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In Contact With Others
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the mistakes they were so quick to censure are lost sight of. Expe-
rience teaches them sympathy. God permits men and women to be
placed in positions of responsibility. When they err, He has power
to correct or to remove them. We should be careful not to take into
our hands the work of judging that belongs to God.
The conduct of David toward Saul has a lesson. By command
of God, Saul had been anointed king over Israel. Because of his
disobedience the Lord declared that the kingdom should be taken
from him, and yet how tender and courteous and forbearing was the
conduct of David toward him! In attempting to find David and kill
him, Saul came into the wilderness and, unattended, entered the very
cave where David with his men of war lay hidden.
“Then the men of David said to him, ‘This is the day of which
the Lord said to you, ... “I will deliver your enemy into your hand,
that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’” ... And he said to
his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master,
the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is
the anointed of the Lord.’”
1 Samuel 24:4-6
.
The Savior bids us, “‘Judge not, that you be not judged. For with
what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure
you use, it will be measured back to you.’” Remember that soon
your life record will pass in review before God. Remember, too, that
He has said, “You are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who
judge, ... for you who judge practice the same things.”
Matthew 7:1,
2
;
Romans 2:1
.
Forbearance Under Wrong
We cannot afford to let our spirits chafe over any real or supposed
wrong done to ourselves. Self is the enemy we most need to fear.
No form of vice has a more damaging effect upon the character than
has human passion not under the control of the Holy Spirit. No other
victory we can gain will be so precious as the victory gained over
self.
We should not allow our feelings to be easily wounded. We are to
live to save souls, not to guard our feelings or our reputation. As we
become interested in the salvation of souls we cease to mind the little
differences that so often arise in our association with one another.