The Work That Requires Our Thought
Wrongs cannot be righted nor can reformations in conduct be made by a few feeble, intermittent efforts. Character building is the work, not of a day, nor of a year, but of a lifetime. The struggle for conquest over self, for holiness and heaven, is a lifelong struggle. Without continual effort and constant activity, there can be no advancement in the divine life, no attainment of the victor’s crown.
MHH 262.4
The strongest evidence that humanity has fallen from a higher state is the fact that it costs so much to return. The way of return can be gained only by hard fighting, inch by inch, hour by hour. In one moment, by a hasty, unguarded act, we may place ourselves in the power of evil, but it requires more than a moment to break the fetters and attain to a holier life. The purpose may be formed, the process begun, but its accomplishment will require hard work, time, perseverance, patience, and sacrifice.
MHH 263.1
We cannot allow ourselves to act from impulse. We cannot be off guard for a moment. Faced with temptations without number, we must resist firmly or be conquered. If we were to come to the close of life with our work undone, it would be an eternal loss.
MHH 263.2
The life of the apostle Paul was a constant conflict with self. He said, “I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31. His will and his desires every day conflicted with duty and the will of God. But instead of following inclination, he did God’s will, however crucifying to his nature.
MHH 263.3
At the close of his life of conflict, looking back over its struggles and triumphs, he could say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day.” 2 Timothy 4:7, 8.
MHH 263.4
The Christian life is a battle and a march. From this warfare there is no release. The effort must be continuous and persevering. It is by unceasing endeavor that we maintain the victory over the temptations of Satan. Christian integrity must be sought with resistless energy and maintained with a resolute fixedness of purpose.
MHH 263.5
No one will be borne upward without stern, persevering effort in his or her own behalf. All must engage in this warfare for themselves. No one else can fight our battles. Individually we are responsible for the issues of the struggle. Though Noah, Job, and Daniel were in the land, they could deliver neither son nor daughter by their righteousness. (See Ezekiel 14:12-20.)
MHH 263.6
2715
MHH
The Ministry of Health and Healing
[{"para_id":"2715.22","title":"Foreword","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0003_eng_m_foreword_2715_22.mp3#duration=247&size=2108529"},{"para_id":"2715.36","title":"Chapter 1\u2014Jesus, Our Example","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0005_eng_m_chapter_1_jesus_our_example_2715_39.mp3#duration=899&size=7331113"},{"para_id":"2715.81","title":"Chapter 2\u2014Days of Ministry","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0010_eng_m_chapter_2_days_of_ministry_2715_81.mp3#duration=1581&size=12783878"},{"para_id":"2715.158","title":"Chapter 3\u2014With Nature and With God","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0014_eng_m_chapter_3_with_nature_and_with_god_2715_158.mp3#duration=545&size=4495806"},{"para_id":"2715.182","title":"Chapter 4\u2014The Touch of Faith","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0016_eng_m_chapter_4_the_touch_of_faith_2715_182.mp3#duration=1303&size=10561232"},{"para_id":"2715.248","title":"Chapter 5\u2014Healing of the Soul","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0020_eng_m_chapter_5_healing_of_the_soul_2715_248.mp3#duration=1752&size=14155566"},{"para_id":"2715.336","title":"Chapter 6\u2014Saved to Serve","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0026_eng_m_chapter_6_saved_to_serve_2715_336.mp3#duration=1157&size=9389773"},{"para_id":"2715.398","title":"Chapter 7\u2014The Co-working of the Divine and the Human","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0031_eng_m_chapter_7_the_co_working_of_the_divine_and_the_human_2715_401.mp3#duration=1362&size=11030675"},{"para_id":"2715.468","title":"Chapter 8\u2014The Physician an Educator","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0036_eng_m_chapter_8_the_physician_an_educator_2715_468.mp3#duration=1360&size=11015725"},{"para_id":"2715.534","title":"Chapter 9\u2014Teaching and Healing","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0043_eng_m_chapter_9_teaching_and_healing_2715_537.mp3#duration=2278&size=18363869"},{"para_id":"2715.649","title":"Chapter 10\u2014Helping the Tempted","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0051_eng_m_chapter_10_helping_the_tempted_2715_649.mp3#duration=957&size=7789672"},{"para_id":"2715.696","title":"Chapter 11\u2014Working for the Intemperate","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0054_eng_m_chapter_11_working_for_the_intemperate_2715_696.mp3#duration=1287&size=10430504"},{"para_id":"2715.758","title":"Chapter 12\u2014Help for the Unemployed and the Homeless","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0059_eng_m_chapter_12_help_for_the_unemployed_and_the_homeless_2715_758.mp3#duration=1813&size=14642543"},{"para_id":"2715.850","title":"Chapter 13\u2014The Helpless Poor","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0068_eng_m_chapter_13_the_helpless_poor_2715_850.mp3#duration=741&size=6065845"},{"para_id":"2715.896","title":"Chapter 14\u2014Ministry to the Rich","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0072_eng_m_chapter_14_ministry_to_the_rich_2715_896.mp3#duration=768&size=6277677"},{"para_id":"2715.934","title":"Chapter 15\u2014In the Sickroom","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0076_eng_m_chapter_15_in_the_sickroom_2715_937.mp3#duration=424&size=3526538"},{"para_id":"2715.963","title":"Chapter 16\u2014Prayer for the