The Church: Its Organization, Order and Discipline

The Church to Shine

“The followers of Christ are to be coworkers with their Master; they must be ‘blameless, and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom,’ says Paul, ‘ye shine as lights in the world.’ We are to receive the bright beams from the Sun of Righteousness, and by our good works let them shine forth to others in clear, steady rays, never fitful, never growing dim. We can not be sure that we are doing no harm to those about us, unless we are exerting a positive influence to lead them heavenward. COOD 15.2

“‘Ye are my witnesses,’ said Jesus, and in each act of our lives we should inquire, how will our course affect the interests of the Redeemer’s kingdom? If you are indeed Christ’s disciple, you will chose to walk in his footsteps, however painful this way may be to your natural feelings. Said Paul,‘God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.’ You,-need to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of him, as did Mary of old. God requires of you an entire surrender of your will, your plans, and purposes. Jesus is your leader; to him you must look, in him you must trust, and must permit nothing to deter you form the life of consecration which you owe to God. Your conversation must be in heaven, from whence you look for the Saviour. Your piety must be of a character to make itself felt by all within the sphere of your influence. God requires you in every act of life to shun the very appearance of evil.”-Testimonies for the Church,” No.32, pages 122, 123; Vol. V, pages 366, 367. COOD 15.3

A church with members heeding these words will be found “fitly framed together,” with its members living stones, emitting the light received from Christ, the rock of their strength. They are the temple of the living God, the house of God, where his Spirit will delight to take up its continual abode. COOD 16.1