Who Is the Greatest?
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Looking unto Jesus, we shall be ashamed of our coldness, our lethargy,
our self-seeking. We shall be willing to be anything or nothing, so that
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we may do heart service for the Master. We shall rejoice to bear the
cross after Jesus, to endure trial, shame, or persecution for His dear
sake.
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,
and not to please ourselves.”
Romans 15:1
. No soul who believes in
Christ, though his faith may be weak, and his steps wavering as those
of a little child, is to be lightly esteemed. By all that has given us
advantage over another,—be it education and refinement, nobility of
character, Christian training, religious experience,—we are in debt to
those less favored; and, so far as lies in our power, we are to minister
unto them. If we are strong, we are to stay up the hands of the weak.
Angels of glory, that do always behold the face of the Father in heaven,
joy in ministering to His little ones. Trembling souls, who have many
objectionable traits of character, are their special charge. Angels are
ever present where they are most needed, with those who have the
hardest battle with self to fight, and whose surroundings are the most
discouraging. And in this ministry Christ’s true followers will co-
operate.
If one of these little ones shall be overcome, and commit a wrong
against you, then it is your work to seek his restoration. Do not wait
for him to make the first effort for reconciliation. “How think ye?”
said Jesus; “if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be
gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the
mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he
find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of
the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will
of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should
perish.”
In the spirit of meekness, “considering thyself, lest thou also be
tempted,” (
Galatians 6:1
), go to the erring one, and “tell him his fault
between thee and him alone.” Do not put him to shame by exposing
his fault to others, nor bring dishonor upon Christ by making public
the sin or error of one who bears His name. Often the truth must be
plainly spoken to the erring; he must be led to see his error, that he
may reform. But you are not to judge or to condemn. Make no attempt
at self-justification. Let all your effort be for his recovery. In treating