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themselves lost, ready to perish, He met, not with denunciation, but
with blessing....
In every human being he discerned infinite possibilities. He saw
men as they might be, transfigured by His grace—in “the beauty of
the Lord our God.”
Psalm 90:17
. Looking upon them with hope,
He inspired hope. Meeting them with confidence, he inspired trust.
Revealing in Himself man’s true ideal, He awakened, for its attainment,
both desire and faith. In His presence souls despised and fallen realized
that they still were men, and they longed to prove themselves worthy
of His regard. In many a heart that seemed dead to all things holy,
were awakened new impulses. To many a despairing one there opened
the possibility of a new life.
Christ bound men to His heart by the ties of love and devotion;
and by the same ties He bound them to their fellow men. With Him
love was life, and life was service. “Freely ye have received,” He said,
“freely give.” Matthew 10:8.—
Education, 79, 80
.
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Instruction by Personal Association—The most complete illus-
tration of Christ’s methods as a teacher is found in His training of
the twelve first disciples. Upon these men were to rest weighty re-
sponsibilities. He had chosen them as men whom He could imbue
with His Spirit, and who could be fitted to carry forward His work on
earth when He should leave it. To them, above all others, He gave the
advantage of His own companionship. Through personal association
He impressed Himself upon these chosen colaborers. “The Life was
manifested,” says John the beloved, “and we have seen it, and bear
witness.”
1 John 1:2
.
Only by such communion—the communion of mind with mind and
heart with heart, of the human with the divine—can be communicated
that vitalizing energy which it is the work of true education to impart.
It is only life that begets life.
In the training of His disciples the Saviour followed the system
of education established at the beginning. The Twelve first chosen,
with a few others who through ministry to their needs were from time
to time connected with them, formed the family of Jesus. They were
with Him in the house, at the table, in the closet, in the field. They
accompanied Him on His journeys, shared His trials and hardships,
and, as much as in them was, entered into His work.