Sick","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0082_eng_m_chapter_16_prayer_for_the_sick_2715_963.mp3#duration=886&size=7227172"},{"para_id":"2715.1005","title":"Chapter 17\u2014The Use of Remedies","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0087_eng_m_chapter_17_the_use_of_remedies_2715_1005.mp3#duration=591&size=4865015"},{"para_id":"2715.1036","title":"Chapter 18\u2014Mind Cure","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0091_eng_m_chapter_18_mind_cure_2715_1036.mp3#duration=1856&size=14984838"},{"para_id":"2715.1146","title":"Chapter 19\u2014In Contact With Nature","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0099_eng_m_chapter_19_in_contact_with_nature_2715_1146.mp3#duration=626&size=5142436"},{"para_id":"2715.1185","title":"Chapter 20\u2014General Hygiene","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0103_eng_m_chapter_20_general_hygiene_2715_1188.mp3#duration=520&size=4296169"},{"para_id":"2715.1218","title":"Chapter 21\u2014Hygiene Among the Israelites","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0107_eng_m_chapter_21_hygiene_among_the_israelites_2715_1218.mp3#duration=822&size=6708836"},{"para_id":"2715.1268","title":"Chapter 22\u2014Dress","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0112_eng_m_chapter_22_dress_2715_1268.mp3#duration=722&size=5908324"},{"para_id":"2715.1307","title":"Chapter 23\u2014Diet and Health","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0116_eng_m_chapter_23_diet_and_health_2715_1307.mp3#duration=1322&size=10712959"},{"para_id":"2715.1372","title":"Chapter 24\u2014Flesh as Food","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0121_eng_m_chapter_24_flesh_as_food_2715_1372.mp3#duration=544&size=4490105"},{"para_id":"2715.1399","title":"Chapter 25\u2014Extremes in Diet","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0123_eng_m_chapter_25_extremes_in_diet_2715_1399.mp3#duration=510&size=4213679"},{"para_id":"2715.1427","title":"Chapter 26\u2014Stimulants and Narcotics","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0126_eng_m_chapter_26_stimulants_and_narcotics_2715_1427.mp3#duration=1014&size=8246601"},{"para_id":"2715.1483","title":"Chapter 27\u2014Evils of the Drug and Liquor Traffic","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0132_eng_m_chapter_27_evils_of_the_drug_and_liquor_traffic_2715_1483.mp3#duration=986&size=8020451"},{"para_id":"2715.1533","title":"Chapter 28\u2014Ministry of the Home","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0136_eng_m_chapter_28_ministry_of_the_home_2715_1536.mp3#duration=577&size=4752274"},{"para_id":"2715.1564","title":"Chapter 29\u2014Builders of the Home","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0139_eng_m_chapter_29_builders_of_the_home_2715_1564.mp3#duration=655&size=5378734"},{"para_id":"2715.1603","title":"Chapter 30\u2014Choice and Preparation of the Home","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0142_eng_m_chapter_30_choice_and_preparation_of_the_home_2715_1603.mp3#duration=596&size=4899930"},{"para_id":"2715.1634","title":"Chapter 31\u2014The Mother","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0146_eng_m_chapter_31_the_mother_2715_1634.mp3#duration=654&size=5366761"},{"para_id":"2715.1668","title":"Chapter 32\u2014The Child","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0152_eng_m_chapter_32_the_child_2715_1668.mp3#duration=821&size=6702599"},{"para_id":"2715.1713","title":"Chapter 33\u2014Home Influences","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0157_eng_m_chapter_33_home_influences_2715_1713.mp3#duration=571&size=4705978"},{"para_id":"2715.1745","title":"Chapter 34\u2014True Education a Missionary Training","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0160_eng_m_chapter_34_true_education_a_missionary_training_2715_1745.mp3#duration=1203&size=9760186"},{"para_id":"2715.1815","title":"Chapter 35\u2014A True Knowledge of God","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0165_eng_m_chapter_35_a_true_knowledge_of_god_2715_1818.mp3#duration=1707&size=13798200"},{"para_id":"2715.1933","title":"Chapter 36\u2014Danger in Speculative Knowledge","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0173_eng_m_chapter_36_danger_in_speculative_knowledge_2715_1933.mp3#duration=1236&size=10024693"},{"para_id":"2715.2012","title":"Chapter 37\u2014The False and the True in Education","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0178_eng_m_chapter_37_the_false_and_the_true_in_education_2715_2012.mp3#duration=1269&size=10287915"},{"para_id":"2715.2078","title":"Chapter 38\u2014The Importance of Seeking True Knowledge","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0185_eng_m_chapter_38_the_importance_of_seeking_true_knowledge_2715_2078.mp3#duration=723&size=5921887"},{"para_id":"2715.2122","title":"Chapter 39\u2014The Knowledge Received Through God\u2019s Word","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0191_eng_m_chapter_39_the_knowledge_received_through_god_s_word_2715_2122.mp3#duration=824&size=6729489"},{"para_id":"2715.2169","title":"Chapter 40\u2014Help in Daily Living","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0195_eng_m_chapter_40_help_in_daily_living_2715_2172.mp3#duration=1333&size=10800420"},{"para_id":"2715.2236","title":"Chapter 41\u2014In Contact With Others","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0202_eng_m_chapter_41_in_contact_with_others_2715_2236.mp3#duration=1474&size=11928229"},{"para_id":"2715.2308","title":"Chapter 42\u2014Development and Service","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0208_eng_m_chapter_42_development_and_service_2715_2308.mp3#duration=668&size=5482967"},{"para_id":"2715.2344","title":"Chapter 43\u2014A Higher Experience","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0212_eng_m_chapter_43_a_higher_experience_2715_2344.mp3#duration=1267&size=10270130"}]