Moral Strength | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 23, 1873

Moral Strength.

Perhaps there is no virtue which to-day is at so great a discount as moral strength. But who can say but what it is that very virtue, which, among the young of our age, should be at the highest premium. Without it, what can they do? With it, though much else fall short, what is impossible? And yet this very strength is appreciated and almost revered by all lookers on. Only know for yourself, that another possesses it, and how much more highly is he esteemed. Why is it, then, that it is possessed by so few, if so highly esteemed by so many? Why does not every person for himself try to increase it, and perfect himself in it? When once there is a strong determination to do right, when once we feel and know, and put that feeling and knowledge into one determined effort to be firm and true to our own better nature, trusting and relying on him for strength from above, how much more easy to say no to every sinful thought, and every wrong doing; and how much better satisfied with our actions, and with ourselves we shall be.

God has not placed us here for naught. We each have a work, and a purpose, and exert an influence, and we are accountable to him for the manner in which we do that work, and the extent and kind of the influence which we exert. Some, we are well aware, do not by nature possess the strong will and firm principles which others do. With them, we must be gentle, yet firm, bold and true, trying to show that when leaning on Christ’s arm, at the same time doing all that we can, then all are safe. He will not let any fall. Some have the erroneous idea that when we lay our burdens on the Lord, we can lay all the work he has given us to do, there also; and that he will do the whole for us. The Bible way is, we think, that we are not to be slothful, that we must work while the day lasts, doing all cheerfully, asking for all needful help from the Source which never fails, and then, when the night comes, laying all our burdens, and all of the results, on Him who doeth all things well, sweetly rest in hope. He will never do our work, but will always help and direct.