Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Paul charges servants to be obedient to their masters, refusing to steal or withhold what belongs to them and instead showing complete honesty and trustworthiness in their work. By such faithful living those in humble service make the teaching about God their Saviour attractive, ordering words and conduct carefully so they bring no reproach on the gospel. This adorning must permeate the whole life, seen in the family, in the church, and in all business with the world, distinguishing those who keep God's commandments. Mere profession does not adorn the teaching, for it requires denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living soberly, righteously and godly with sincere piety, faithful good works and visible reformation. Unfaithful, worldly, coarse and harsh ways fail to adorn and instead injure the truth and drive unbelievers away, while love expressed in kindly, gentle, meek and cheerful speech and conduct commends the doctrine to all.
Context and Wording
Paul's instruction to Titus places the call to adorn the teaching immediately after the charge for young men to be sober-minded and for Titus himself to be a pattern of good works. That pattern is defined by uncorrupt doctrine, gravity, sincerity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. Such speech leaves opponents ashamed, with nothing evil to say. Joined to this is the charge for servants to be obedient to their own masters and to please them well in all things, not answering again.
Not purloining means servants must be honest in ordinary duties and show complete faithfulness and trustworthiness. They are to be obedient and pleasing in their work, avoiding stealing or withholding what belongs to their masters. Such faithful conduct in every matter brings honor to the teaching about God the Saviour and can make that teaching attractive to others.
To adorn the doctrine is for people in humble service to make the teaching about God their Saviour attractive by practicing it. Those who profess to believe God's Word do this through faithful Christian lives joined with active service for Christ. By ordering words and behavior carefully and avoiding inconsistency, they keep from bringing reproach on the gospel. In this way they show its truth shaping and ennobling their lives.
What Adorning Requires
Adorning the teaching about God the Saviour is the fruit of God's eternal purpose and the blessings of grace given for Christ's sake to all who believe, and it must permeate the whole life so its influence is felt in the family, in the church, and in all business connections with the world. This alone distinguishes those who keep the commandments of God. As Christ in His human nature did, believers are to show to the universe of heaven, to the church, and to the world that they are living the principles of the law of the kingdom of heaven. It means not living as sad and discouraged orphans but showing praise to God who calls out of darkness into light, acknowledging Him as God and Ruler and calling Him Father, with countenances expressing His love and lives telling His goodness through trust and meditation on His goodness, patience, long forbearance, and compassion.
The teaching is adorned through lives marked by sincere piety and faithful good works, with the excellence of Christ shining in character to reveal the excellence and power of the gospel. Mere profession of faith without heartfelt piety is powerless for good, and when conduct fails to reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ it calls for plain, positive testimony. Each member is to remain connected to the source of spiritual light and do a faithful part in reflecting that light to the world, rather than acting as false guides. Professed followers must become informed, principled Christians and serve God with increasing knowledge, for profession not matched by spiritual growth and service dishonors God, while the day of the Lord is reason to remain watchful and prayerful with grace supplied when future duties and dangers arrive, not in advance for imagined trials.
Those who profess godliness should make conduct honor the teaching professed, giving no cause for truth to be reviled but showing visible reformation. Faithful lives adorn the teaching about Christ as Saviour by holiness to God in daily life manifesting the Christ life, with self abased and the corrupt nature subdued and made pure and undefiled, as humble faithful men and women who never sit upon the judgment seat but remain pure vessels revealing the beauty of sanctified character with the channel unobstructed for the Holy Spirit. Unfaithful lives do not adorn the doctrine but dishonor it, bring reproach, and cause Bible truth to be blasphemed. Humble, choice, refined conduct with words and acts conforming to truth adorns profession and gives a saving influence that can win souls, while coarse, rough, slack, boisterous, overbearing, easily provoked ways injure the truth, fail to win souls, drive unbelievers farther off, prejudice and disgust them, and cause enemies to reproach the truth, so that one who lives this way must entirely reform and first learn what to do to be saved before seeking to talk truth to others.
The church is given special instruction to make God's saving teaching attractive in everything by denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, including modesty in apparel with good works and holiness in all conduct. This is done while looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ who gave Himself to redeem from all iniquity and purify a peculiar people zealous of good works. The duty owed to God and His high claims in adorning the doctrine in all things demands faith and confidence in God to come out and be separate from the world and lift the cross in obeying the commandments of God instead of living for pleasure, dancing, and amusement, a claim that demands care for the soul and convicts even intelligent hearers not of the faith. Understanding truth alone is not enough without that separating faith and obedience.
