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Special Testimonies On Education
To know one’s self is great knowledge. The teacher who rightly
estimates himself will let God mold him and discipline his mind. And
he will acknowledge the source of his power. For “what hast thou that
thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory,
as if thou hadst not received it?”
1 Corinthians 4:7
. Self-knowledge
leads to humility and trust in God; but it does not take the place of
efforts for self-improvement. He who realizes his own deficiencies
should spare no pains to reach the highest possible standard of physical,
mental, and moral excellence. No one should have a part in the training
of youth, who will be satisfied with a lower standard.
The true teacher will try by precept and example to win souls to
Christ. He must receive the truth in the love of it, and let it cleanse his
heart, and mold his life. Every teacher should be under the full control
of the Holy Spirit. Then Christ can speak to the heart, and his voice is
the voice of love. And the love of God, received into the heart, is an
active power for good, quickening and enlarging the mind and soul.
[51]
With his own heart warm with divine love, the teacher will lift up the
Man of Calvary, not to give the students a casual glance, but to hasten
their attention until Jesus shall seem to them the “Chiefest among ten
thousand,” and the One “altogether lovely.”
The Holy Spirit is an effective helper in restoring the image of
God in the human soul, and its efficiency and power have not been
appreciated in our schools. It came into the schools of the prophets,
bringing even the thought into harmony with the will of God. There
was a living connection between heaven and these schools; and the joy
and thanksgiving of loving hearts found expression in songs of praise
in which angels joined.
The Holy Spirit comes to the world as Christ’s representative. It
not only speaks the truth, but it is the truth—the faithful and true
Witness. It is the great Searcher of hearts, and is acquainted with the
characters of all.
The Holy Spirit has often come to our schools, and has not been
recognized, but has been treated as a stranger, perhaps even as an
intruder. Every teacher should know and welcome this heavenly guest.
If the teachers will open their own hearts to receive the Spirit, they will
be prepared to co-operate with it in working for their students; and
when it is given free course, it will effect wonderful transformations.