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Chapter 39—The Knowledge Received Through
God’s Word
The whole Bible is a revelation of the glory of God in Christ.
Received, believed, obeyed, it is the great instrumentality in the
transformation of character. It is the grand stimulus, the constraining
force, that quickens the physical, mental, and spiritual powers, and
directs the life into right channels.
The reason why the youth, and even those of mature years, are
so easily led into temptation and sin, is that they do not study the
word of God and meditate upon it as they should. The lack of firm,
decided will power, which is manifest in life and character, results
from neglect of the sacred instruction of God’s word. They do not by
earnest effort direct the mind to that which would inspire pure, holy
thought and divert it from that which is impure and untrue. There
are few who choose the better part, who sit at the feet of Jesus, as
did Mary, to learn of the divine Teacher. Few treasure His words in
the heart and practice them in the life.
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The truths of the Bible, received, will uplift mind and soul. If
the word of God were appreciated as it should be, both young and
old would possess an inward rectitude, a strength of principle, that
would enable them to resist temptation.
Let men teach and write the precious things of the Holy Scrip-
tures. Let the thought, the aptitude, the keen exercise of brain power,
be given to the study of the thoughts of God. Study not the philoso-
phy of man’s conjectures, but study the philosophy of Him who is
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truth. No other literature can compare with this in value.
The mind that is earthly finds no pleasure in contemplating the
word of God; but for the mind renewed by the Holy Spirit, divine
beauty and celestial light shine from the sacred page. That which
to the earthly mind was a desolate wilderness, to the spiritual mind
becomes a land of living streams.
The knowledge of God as revealed in His word is the knowledge
to be given to our children. From the earliest dawn of reason they
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