Adorning the Christian profession in all things means escaping the pollution and corruption in the world through lust, which requires constant vigilance against temptations to live for self and to be jealous, envious, suspicious, and faultfinding, with earnest effort and prayer to subdue and control self. Going murmuringly makes no progress in the heavenly road, and stopping even for a moment brings danger of being overcome by strong temptation, taking imprudent steps, and manifesting an unchristian spirit that brings bitterness to one's own soul and perplexity and sadness upon others that endangers their souls, for which influence one is accountable. For Seventh-day Adventists this means never being ashamed of the name but taking a firm stand for truth and righteousness and thus glorifying God, being delivered from dangers instead of being ensnared and corrupted by them, looking ever to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith, planning wisely in much prayer, and becoming partakers of the divine nature. The doctrine is adorned by a changed life that cleanses thoughts and soul, prays, brings children to Jesus by faith, and rises above low conduct, while selfish indulgence makes a wrong impression, fails to adorn the doctrine, does not elevate truth, and dishonors God, and turning from God through an ungodly relationship fails to display the doctrine in life.
To adorn profession means to do right by obedience and right doing that honors parents and comforts them, to be thorough in all Christian duties, and to make the life God grants of service to others and to glorify God by a Christian course. It means submitting to the judgment of the church instead of taking responsibility to keep the church in order, trusting God to vindicate the right in His own time if the church decides wrong, humbling self, living wholly for God, taking an elevated position, exalting truth, and using influence in union with brethren rather than against them, thereby redeeming the past and remaining loved and respected in the heart of God's people. It means being faithful in the Lord and finding help and strength in Jesus by feeling need of help and hungering and thirsting for righteousness in order to be filled, for Jesus reveals Himself as One in whom all fullness dwells to the hungering, thirsting soul, and in Him is no darkness at all. It means opening the door of the heart wide for the Saviour to enter, carrying every perplexity, grief, and burden to Jesus in prayer, not making religion mere form and outward show, setting the heart in order because out of it are the issues of life, seeking purity of heart and thought and letting no impure thought lodge in the mind for a moment. It calls for a deep and thorough experience in the things of God to stand when faith is tried, for troublous times are before us and commotions in the nation will bring scenes heretofore unknown.
People Called to Adorn
Ministers adorn the teaching about God the Saviour through a life that reflects Christian virtue and excellence in every part. Because ministers are examples to God's people and representatives of Christ, their character and conduct shape the character of those they teach. A life marked by Christian excellence can be reproduced in people who truly love God, while harmful traits can spread through the same influence, so ministers should devote their abilities to saving souls and exercise careful discipline. When men and women receive the truth and adorn it by following Christ's example, they commend both the truth and the minister who presented it. Such transformed lives are seals of his ministry that greatly strengthen him, and his usefulness as a minister of Christ is measured by these results.
Ministers and physicians adorn Christ's teaching when they make His healing grace visible in words, actions, works and influence. The Saviour is revealed as altogether lovely when the whole being represents the life of Christ, learned from Him who is pure and holy and undefiled. This requires truth in the inner life, in the inner sanctuary of the soul, with its precious principles worked out in life. Those who do this will be known as having been with Jesus and as without rebuke in a sinful and corrupt generation. Through their earnest efforts many will be turned to the Lord and a great work will be done in behalf of other souls.
Physicians adorn the doctrine of God the Saviour and the doctrine of Christ in all things by faithful conduct in every matter, practicing with pure, unselfish motives and a desire to honor Christ's teaching. This means working as a colaborer with Christ under the counsel of God, firm as a rock to principle yet kind and courteous to all. It means moving with the greatest caution in dealing with all classes of minds and diseases, lest by mismanagement one of God's creatures be injured. The Christian physician is to feel the responsibility of a position even more responsible than that of the minister of the gospel. Such a life gives heaven-born dignity and makes one a powerful agent for good in the world, honored of Heaven and more precious in God's sight than gold, even the gold of Ophir, though not appreciated by those who have no connection with God. In a sanitarium, patience, kindness and proper behavior in conduct that reflects professed truth can leave patients with a good impression and help bring the truth to people who might otherwise be difficult to reach.
