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Counsels for the Church
The faculties have been trained to exert their force in that direction. In
religious life there has been an assent to the truths of God’s word, but
not a practical illustration of them in the life.
To cultivate religious thoughts and devotional feelings is not made
a part of education. These should influence and control the entire
being. The habit of doing right is wanting. There is spasmodic action
under favorable influences, but to think naturally and readily upon
divine things is not the ruling principle of the mind.
The mind must be educated and disciplined to love purity. A love
for spiritual things should be encouraged; yea, must be encouraged, if
you would grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Desires
for goodness and true holiness are right so far as they go; but if you
stop here, they will avail nothing. Good purposes are right, but will
prove of no avail unless resolutely carried out. Many will be lost while
hoping and desiring to be Christians; but they made no earnest effort,
therefore they will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. The
will must be exercised in the right direction. I will be a wholehearted
Christian. I will know the length and breadth, the height and depth, of
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perfect love. Listen to the words of Jesus: “Blessed are they which do
hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
Matthew
5:6
. Ample provisions are made by Christ to satisfy the soul that
hungers and thirsts for righteousness
Reach out for Higher Spiritual Attainments
The pure element of love will expand the soul for higher attain-
ments, for increased knowledge of divine things, so that it will not be
satisfied short of the fullness. Most professed Christians have no sense
of the spiritual strength they might obtain were they as ambitious, zeal-
ous, and persevering to gain a knowledge of divine things as they are to
obtain the paltry, perishable things of this life. The masses professing
to be Christians have been satisfied to be spiritual dwarfs. They have
no disposition to make it their object to seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness; hence godliness is a hidden mystery to them,
they cannot understand it. They know not Christ by experimental
knowledge.
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Testimonies for the Church 2:262-266