p. 26 | Spiritual Lessons from Common Duties

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 3, 1907

Spiritual Lessons from Common Duties

By Ethel Voorheis

We call ourselves teachers. Well, Christ was a teacher; and we should study his methods of teaching.

When the Saviour saw the farmer sowing seed, he explained to those gathered around him the comparison to spiritual seed sowing. We find that all through his life of teaching, his lessons were drawn from the common duties performed on every side. This was Christ's method. Are we as teachers following his example?

It is true that we can not give to others what we do not possess ourselves. We can not teach the children to draw the spiritual from the natural unless we have formed the habit of doing it for ourselves. Neither can we form this habit in a day, or a week, or a month. We haven't been trained that way, and it will take a will to do, and a perseverance that succeeds, to gain the desired result.

A friend of mine has learned to draw spiritual lessons from common, and even distasteful experiences. We had been talking about finding the good and pleasant in the things that really seem to be bad, and he told me of a journey he had taken a short time before.

He said: “I was returning home after quite a long absence. I had only twelve miles farther to go, but I found that I must wait until the next day for a train, or walk the distance across the country through the woods. Although the day was a showery one, I chose to walk. Everything was wet, and all around was gloomy and dismal. But I happened to think how very like our journey to the heavenly Canaan.

“I began drawing comparisons. The road I was on was an old railroad bed, straight and narrow (the one spoken of in Matt. 7:14, I imagined). While following it, I was safe, even from the boughs of the trees which held great showers of moisture.

“At times the sky was covered with clouds, and perhaps a shower would wet me through and through. But was I disheartened?—O, no! the thoughts of reaching my home and receiving my wife's hearty welcome, renewed my courage. And I thought of how we have started for the heavenly home, and how gladly Jesus will welcome us when we reach it.

“Soon the clouds passed away, and there came a beautiful burst of sunshine. There was a striking example of the alternating gloomy and bright places in our lives.

“As I walked on, I came to where a very pretty and inviting road branched off, and after wondering which way to go, I chose the pleasant-looking road that turned off from the straight and narrow way. It was very pleasant for a time, but suddenly I came to a fence. You see, I had strayed from the right road, and this was the result. I could go on no farther, and there were no short cuts back to the right road. The only thing to do was to retrace my steps to the place where I had turned off, and then proceed again in the straight and narrow way. This I did, and soon reached my home in safety. How glad I was to see my wife and enjoy home comforts once more; but how much more shall I enjoy seeing the face of my Saviour and the beautiful home he has prepared, if I walk faithfully in the path of righteousness.” ETHEL VOORHEIS.