Qualifications for Successful Christian Service
219
ness of your demeanor, bear witness to the power of His grace.—
The
Ministry of Healing, 156
.
Every Christian is called to make known to others the unsearchable
riches of Christ; therefore he should seek for perfection in speech.
He should present the word of God in a way that will commend it
to the hearers. God does not design that His human channels shall
be uncouth. It is not His will that man shall belittle or degrade the
heavenly current that flows through him to the world.—
Christ’s Object
Lessons, 336
.
They will be educated in patience, kindness, affability, and help-
fulness. They will practice true Christian courtesy, bearing in mind
that Christ, their companion, cannot approve of harsh, unkind words
or feelings. Their words will be purified. The power of speech will
be regarded as a precious talent, lent them to do a high and holy
work.—
Gospel Workers, 97
.
Mental Culture
Mental culture is what we, as a people, need and what we must
have in order to meet the demands of the time.—
Testimonies for the
Church 4:414
.
We must not enter into the Lord’s work haphazard, and expect
success. The Lord needs men of mind, men of thought. Jesus calls
for coworkers, not blunderers. God wants right-thinking and intelli-
gent men to do the great work necessary to the salvation of souls.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:67
.
Some need to discipline the mind by exercise. They should force
it to think. While they depend upon some one to think for them, to
solve their difficulties, and they refuse to tax the mind with thought,
the inability to remember, to look ahead and discriminate, will con-
tinue. Efforts must be made by every individual to educate the mind.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:188
.
God does not want us to be content with lazy, undisciplined minds,
dull thoughts, and loose memories.—
Counsels to Parents, Teachers,
and Students, 506
.
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Men of God must be diligent in study, earnest in the acquirement
of knowledge, never wasting an hour. Through persevering exertion