WATCH YOURSELF. 023

"I feel urged to address those who are engaged in giving the last message of warning to the world. Whether those for whom they labor see and accept the truth depends very much upon the individual workers."

Whether someone sees and accepts the truth depends upon the individual worker. I used to think that people who rejected Christ after a series of Bible studies “missed their opportunity” because of their hardness of heart or some other reason why people don’t believe. However it wasn’t until my eyes were opened and I wondered whether or not people accepted Christ, not because of them, but because of me. Maybe I lacked the spiritual power to add conviction to my words, and maybe this was because I was a low-key hypocrite or wasn’t genuinely devoted to God. Maybe there was something about me that prevented me from genuinely connecting with the person, maybe I just wanted to have this transaction where someone accepted Christ based on my endeavours and then the end, versus actually loving the person, meeting their needs and becoming a part of their life. Honestly, or maybe I just needed to get better at persuading people of the goodness of God and salvation, or more knowledgeable about God’s word and the reasons why people don’t accept. When this mindset shift happened, I started to pray,

“Lord, please give them a better or just another opportunity, a better or just another person, the perfect person for them.”

When the children of Israel were rebellious and God said He was going to destroy them and make a new nation, God wanted to see how Moses would react. Would Moses agree to the children of Israel’s condemnation, or would he plead for mercy (like God has shown us (through Jesus) that that’s what He would do).

Maybe it’s the same, when people don’t accept Christ, do we hurry to condemn, or do we see fault in ourselves potentially and ask God for more time and opportunities for those that reject?

The command from God is, “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord;” and Paul charges Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine.”

I love this verse. Paul tells Timothy not just to take heed to his doctrine, the things he believes and teaches, but also to take heed unto himself. Essentially Paul is saying to Timothy to “watch yourself, and what you believe and teach.”

Watch YOURSELF, as well as what you believe and teach.

The work must commence with the worker; he must be united to Christ as the branch is united to the vine. “I am the Vine,” said Christ; “ye are the branches.” The closest possible connection is here represented. Engraft the leafless twig upon the flourishing vine stock, and it becomes a living branch, drawing sap and nourishment from the vine. Fiber by fiber, vein by vein, the sapling clings, until it buds and blossoms and bears fruit. The sapless twig represents the sinner. When united to Christ, soul is joined to soul, the feeble and finite to the holy and infinite, and man becomes one with Christ. {5T 591.1}

It is my prayer that I may genuinely draw from the living and loving Branch, Christ Jesus, and thus go forth with a heart full of love to inspire others to do the same.

IJN,

Amen.

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