Children are to be educated as useful servants of the Lord, living to please Jesus rather than themselves, so that character and service make the doctrine of Christ attractive. Such a life of service to Christ bears witness that their Saviour did not die for them in vain. Youth adorn the doctrine of God the Saviour in all things, at all places and at all times by a character that glorifies the Master and witnesses to the work of the Holy Spirit upon the soul, with Christ abiding in the soul as a wellspring of life. This means taking warning not to be forward in conversation but to be modest and retiring in demeanor, showing humility of mind. It means being quick to hear things that profit the soul and slow to speak except to represent Jesus and witness to the truth, keeping conversation seasoned with grace. It means educating the soul to cheerfulness, thankfulness and expression of gratitude to God for the great love wherewith He has loved us, displaying Christ in character and conversation.
Those entrusted with riches adorn the teaching about Christ by using earthly wealth to advance God's kingdom and help people Christ purchased with His blood. Rich people are held to the same call to self-sacrifice as the poor, and must not live to please or glorify themselves or seek honor because of wealth, but represent Christ. God's people likewise adorn the doctrine of Christ their Saviour by putting entrusted resources, strength, abilities and affections into the work of the gospel, with the Holy Spirit working through willing, active service to make the teaching attractive and lead people from sin toward holiness. Christ's teaching is adorned when those who profess it live well-ordered, godly lives that reveal the doctrines they teach, with principles woven into life and expressed through good works that make the power of Christianity visible to the world. Workers entrusted with teaching or leadership must learn from Christ and show His love and tenderness. Those entrusted with the oracles of God must make it their very first work to adorn the doctrine they claim to believe with well-ordered life and godly conversation, and can succeed in work committed to them in Los Angeles and in Paradise Valley only as dependence is placed in the Lord God of Israel. Adorning in this sense means self no longer strives for the mastery but is hid with Christ in God so all pettishness of self dies, Christ's altogether perfect character appears in His followers and is formed within them, His children grow up into Christ their living Head, His mind is revealed through the mind and behavior of His witnesses, and self is exercised in good works after the example given in the life of Christ.
Individually adorning the doctrine of God the Saviour is done through true service to the Master that acts as leaven in every relationship of life. It means working for Him where He places a person and not where self chooses, and doing duty faithfully to God and not to men even when meeting many discouragements and when encouragement and sympathy are withheld because the Spirit of Jesus Christ is greatly absent. Knowing Christ as the crucified and risen Lord leads both young and old to this adornment through active Christian service, sharing received light so that devotion and gratitude are evident in what is done, not only in what is said. The light given and the light shared correspond, so those who have received much light should impart it. Christ's doctrine is adorned when believers consecrate themselves to God and live in a way that commends it, with the Holy Spirit giving love, tenderness and overcoming grace that fits them to labor for others, so that as they adorn the doctrine of Christ their Saviour they see God's salvation. It also means making the teaching attractive by daily life where one is, living the truth in purity and humility when physical strength does not allow labor as a traveling evangelist, with cheerfulness and good courage but without carelessness or imprudence in efforts to advance the cause, which brings safety with the joy and peace of Christ in the heart.
Character Speech and Witness
To adorn in all things is to cherish love, for love is of God, and to express it in kindly, tender, sympathetic words spoken in simplicity and Christlikeness, rejecting all harshness and accusation. It means talking cheerfully and hopefully and talking faith and love whether hopeful feelings are present or not. God is best glorified by such witnesses that through the power of His rich grace there is peace and joy in the Saviour. Cheerful, holy endeavor to keep the unity of the faith presents heavenly credentials to the world that God has sent His only begotten Son as Saviour of men.
Discourteous, cutting, harsh and coarse speech fails to adorn, while gentle speech, self-control, kindness, courtesy, thoughtfulness, sanctified tempers and sanctified words, faithfulness under every test, and not being easily provoked make believers witnesses for Christ. Words and conduct are to give a right example consistent with light and privileges, showing Christ formed within and making truth visible in character. Outward behavior is to show the inward work of sanctification, treating spiritually blind people without anger and acting wisely and harmlessly. Manners, words and spirit used in this way remove prejudice without compromising truth, while humble, choice, refined conduct gives a saving influence that can win souls. Coarse, rough, slack, boisterous, overbearing and easily provoked ways do not adorn profession but injure the truth, fail to win souls, drive unbelievers farther off, prejudice and disgust them, and cause enemies to reproach the truth, so one who lives this way must entirely reform and first learn what to do to be saved before seeking to talk truth to others.
