26
Testimonies to Southern Africa
is not your work, but the work of Christ who is by your side, that
impresses hearts.
As you seek to obtain a knowledge of the truth, you should seek to
obtain an experimental knowledge of Christ, that you may work after
His methods. You should pray as did Moses, Lord, reveal to me Thy
glory. A revelation of the goodness, the tenderness, and love of Jesus
toward fallen man, will cause self to sink into nothingness, and will
exalt Jesus. Lift Him up, the Man of Calvary; talk of Jesus and His
matchless love. There is where many who present the truth fail. They
talk doctrines, but do not dwell upon the matchless, forbearing love of
Jesus.
Be determined that you will not be at variance among yourselves,
but will have the peace of Christ in your own hearts, and then it will be
an easy work to have it brought into your own families. But when the
garden of the heart is neglected, poisonous weeds of pride, self-esteem,
self-sufficiency, obtain a rank growth. We individually must watch
unto prayer.
The characters we form will speak in the home life. If there is
sweet accord in the home circle, the angels of God may minister in
the home. If there is wise management at home, kindness, meekness,
forbearance, combined with firm principles, then be assured that the
husband is a house band; he binds the family together with holy cords
and presents them to God, binding himself with them upon the altar of
God. What a light shines forth from such a family!
That family, properly conducted, is a favourable argument to the
truth, and the head of such a family will carry out the very same kind
of work in the church as is revealed in the family. Wherever severity,
harshness, and want of affection and love are exhibited in the sacred
circle of the home, there will most assuredly be a failure in the plans
and management in the church. Unity in the home, unity in the church
reveals Christ’s manner and grace more than sermons and arguments.
The servants of God must not strive, but in meekness instruct those
who oppose themselves against the truth that they may see the errors
of their ways and be converted. But let your light shine in good works;
in careful, patient, brotherly words speak to those with whom you
associate in good works.
[30]
All differences, all fault-finding must be put away through the
grace of Christ which you receive through faith. All envy, all jealousy,