YOUR EXAMPLE | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 29, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 50.

YOUR EXAMPLE.

Do you, who have entered the great army of Christ, ever stop to ask yourself if you are really fighting, if you are in the thickest of the battle, receiving wounds on every side; or are you skulking on the outside, half ashamed of your enrollment, bringing disgrace on your Captain, and no aid to those about you? Are you helping your neighbor or hindering him? The example you are setting is doing everything for good or ill for your weaker brother. To him your life, as you live it before him, is great aid in the battle, or a stumbling-block. There is a cloud of witnesses about you.

Those with whom you live and are in constant company are keeping their eyes upon you, and often as you serve the Lord they will serve him.

To be a Christian means a great deal more than believing in certain doctrines, going to church, or even talking about religion. It means living it. It means having Christ in every deed. We cannot leave him out of the most trivial thing. It means we must show the world that we love the Lord, and are serving him. We must show them so plainly that there can be no mistake. As you know the well-tried soldier by his tread, his habits, and endurance the moment you see him, so the world must know you to be a Christian—a real live Christian—the moment it comes in contact with you. You must meet with sinners, as well as half-asleep, careless Christians, and you must live so that your light will shine clear and above reproach, fearing only, but always, to bring shame upon the Master's name. By your example you must strengthen the weak, and by your unfaltering step and firm hand, help the weak-hearted. Let the whole world see the quiet, steady light of your devoted life. Let the perfume of the "white flower of a blameless life" which you wear, scent the air about you till that very perfume will entice those who breathe it to strive likewise to wear one. Let there be no vainglory or striving after praise for any particular gift; but aspire for no other praise (and it is a great one) than that it may be said that your silent example has won many a heart to Christ. Let an assembly be better for your presence. Let it be known that it is safe to be where you are.

Above all, let your light shine at home. There are many dear ones who would be led astray by the careless life of a professed Christian, or be won by your devotedness. There are no words so eloquent as a well-lived life—a blameless one. Let your presence be a signal of peace, your very step music to the tired and discouraged.

It may be your sad lot to live with someone who is not at all agreeable; that is, with someone who is so captious you cannot pass the day without a jar. Try your best, you say, there is trouble; even your kind acts are misconstrued and resented. There are some people with whom it is very difficult to live. You wish your lot had been cast elsewhere, while it may be that your lot was cast just there and nowhere else, because the Lord wants your example and nothing else to bring that wanderer to the Lord. This example may be the particular work sent you. It is hard work indeed, and one the world will never know anything about; but the Master, who knows just how hard the work was, and how patiently and bravely you performed it, will reward you. Trust the Lord. His help is ever present. Be strong and of good courage. Never forget that the responsibility of being a Christian is a very great one; for you not only ruin your own soul if you sin, but you ruin the souls of those who watch and may be copy your example.—Christian at Work.