Chapter 38—Love and Kindness
Eloquence of God’s Love—The most persuasive eloquence is the
word that is spoken in love and sympathy. Such words will bring
light to confused minds and hope to the discouraged, brightening
the prospect before them. The time in which we live calls for vital,
sanctified energy; for earnestness, zeal, and the tenderest sympathy
and love; for words that will not increase misery, but will inspire faith
and hope. We are homeward bound, seeking a better country, even a
heavenly. Instead of speaking words which will rankle in the breasts
of those that hear, shall we not speak of the love wherewith God hath
loved us? Shall we not try to lighten the hearts of those around us by
words of Christlike sympathy? Shall we not tell of the prospective rest
in store for the people of God? “A word fitly spoken is like apples
of gold in pictures of silver.”—
The Review and Herald, February 16,
1897
.
Barriers of Pride and Selfishness—The spirit of Jesus should
pervade the soul of the worker; it is the pleasant, sympathetic words,
the manifestation of disinterested love for their souls, that will break
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down the barriers of pride and selfishness, and show to unbelievers
that we have the love of Christ.—
Evangelism, 636
.
Divine Enlightenment and Wisdom—Those who labor in word
and doctrine have a great work before them to tear from the minds of
those for whom they labor the fatal deceptions of Satan, and to impress
them with the importance of aiming to reach God’s great standard of
righteousness. They should pray earnestly for divine enlightenment,
and for wisdom to present the truth as it is in Jesus. Sympathy, ten-
derness, and love, woven into their discourses and manifested in their
lives, would disarm opposition, weaken prejudice, and open the way
to many hearts.—
Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the
Seventh-day Adventists, 121
.
Imitation of Christ in His Labors—It is to be regretted that many
do not realize that the manner in which Bible truth is presented has
much to do with the impressions made upon minds, and with the
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