Power of the Truth
139
If we have the spirit of Christ we shall work as He worked; we
shall catch the very ideas of the Man of Nazareth and present them
to the people. If, in the place of formal professors and unconverted
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ministers, we were indeed followers of Christ we would present the
truth with such meekness and fervor, and would so exemplify it in our
lives, that the world would not be continually questioning whether we
believe what we profess. The message borne in the love of Christ,
with the worth of souls constantly before us, would win even from
worldlings the decision: “They are like Jesus.”
If we desire to reform others we must ourselves practice the princi-
ples which we would enforce upon them. Words, however good, will
be powerless if contradicted by the daily life. Ministers of Christ, I
admonish you: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine.” Do not
excuse sins in yourselves which you reprove in others. If you preach
on meekness and love, let these graces be exemplified in your own life.
If you urge others to be kind, courteous, and attentive at home, let your
own example give force to your admonitions. As you have received
greater light than others, so is your responsibility increased. You will
be beaten with many stripes if you neglect to do your Master’s will.
Satan’s snares are laid for us as verily as they were laid for the
children of Israel just prior to their entrance into the land of Canaan.
We are repeating the history of that people. Lightness, vanity, love
of ease and pleasure, selfishness, and impurity are increasing among
us. There is need now of men who are firm and fearless in declaring
the whole counsel of God; men who will not sleep as do others, but
watch and be sober. Knowing as I do the great lack of holiness and
power with our ministers, I am deeply pained to see the efforts for
self-exaltation. If they could but see Jesus as He is, and themselves
as they are, so weak, so inefficient, so unlike their Master, they would
say: If my name may be written in the obscurest part of the book of
life, it is enough for me, so unworthy am I of His notice.
It is your work to study and to imitate the Pattern. Was Christ
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self-denying? so must you be. Was He meek and lowly? so must you
be. Was He zealous in the work of saving souls? so must you be. Did
He labor to promote the glory of His Father? so must you. Did He
often seek help from God? so must you. Was Christ patient? so will
you be patient. As Christ forgave His enemies, so will you forgive.