Examples to the Flock

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 27, 1913

Examples to the Flock

The minister of Christ should exemplify in his own life that which he preaches to others. If his life denies the profession he makes, his preaching, however good, will accomplish but little. The minister proclaims Christ as the Saviour of mankind. Does he know this as a precious truth which he himself has realized in his own experience, or has he learned merely the theory from the Scriptures? Does he know that his own sins are forgiven, and that he is accepted in the Beloved? Is he experiencing from day to day the keeping power of God? Only by knowing God for himself can he minister light and blessing to those in the bondage of sin. And he will be able to bear witness only to that which he has seen with his own eyes, felt in his own heart, and experienced in his own life.

It is a great thing for the minister of Christ to maintain a clear connection between his own soul and God. It is a great thing also for the gospel minister to live in this world as an ambassador of heaven; to associate with worldly men and women, and yet not partake of their spirit; to labor for men, free from personal prejudice and bias; to hold himself above the spirit of self-seeking, of envy, jealousy, and evil surmising. He is human, the same as those for whom he labors; and it is only as he is kept by the power of God that the worldly influences with which he is surrounded do not enter into his heart and control his life.

When the gospel laborer fails; when, in an unguarded moment, the enemy has come in and carried off the victory, then it is for him to turn again to God in precisely the same manner as must come every penitent to the mercy-seat. Have difficulties arisen between him and his brethren? has he been a party to strife and become embittered against those who he feels have wronged him? Then, to be consistent, he must be governed by the same principles which he advocates to his flock. For him or for his class there is no royal road of repentance. He can put away his sin only through confession and humiliation of soul. He can make wrongs right with his brethren and with God only by confession of those wrongs, the same as he enjoins upon the lay members of the church. And the occupying of official positions in no way affects the principle. The president of a conference, the principal of a school, the manager of a sanitarium, must put away sin in precisely the same way as those under their direction. Indeed, in matters of this kind the gospel worker should be an example to the flock.

There is quite as much need of the recognition of these principles on the part of the gospel worker as on the part of other members of the church; and if they were observed and followed, it would save many differences and much misunderstanding among brethren. It would relieve many heartaches and heal many wounds.

David was a man after God’s own heart. He committed a great sin against both his Maker and his fellow men. But when this sin was pointed out, when an awakened conscience recognized the enormity of his guilt, he demonstrated that he was indeed a man after God’s own heart, by humbling his soul before God, renouncing his sin, and turning again to the principles of righteousness.

The ministers of Christ to-day, like the priests of old, are “compassed with infirmity.” But though beset with human infirmity, though falling short of the perfect righteousness there is in Christ Jesus, it is their privilege to prove to all the sincerity of their profession by a recognition of the gospel principles of which heaven has made them the teachers. In this course they will prove to all men their sincerity and their consistency.

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”