Chapter 6—Letter 43
Preview
Ellen White once wrote, “A sullen submission to the will of the
father will develop the character of a rebel.”—“That I May Know Him“,
P. 120. In writing this, God’s servant anticipated the number one
problem confronting educators and parents: How to create a positive
attitude on the part of children toward the church. This is the subject
in the following letter
.
Young people are constantly urged to follow the advice given in
2
Peter 1
. But many rebel. Why? Because without a positive concept of
God and what he wishes to do for them, children relate to their church
and to God out of fear or shear duty rather than admiration. Religion
becomes oppressive, and it is eventually rejected.
Clearly our duty is to introduce children to the God who stands
behind the church’s doctrines and standards. Second Peter helps us do
this: The emphasis is on obedience and growth based upon knowing
God as a friend
.
Letter
The first chapter of second Peter is full of instruction, and strikes
the keynote of victory. The truth is impressively forced upon the mind
by the way it is presented in this chapter. Let us more abundantly
recommend the study of these words, and the practicing of these
precepts. The apostle writes (
2 Peter 1:1-3
), “To them that have
obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ: grace and peace be multiplied unto you
through the knowledge of God, and of “Jesus our Lord, according as
[46]
his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life
and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to
glory and virtue.” What a grand theme this is for contemplation—the
righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Contemplating
Christ and His righteousness leaves no room for self-righteousness,
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