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Preparing for Trying Times, April 15
That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, ... but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up
in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.
Ephesians 4:14, 15
, NKJV.
The Lord calls upon all His people to improve the ability He has given them.
The mental powers should be developed to the utmost; they should be strengthened
and ennobled by dwelling upon spiritual truths. If the mind is allowed to run almost
entirely upon trifling things and the common business of everyday life, it will,
in accordance with one of its unvarying laws, become weak and frivolous, and
deficient in spiritual power.
Times that will try our souls are just before us, and those who are weak in the
faith will not stand the test of those days of peril. The great truths of revelation
are to be carefully studied, for we shall all want an intelligent knowledge of the
Word of God. By Bible study and daily communion with Jesus we shall gain clear,
well-defined views of individual responsibility and strength to stand in the day of
trial and temptation. He whose life is united to Christ by hidden links will be kept
by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
More thought should be given to the things of God, and less to temporal matters.
The world-loving professors, if they will exercise their minds in that direction, may
become as familiar with the Word of God as they now are with worldly business.
“Search the scriptures,” said Christ; “for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and
they are they which testify of me.”
The Christian is required to be diligent in searching the Scriptures, to read
over and over again the truths of God’s Word. Willful ignorance on this subject
endangers the Christian life and character. It blinds the understanding and corrupts
the noblest powers. It is this that brings confusion into our lives. Our people need
to understand the oracles of God; they need to have a systematic knowledge of the
principles of revealed truth, which will fit them for what is coming upon the earth
and prevent them from being carried about by every wind of doctrine.—
Testimonies
for the Church 5:272, 273
.
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