High Spiritual Standards for God’s Workmen
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school of Christ the meekness and lowliness that would make him a
safe man to stand in a position of trust. He has been weighed in the
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balances of the sanctuary and found wanting. He has had great light in
warnings and reproofs; but he has not given heed to them; he has not
even seen the necessity of changing his course of action....
The cross of Christ has been presented to Brother P; but he has
turned away from it, for it involves shame and reproach rather than
the honor and praise of the world. Again and again Jesus has called:
Take up the cross and follow Me, so shall ye be My disciple. But
other voices have been calling in the direction of worldly pride and
ambition; and he has listened to these voices because their spirit is
more pleasing to the natural heart. He has turned from Jesus, divorced
himself from God, and embraced the world....
Brother P’s union with the world has proved a snare to himself
and to others. Oh, how many stumble over such lives as his. They
get the impression that when they take the first steps in conversion—
repentance, faith, and baptism—this is all that is required of them. But
this is a fatal error. The arduous struggle for conquest over self, for
holiness and heaven, is a lifelong struggle. There is no release in this
war; the effort must be continuous and persevering. Christian integrity
must be sought with resistless energy and maintained with a resolute
fixedness of purpose.
A genuine religious experience unfolds and intensifies. Continual
advancement, increasing knowledge and power in the word of God, is
the natural result of a vital connection with God. The light of holy love
will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. It was Brother P’s
privilege to have such an experience as this; but he has not had the oil
of grace in his vessel with his lamp, and his light has been growing
dim. If he does not make a decided change soon, he will be where
no warnings or entreaties will ever reach him. His light will go out in
darkness, and he will be left in despair.—
Testimonies for the Church
5:411-413
.
Unconsecrated Should Be Separated From the Work—No one
should be retained in any one of the Lord’s institutions who in a crisis
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fails of realizing that His instrumentalities are sacred. If workers have
no relish for the truth; if their connection with the institution makes
them no better, brings to them no love for the truth, then, after sufficient
trial, separate them from the work; for their irreligion and unbelief