Page 141 - Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students (1913)

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Our Responsibility
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To train the young to become true soldiers of the Lord Jesus
Christ is the most noble work ever given to man. Only devout and
consecrated men and women, who love children and can see in them
souls to be saved for the Master, should be chosen as church-school
teachers. Teachers who study the word of God as it should be studied
will know something of the value of the souls under their care, and
from them the children will receive a true Christian education.
In the closing scenes of this earth’s history many of these children
and youth will astonish people by their witness to the truth, which
will be borne in simplicity, yet with spirit and power. They have
been taught the fear of the Lord, and their hearts have been softened
by a careful and prayerful study of the Bible. In the near future many
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children will be endued with the Spirit of God, and will do a work
in proclaiming the truth to the world, that at that time cannot well
be done by the older members of the church.
The Lord would use the church school as an aid to the parents in
educating and preparing their children for this time before us. Then
let the church take hold of the school work in earnest and make it
what the Lord desires it to be.
* * * * *
We cannot afford to separate spiritual from intellectual training.
Well may parents dread intellectual greatness for their children,
unless it is balanced by a knowledge of God and His ways. This lies
at the foundation of all true knowledge. In the place of unsanctified,
rivalry for earthly honor, let it be the highest ambition of our students
to go forth from their school life as missionaries for God, educators
who will teach what they have learned. Students who leave school
with this purpose will draw to Christ not only men and women, but
children and youth. They will do a work in the world that not all the
powers of evil can counteract.
Teachers, awake to your responsibilities, your privileges. Well
may you inquire, Who is sufficient for these things? “My grace is
sufficient for thee” (
2 Corinthians 12:9
) is the assurance of the Great
Teacher. If you leave Him out of the question, seeking not His aid,
hopeless indeed is your task. But in His wisdom and strength you
may nobly succeed.
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