and Herald, August 22,
1912
. (
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 543
.)
Actions Reveal Motives—Actions reveal principles and motives.
The fruit borne by many who claim to be plants in the Lord’s vineyard
shows them to be but thorns and briers. A whole church may sanction
the wrong course of some of its members, but that sanction does not
prove the wrong to be right. It cannot make grapes of thorn berries.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:103
(1882).
Motives, Not Appearance, Judged—It is an important duty for
all to become familiar with the tenor of their conduct from day to day
and the motives which prompt their actions. They need to become
acquainted with the particular motives which prompt particular actions.
[346]
Every action of their lives is judged, not by the external appearance,
but from the motive which dictated the action.—
Testimonies for the
Church 3:507
(1875).
Followers of Christ Find New Motives—No other science is
equal to that which develops in the life of the student the character of
God. Those who become followers of Christ find that new motives of
action are supplied, new thoughts arise, and new actions must result.
But they can make advancement only through conflict; for there is
an enemy who ever contends against them, presenting temptations to
cause the soul to doubt and sin. There are hereditary and cultivated
tendencies to evil that must be overcome. Appetite and passion must