forth all its powers to grasp and yet feel that there is an
infinity beyond.
The evils of self-esteem and an unsanctified independence,
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which most impair our usefulness and which will prove our ruin if not
overcome, spring from selfishness. “Counsel together” is the message
which has been again and again repeated to me by the angel of God. By
influencing one man’s judgment, Satan may endeavor to control matters
to suit himself. He may succeed in misleading the minds of two persons;
but, when several consult together, there is more safety. Every plan will
be more closely criticized; every advance move more carefully studied.
Hence there will be less danger of precipitate, ill-advised moves, which
would bring confusion, perplexity, and defeat. In union there is strength.
In division there is weakness and defeat.
God is leading out a people and preparing them for translation. Are
we, who are acting a part in this work, standing as sentinels for God? Are
we seeking to work unitedly? Are we willing to become servants of all?
Are we following our great Exemplar?
Fellow laborers, we are each sowing seed in the fields of life. As is the
seed, so will be the harvest. If we sow distrust, envy, jealousy, self-love,
bitterness of thought and feeling, we shall reap bitterness to our own souls.
If we manifest kindness, love, tender thought for the feelings of others, we
shall receive the same in return.
The teacher who is severe, critical, overbearing, heedless of others’
feelings, must expect the same spirit to be manifested toward himself. He
who wishes to preserve his own dignity and self-respect must be careful
not to wound needlessly the self-respect of others. This rule should be
sacredly observed toward the dullest, the youngest, the most blundering
scholars. What God intends to do with those apparently uninteresting
youth you do not know. He has, in the past, accepted persons no more
promising or attractive to do a great work for Him. His Spirit, moving
upon the heart, has aroused every faculty to vigorous action. The Lord
saw in
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those rough, unhewn stones, precious material that would stand the test of
storm and heat and pressure. God seeth not as man sees. He judges not
from appearance, but He searches the heart and judges righteously.
The teacher should ever conduct himself as a Christian gentleman. He
should ever stand in the attitude of a friend and counselor to his pupils.
If all our people—teachers, ministers, and lay members—would cultivate
the spirit of Christian courtesy, they would far more readily find access to
the hearts of the people; many more would be led to examine and receive
the truth. When every teacher shall forget self and feel a deep interest
in the success and prosperity of his pupils, realizing that they are God’s
property and that he must render an account for his influence upon their
minds and character, then we shall have a school in which angels will love
to linger. Jesus will look approvingly upon the work of the teachers and
will send His grace into the hearts of the students.
Our college at Battle Creek is a place where the younger members
of the Lord’s family are to be trained according to God’s plan of growth
and development. They should be impressed with the idea that they are
created in the image of their Maker and that Christ is the pattern which
they are to follow. Our brethren permit their minds to take too narrow and
too low a range. They do not keep the divine plan ever in view, but are
fixing their eyes upon worldly models. Look up, where Christ sitteth at
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
the right hand of God, and then labor that your pupils may be conformed
to that perfect character.
If you lower the standard in order to secure popularity and an increase
of numbers, and then make this increase a cause of rejoicing, you show
great blindness. If numbers were evidence of success, Satan might
claim the pre-eminence; for in this world his followers are largely in the
