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Responsibilities of the Young
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such a poor purpose the time which belongs to them, and you sin
against God in thus using the time which should be spent in devotion
to Him.
It is the duty of the youth to encourage sobriety. Lightness,
jesting, and joking will result in barrenness of soul and the loss of
the favor of God. Many of you think you do not exert a bad influence
upon others, and thus feel in a measure satisfied; but do you exert an
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influence for good? Do you seek in your conversation and acts to
lead others to the Saviour, or, if they profess Christ, to lead them to
a closer walk with Him?
The young should cultivate a spirit of devotion and piety. They
cannot glorify God unless they constantly aim to attain unto the
fullness of the stature of Christ—perfection in Christ Jesus. Let
the Christian graces be and abound in you. Give to your Saviour
your best and holiest affections. Render entire obedience to His
will. He will accept nothing short of this. Be not moved from your
steadfastness by the jeers and scoffs of those whose minds are given
to vanity. Follow your Saviour through evil as well as good report;
count it all joy, and a sacred honor, to bear the cross of Christ. Jesus
loves you. He died for you. Unless you seek to serve Him with your
undivided affections, you will fail to perfect holiness in His fear, and
you will be compelled to hear at last the fearful word,
Depart
.
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