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The Youth’s Instructor

119/477

January 11, 1894

Words to the Young

EGW

All our capabilities, all our powers, are the purchased possession of Christ. Our intellectual and moral powers are capable, when not misapplied, of honoring and glorifying God. The tongue is to be educated to speak right words, the eye to discern right things; the heart is to be surrendered to Christ, that he may purify, refine, and sanctify it through the truth, in order that from its treasures we may bring forth good things. We may, if we choose, abuse our faculties; for God will not compel any one to do righteousness. We are free moral agents; and yet let us bear in mind that we are the property of Christ both by creation and by redemption. The talents we have are his gifts, and whether we have few or many talents, we are to devote them to God. YI January 11, 1894, par. 1

We are on test and trial, and Satan is playing the game of life to secure possession of the soul; but whatever may have been our hereditary or cultivated tendencies, the grace of Jesus Christ, through his death, is brought within the reach of every sinner. If we shall place ourselves under right influences by faith in Christ as our personal Saviour, divine power will combine with human effort, and we may come off more than conquerors through him that hath loved us. The Holy Spirit, the word of God, will be our helpers. God would have no one enter into any business or arrangement to supply temporal needs, that will in any way hinder his spiritual advancement, and curtail the use of his powers in the service of God. YI January 11, 1894, par. 2

At conversion, we are represented as babes in Christ; but we are not always to remain in the condition of children. We are to feed upon the sincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby, and become strong, having been nourished by the word, if so be we have tasted that the Lord is gracious. “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles [worldlings who obey not the truth]: that, whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” YI January 11, 1894, par. 3

The Lord held the slothful servant accountable for the talents which might have been his had he appreciated God's entrusted gifts, and multiplied them by a wise and diligent use in gaining spiritual knowledge and understanding. He was held accountable for the exercising of a reformatory influence upon the world; but instead of improving what God had given him, he is represented as handing back to the Lord the talent he had bestowed. He had not put it out to the exchangers. He had not appreciated the claims that God had upon his time, influence, capability, and means. He had not become a co-laborer with God, seeking to save the soul of the perishing by reaching the highest standard possible. He neglected to search the Scriptures, that he might understand and become a doer of the words of Christ. He did not appreciate the importance of having faith, and he did not present in good works an unmistakable example. He did not make a right use of the privileges of knowing what was the will of God. He did not train his mind, his affections, his heart, in such a way that he became a faithful steward of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Love, gratitude, and praise are to come forth from the heart that holds the treasures of the grace of Christ. YI January 11, 1894, par. 4

Mrs. E. G. White