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The Ministry of Health and Healing
you gather up the tares, you also uproot the wheat with them. Let
both grow together until the harvest.’”
Matthew 13:29, 30
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In His mercy and longsuffering, God bears patiently with the
perverse and even the falsehearted. Among Christ’s chosen apostles
was Judas the traitor. Should we then be surprised or discouraged
that there are falsehearted ones among His workers today? If He
who reads the heart could bear with him who He knew was to be
His betrayer, with what patience should we bear with those at fault.
And not all, even of those who appear most faulty, are like Judas.
Peter, impetuous, hasty, and self-confident, often appeared to far
greater disadvantage than did Judas. He was reproved more often by
the Savior. But what a life of service and sacrifice was his! What
a testimony it bears to the power of God’s grace! So far as we are
capable, we are to be to others what Jesus was to His disciples when
He walked and talked with them on earth.
Regard yourself as a missionary, first of all among your co-
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workers. Often it requires a vast amount of time and labor to win
one soul to Christ. And when a soul turns from sin to righteousness,
there is joy in the presence of the angels. But are the ministering
spirits who watch over these souls pleased to see how indifferently
they are treated by some who claim to be Christians? If Jesus dealt
with us as we too often deal with one another, who of us could be
saved?
Remember, you cannot read hearts. You do not know the motives
that prompted the actions that to you look wrong. There are many
who have not received a right education. Their characters are warped,
they are hard and gnarled, and seem to be crooked in every way.
But the grace of Christ can transform them. Never cast them aside,
never drive them to discouragement or despair by saying, “You have
disappointed me, and I will not try to help you.” A few words spoken
hastily under provocation—just what we think they deserve—may
cut the cords of influence that should have bound their hearts to ours.
The consistent life, the patient forbearance, the spirit unruffled
under provocation, is always the most conclusive argument and the
most solemn appeal. If you have had opportunities and advantages
that have not fallen to the lot of others, consider this, and be ever a
wise, careful, gentle teacher.