“Consider One Another”
You will often meet with souls that are under the stress of tempta-
tion. You know not how severely Satan may be wrestling with them.
Beware lest you discourage such souls, and thus give the tempter an
advantage.
Whenever you see or hear something that needs to be corrected,
seek the Lord for wisdom and grace, that in trying to be faithful
you may not be severe. It is always humiliating to have one’s errors
pointed out. Do not make the experience more bitter by needless
censure. Unkind criticism brings discouragement, making life sunless
and unhappy.
My brethren, prevail by love rather than by severity. When one
at fault becomes conscious of his error, be careful not to destroy his
self-respect. Do not seek to bruise and wound, but rather to bind up
and heal.
* * * * *
No human being possesses sensibilities so acute or a nature so
refined as does our Saviour. And what patience He manifests toward
us! Year after year He bears with our weakness and ignorance, with our
ingratitude and waywardness. Notwithstanding all our wanderings,
and hardness of heart, our neglect of His holy words, His hand is
stretched out still. And He bids us, “Love one another as I have loved
you.” [
John 13:34
.]
Brethren, regard yourselves as missionaries, not among heathen,
but among your fellow-workers. It requires a vast amount of time
and labor to convince one soul in regard to the special truths for this
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time. And when souls are turned from sin to righteousness, there is
joy in the presence of the angels. Think you that the ministering spirits
who watch over these souls are pleased to see how indifferently they
are treated by many who claim to be Christians? Man’s preferences
rule. Partiality is manifested. One is favored, while another is treated
harshly.
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