Character and Work of Teachers
141
and often it will spring up after many days and bear fruit to the glory
of God.
The Great Teacher who came down from heaven has not directed
teachers to study any of the reputedly great authors. He says: “Come
[160]
unto Me.... Learn of Me; ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Matthew 11:28, 29
. Christ has promised, and in learning lessons of
Him we shall find rest. All the treasures of heaven were committed
to Him that He might give these gifts to the diligent, persevering
seeker. He is of God made unto us “wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption.”
1 Corinthians 1:30
.
Teachers must understand what lessons to impart, or they cannot
prepare students to be transferred to the higher grade. They must study
Christ’s lessons and the character of His teaching. They must see its
freedom from formalism and tradition, and appreciate the originality,
the authority, the spirituality, the tenderness, the benevolence, and
the practicability of His teaching. Those who make the word of God
their study, those who dig for the treasures of truth, will themselves
become imbued with the Spirit of Christ, and by beholding they will
become changed into His likeness. Those who appreciate the word
will teach as disciples who have been sitting at the feet of Jesus and
have accustomed themselves to learn of Him. In the place of bringing
into our schools books containing the suppositions of the world’s great
authors, they will say: Tempt me not to disregard the greatest Author
and the greatest Teacher, through whom I have everlasting life. He
never mistakes. He is the great Fountain head whence all wisdom
flows. Then let every teacher sow the seed of truth in the minds of
students. Christ is the standard Teacher.
* * * * *
The word of the eternal God is our guide. Through this word we
have been made wise unto salvation. This word is ever to be in our
hearts and on our lips. “It is written” is to be our anchor. Those who
[161]
make God’s word their counselor realize the weakness of the human
heart and the power of the grace of God to subdue every unsanctified,
unholy impulse. Their hearts are ever prayerful, and they have the
guardianship of holy angels. When the enemy comes in like a flood,
the Spirit of God lifts up for them a standard against him. There is