30
Testimonies to Southern Africa
of the truth upon the human heart, constant and gentle, and progress
must be made until perfection of human character is reached. This
work is carried forward by a firm, divine, supernatural agency. Is your
religion a growing one, or is self largely predominant, that the Lord
cannot work with your efforts?
The Lord will not bless you in bringing souls to the truth, clearing
your way, giving access to many hearts, unless you have made it
manifest that you are reaching the standard of character set before you
in the gospel. You may be satisfied with your own life and religious
growth, but is there growth in the mind and in the image of Christ?
You should ask yourself, Am I growing?
You may sometimes be betrayed into indiscretion and then if you
repent and humble yourself before God and give Him your heart in
humble penitence, and say, Lead me, guide me, O God, that I shall
not offend Thee with an unconsecrated life. It may be that you may
not have wisdom to guide the souls who shall embrace the truth; it
may be that you have much to learn of how to present the truth as it is
in Jesus. And should the hindrances be removed and the truth make
rapid progress, as you greatly desire, you would not be prepared to
labour wisely, patiently after Christlike methods to lead them to obtain
a sound, healthful experience, because you have not the knowledge of
many spiritual things yourself.
As you reveal wisdom by faithfulness in the home life, as patterns
of piety, you will reveal faithfulness in the church as patient, kind,
forbearing teachers. The Lord will see that you can be entrusted
with souls. You have learned lessons in His school as to how to deal
with human minds and to lead them forward and upward to the holy
standard of God, that they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
When these persons see exemplified in the life fervent piety, un-
selfish zeal, and the love of Jesus, they will see what it means to believe
present truth. When you can carry these souls forward to greater light
and knowledge, when you have order, and when the workers strive
constantly to be one, as Christ is one with the Father, then God will
work mightily through human instrumentalities, because He can trust
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those who have taken hold of the truth to properly educate both by
precept and example. Then you will not leave your own mould upon
men, but Christ’s mould.