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The Youth’s Instructor

416/477

1903

January 1, 1903

In the Master's Service

EGW

There is a battle for all to fight, for the young as well as the old. In the warfare against evil, every one has a part. Dear young friends, when you accepted Christ as your Saviour, you enlisted in his army. You left the black banner of the prince of darkness to stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel. Your highest aim now should be to show yourselves faithful soldiers. YI January 1, 1903, par. 1

The powers of darkness are arrayed against you. Satan desires to see you deserting your Leader. He would be greatly pleased to see you disappointing the One who has done so much for you. Do not yield to his temptations. Fight bravely against his suggestions. Remember that God and Christ and the heavenly angels are fighting with you. John says, “I write unto you, young men, because ye are strong, ... and ye have overcome the wicked one.” Had not God given his children power to overcome, these words would not have been written. In the strength of the Redeemer, you can be more than conquerors. YI January 1, 1903, par. 2

The history of Daniel and his companions is an illustration of what all youth may become in the service of God. The king determined to have them trained as statesmen, and with other youth they were given food and wine from his table. But they knew that if they ate of the king's food, and drank his wine, their power to distinguish between right and wrong would be dulled. They would be unable to obtain the education necessary to make them successful Christian statesmen. They would not appreciate the knowledge God had to give. They determined to be true to principle, to eat and drink to God's glory. YI January 1, 1903, par. 3

God honored their loyalty. He gave them wisdom and understanding; and when at the end of the term of years allotted to study, the king examined them, he found them “ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” YI January 1, 1903, par. 4

It is your privilege—a privilege which many do not enjoy—to know what is meant by wholesome food,—food that will bring health to body and mind. Make right eating and right drinking a part of your religion. Thus you place yourselves where God can enable you to distinguish between right and wrong. YI January 1, 1903, par. 5

God has given every youth the talent of speech to be improved for him. This is a most important trust; for God declares, “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Let your words be life-giving, pointing those around you to the Saviour. Let them bring sunshine instead of gloom, harmony instead of animosity. Say nothing that you would not be willing to say in the presence of Jesus and the angels. Utter no word that will stir up strife in another heart. However provoked you may feel, restrain the hasty word. If you are Christlike in speech and action, those who associate with you will be blessed by the association. Righteous words and deeds have a more powerful influence for good than all the sermons that can be preached. YI January 1, 1903, par. 6

Christ desires to use the youth in his service. He needs missionaries. The barren fields all over the world call to heaven for laborers. If the youth will give themselves to God, he will give them wisdom and knowledge, preparing them for service. If they will consecrate themselves to him, he will make them vessels unto honor, into which he can pour the precious oil of the Spirit, to be imparted to others. God's helping hand—this is what you may be if you will yield yourselves to his keeping. He will help you to make straight paths for your feet. YI January 1, 1903, par. 7

Dear young friends, God loves you. He wants you to be saved. He wants you to make a success of the life that he has given you. If you let your life slip from you in idle dreaming, if you bring to the foundation wood, hay, and stubble, you may through repentance be saved; but where is your treasure? All eternity will testify to your loss. YI January 1, 1903, par. 8

You are not alone in the warfare against wrong. Could the curtain be rolled back, you would see heavenly angels fighting with you. This they must do; it is their work to guard the youth. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of angels minister to the youth. YI January 1, 1903, par. 9

As you move forward step by step, adding to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, God will be with you, and you will never fall. As you work on the plan of addition, Christ works for you on the plan of multiplication. He aids you as you strive for the crown of life. Strive lawfully, serving God with heart and mind and soul and strength. Then when Christ comes to gather his jewels to himself, he will welcome you with the words, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” YI January 1, 1903, par. 10

Mrs. E. G. White