Education for Missionary Work
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It should be impressed on all who have decided to become workers
for God, that they must give evidence that they are converted men. A
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young man without a sound, virtuous character will be no honor to the
truth. Every worker should be pure in heart; in his mouth should be
found no guile. He should bear in mind that, to be successful, he must
have Christ by his side, and that every sinful practice, however secret
is open to the view of Him with whom we have to do.
Sin has marred the divine image in man. Through Christ this may
be restored, but it is only through earnest prayer and the conquest of
self that we can become partakers of the divine nature
The true toilers in the Lord’s vineyard will be men of prayer, of
faith, of self-denial.—men who hold in restraint the natural appetites
and passions. These will in their own lives give evidence of the power
of the truth which they present to others; and their labors will not be
without effect.
* * * * *
The worker for God should be prepared to put forth the highest
mental and moral energies with which nature, cultivation, and the
grace of God have endowed him; but his success will be proportionate
to the degree of consecration and self-sacrifice in which the work is
done, rather than to either natural or acquired endowments. The most
earnest and continued efforts to acquire qualifications for usefulness
are necessary; but unless God works with the human effort, nothing
can be accomplished. Christ says, “Without Me ye can do nothing.”
[
John 15:5
.] Divine grace is the great element of saving power; without
it all human efforts are unavailing.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:583
.
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