The doctrine is adorned by a meek and quiet spirit as a precious inward ornament given by God and a sign of discipleship for both women and men to seek and wear habitually. It is adorned by a life shaped by Christ in which selfish likes, dislikes and desires that disadvantage others are overcome, God's peace rules the heart, and Christ works within as a living power. Adorning is being good and doing good in a well-ordered life and godly conversation that increases the happiness of those around, which requires first receiving light in order to impart light. God's converting power adorns the gospel when it transforms the heart and produces a well-ordered life and godly speech marked by kindness, mercy, humility and self-control rather than evil speaking, suspicion, accusation or efforts to exalt self and disparage others. Those still ignorant of grace upon the heart must in humility learn of Christ who is meek and lowly in heart, shown by good fruits and a daily walk, being modest and reserved in conversation and holding back from introducing truth to unbelievers until life can adorn it.
Faithful conduct in every part of life makes the teaching attractive and credible, displaying its worth through good works and a life shaped by Christian faith. A consistent, whole-hearted character and conduct shaped by God's Word give evidence of sincere faith, with Christ supplying the grace and spiritual gifts needed to develop such character that can influence others and help lead to salvation, every part of life lived for God's glory. Those who serve God wholeheartedly and put His service first adorn the truth professed and the doctrines of Christ, serving as ornaments to their religion and as heirs of heaven. Believers are to be earnest, faithful servants showing perseverance, zeal and energy in God's work and seeking to perfect Christian character, including faithful dealings with fellow believers, so that profession is adorned and teaching made visible in conduct.
Adorning is shown by staying close to Christ, being daily converted, and making faith visible in conduct at home. When professed believers live worldly rather than spiritually they fail to adorn, for conduct should help convince others of the truth. Believers adorn when in affliction they bear testimony for the Master by trusting Him who is strong to save and mighty to deliver, living truth out in practice and hopefulness, and the Lord sometimes permits most trying circumstances so His people will seek Him and bear testimony for truth in this way. Every believer is to show in life that faith is real and that power to become sons of God has been received, giving proof by words and actions that are frank, sincere, kind, amiable, sober-minded yet cheerful, showing by example the elevating character and sanctifying influence of faith so believers and unbelievers recognize the mark of Christ, that they have learned from Him and work together with God. Believers adorn by living as transformed Christians whose conduct exerts positive influence for right, with obedience to God's Word, a life worthy of profession, and conduct reflecting appreciation for Christ's sacrifice making profession honorable, while being molded by the world makes a mockery of it.
Teaching others to live consistently includes faithfully correcting wrong and deception and reproving wrongdoing with patience, meekness, gentleness and firmness so the deceived may be freed from error. Adorning means stating truth more correctly because it is understood better, practicing soul-powerful truth brought home with power, and showing corresponding zeal as witnesses for Christ near and far with modest simplicity of language and sincere, honest, earnest purpose to follow Christ the Pattern so as through His grace to represent perfect manhood by living an actual Christian life. Those sound in the faith adorn profession by piety and religious life after examining the Scriptures personally to see if these things are so and standing fully with truth despite former prejudice. Defenders of truth adorn by bringing spirit, thoughts, mind, words, behavior and deportment under Christ's control and bearing patiently with human inconsistency, perversity and error as Christ has borne with them. Patience and a Christlike manner show truth well, while defending it with an intolerant, self-exalting spirit injures the cause far more than it advances it and gives unbelievers reason to doubt and discredit the sincerity of those who love truth.
Truth is adorned by daily conduct with close attention to the heart, faith working through love and purifying the soul, faithful dealings with others, a conscience kept sacred, and an example that does not lead others astray. Adorning is an individual work done by Christ's imparted grace, giving knowledge of how to accept Christ as personal Saviour and imitate His example while He molds and fashions character by imparting His divine attributes. The adorned life brings forth as precious fruits of the Christian tree whatever is true, honest, lovely and of good report, revealing the religion of Jesus in a winsome character bright as light shining in darkness. The gospel is adorned when God's people cherish and practice the pure, holy principles God requires in dealings with others, living as obedient subjects with greater light than Israel had in the wilderness journey.
Paul charges servants to be obedient to their masters, refusing to steal or withhold what belongs to them and instead showing complete honesty and trustworthiness in their work. By such faithful living those in humble service make the teaching about God their Saviour attractive, ordering words and conduct carefully so they bring no reproach on the gospel. This adorning must permeate the whole life, seen in the family, in the church, and in all business with the world, distinguishing those who keep God's commandments. Mere profession does not adorn the teaching, for it requires denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living soberly, righteously and godly with sincere piety, faithful good works and visible reformation. Unfaithful, worldly, coarse and harsh ways fail to adorn and instead injure the truth and drive unbelievers away, while love expressed in kindly, gentle, meek and cheerful speech and conduct commends the doctrine to all.
