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134
Temperance
deeds. The worker who manifests a lack of courtesy, who shows
impatience at the ignorance or waywardness of others, who speaks
hastily or acts thoughtlessly, may close the door to hearts so that he
can never reach them.
As the dew and the still showers fall upon the withering plants,
so let words fall gently when seeking to win men from error. God’s
plan is first to reach the heart. We are to speak the truth in love,
trusting in Him to give it power for the reforming of the life. The
Holy Spirit will apply to the soul the word that is spoken in love.
Naturally we are self-centered and opinionated. But when we
learn the lessons that Christ desires to teach us, we become partakers
of His nature; henceforth we live His life. The wonderful example
of Christ, the matchless tenderness with which He entered into the
feelings of others, weeping with those who wept, rejoicing with
those who rejoiced, must have a deep influence upon the character of
all who follow Him in sincerity. By kindly words and acts they will
try to make the path easy for weary feet.—
The Ministry of Healing,
156-158
.
The Lost Coin—Precious Still
—The lost coin, in the Saviour’s
parable, though lying in the dirt and rubbish, was a piece of silver
still. Its owner sought it because it was of value. So every soul,
however degraded by sin, is in God’s sight accounted precious. As
the coin bore the image and superscription of the reigning power,
so man at his creation bore the image and superscription of God.
Though now marred and dim through the influence of sin, the traces
of this inscription remain upon every soul. God desires to recover
that soul, and to retrace upon it His own image in righteousness and
holiness.
How little do we enter into sympathy with Christ on that which
should be the strongest bond of union between us and Him,—
compassion for depraved, guilty, suffering souls, dead in trespasses
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and sins! The inhumanity of man toward man is our greatest sin.
Many think that they are representing the justice of God, while they
wholly fail of representing His tenderness and His great love. Often
the ones whom they meet with sternness and severity are under the
stress of temptation. Satan is wrestling with these souls, and harsh,
unsympathetic words discouraging them, and cause them to fall a
prey to the tempter’s power.—
The Ministry of Healing, 163
.