Counsel to Missionaries in Africa
21
and should not be in any way so marred as to make it unacceptable and
unattractive. Your discourses must be followed by a holy life. Precious
lessons of love, confidence, respect for one another, must be given
both in and out of the desk. You must live that which you teach. As
labourers together with God, you must first come close to one another,
for God’s instruments must not work at cross purposes. Constantly
educate yourselves to be one, as Christ was one with the Father, each
improving his entrusted talents.
Brethren, let all see that you are living out the lessons of Christ.
If any one of the workers thinks that his way is perfect, and that the
brethren do not appreciate his wisdom and experience, it is a positive
evidence that he is not learning meekness and lowliness of heart in
the school of Christ. The transforming grace of Christ always leads to
meekness and humility. The Lord is not dependent upon us to do His
work; He has given us the great privilege of co-operating with Him.
You may have diverse temperaments, and yet be labourers together
with God, all working in harmony, and when all your ability is put into
the work, you will accomplish the best results. In doing the Lord’s
work we cannot follow our own judgment and peculiar notions. We
must work with an eye single to the glory of Christ. Do not talk about
that which cannot be done, but of that which can be done through the
strength given you of God. “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,
saith the Lord of hosts,” and “the cattle upon a thousand hills.”
The Lord’s resources are unlimited; we are only instruments in His
hands, and great things can be accomplished through His name. “If ye
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and
it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear
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much fruit.” We are so familiar with our own peculiar traits of character
that we often think too highly of self, we become satisfied, and do
not seek to improve as we should. Sanctification through the truth
requires a daily improvement in manner, address, attitude, and spirit.
If we are branches of the true vine, we shall bear fragrant blossoms
and desirable fruit. In our feebleness and ignorance we cannot depend
upon ourselves; we must not think that there are no improvements to
be made, for we are to learn daily in the school of Christ, not how to
reach the highest place, but to become meek and lowly of heart, pure
and undefiled, rising above cheapness and the commonplace. We have
intercourse with the eternal world, and we must reveal all the light