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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 2
The common, severe, harsh words that come from your lips so
readily must be withheld and the Spirit of God speak through the
human agent. By beholding the character of Christ you will become
changed into His likeness. The grace of Christ alone can change your
heart, and then you will reflect the image of the Lord Jesus. God calls
upon us to be like Him—pure, holy, and undefiled. We are to bear the
divine image.—Lt 84, 1899. (
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 3:1164
.)
Words That Destroy Life—Severe tests will come to you. Put
your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that by vehemence
you will wound yourself. If under all circumstances you will sit in
heavenly places in Christ, your words will not be charged with bullets
that wound hearts and that may destroy life.—Lt 169, 1902.
Talking Doubts Increases Doubts—We are not to talk our doubts
and trials, because they grow bigger every time we talk them. Every
[579]
time we talk them, Satan has gained the victory; but when we say,
“I will commit the keeping of my soul unto Him, as unto a faithful
witness,” then we testify that we have given ourselves to Jesus Christ
without any reservation, and then God gives us light and we rejoice in
Him. We want to place ourselves under the bright beams of the Sun
of righteousness, and then we shall be a light in the world. “Whom
having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet
believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (
1 Peter
1:8
).—MS 17, 1894.
Talking Faith Increases Faith—The more you talk faith, the
more faith you will have. The more you dwell upon discourage-
ment, talking to others about your trials, and enlarging upon them, to
enlist the sympathy which you crave, the more discouragements and
trials you will have. Why mourn over that which we cannot avoid?
God is inviting us to close the windows of the soul earthward and open
them heavenward that He may flood our hearts with the glory which is
shining across the threshold of heaven.—MS 102, 1901.
Reproof Sometimes Needed—While our words are ever to be
kind and tender, no words should be spoken that will lead a wrongdoer
to think that his way is not objectionable to God. This is a kind of
sympathy that is earthly and deceiving. No license is given for undue
manifestation of affection, for sentimental sympathy. Wrongdoers
need counsel and reproof, and must sometimes be sharply rebuked.—
MS 17, 1899.