Context and Wording
Paul's instruction to Titus places the call to adorn the teaching immediately after the charge for young men to be sober-minded and for Titus himself to be a pattern of good works. That pattern is defined by uncorrupt doctrine, gravity, sincerity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. Such speech leaves opponents ashamed, with nothing evil to say. Joined to this is the charge for servants to be obedient to their own masters and to please them well in all things, not answering again.
Not purloining means servants must be honest in ordinary duties and show complete faithfulness and trustworthiness. They are to be obedient and pleasing in their work, avoiding stealing or withholding what belongs to their masters. Such faithful conduct in every matter brings honor to the teaching about God the Saviour and can make that teaching attractive to others.
To adorn the doctrine is for people in humble service to make the teaching about God their Saviour attractive by practicing it. Those who profess to believe God's Word do this through faithful Christian lives joined with active service for Christ. By ordering words and behavior carefully and avoiding inconsistency, they keep from bringing reproach on the gospel. In this way they show its truth shaping and ennobling their lives.
What Adorning Requires
Adorning the teaching about God the Saviour is the fruit of God's eternal purpose and the blessings of grace given for Christ's sake to all who believe, and it must permeate the whole life so its influence is felt in the family, in the church, and in all business connections with the world. This alone distinguishes those who keep the commandments of God. As Christ in His human nature did, believers are to show to the universe of heaven, to the church, and to the world that they are living the principles of the law of the kingdom of heaven. It means not living as sad and discouraged orphans but showing praise to God who calls out of darkness into light, acknowledging Him as God and Ruler and calling Him Father, with countenances expressing His love and lives telling His goodness through trust and meditation on His goodness, patience, long forbearance, and compassion.
The teaching is adorned through lives marked by sincere piety and faithful good works, with the excellence of Christ shining in character to reveal the excellence and power of the gospel. Mere profession of faith without heartfelt piety is powerless for good, and when conduct fails to reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ it calls for plain, positive testimony. Each member is to remain connected to the source of spiritual light and do a faithful part in reflecting that light to the world, rather than acting as false guides. Professed followers must become informed, principled Christians and serve God with increasing knowledge, for profession not matched by spiritual growth and service dishonors God, while the day of the Lord is reason to remain watchful and prayerful with grace supplied when future duties and dangers arrive, not in advance for imagined trials.
Those who profess godliness should make conduct honor the teaching professed, giving no cause for truth to be reviled but showing visible reformation. Faithful lives adorn the teaching about Christ as Saviour by holiness to God in daily life manifesting the Christ life, with self abased and the corrupt nature subdued and made pure and undefiled, as humble faithful men and women who never sit upon the judgment seat but remain pure vessels revealing the beauty of sanctified character with the channel unobstructed for the Holy Spirit. Unfaithful lives do not adorn the doctrine but dishonor it, bring reproach, and cause Bible truth to be blasphemed. Humble, choice, refined conduct with words and acts conforming to truth adorns profession and gives a saving influence that can win souls, while coarse, rough, slack, boisterous, overbearing, easily provoked ways injure the truth, fail to win souls, drive unbelievers farther off, prejudice and disgust them, and cause enemies to reproach the truth, so that one who lives this way must entirely reform and first learn what to do to be saved before seeking to talk truth to others.
The church is given special instruction to make God's saving teaching attractive in everything by denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, including modesty in apparel with good works and holiness in all conduct. This is done while looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ who gave Himself to redeem from all iniquity and purify a peculiar people zealous of good works. The duty owed to God and His high claims in adorning the doctrine in all things demands faith and confidence in God to come out and be separate from the world and lift the cross in obeying the commandments of God instead of living for pleasure, dancing, and amusement, a claim that demands care for the soul and convicts even intelligent hearers not of the faith. Understanding truth alone is not enough without that separating faith and obedience.
Adorning the Christian profession in all things means escaping the pollution and corruption in the world through lust, which requires constant vigilance against temptations to live for self and to be jealous, envious, suspicious, and faultfinding, with earnest effort and prayer to subdue and control self. Going murmuringly makes no progress in the heavenly road, and stopping even for a moment brings danger of being overcome by strong temptation, taking imprudent steps, and manifesting an unchristian spirit that brings bitterness to one's own soul and perplexity and sadness upon others that endangers their souls, for which influence one is accountable. For Seventh-day Adventists this means never being ashamed of the name but taking a firm stand for truth and righteousness and thus glorifying God, being delivered from dangers instead of being ensnared and corrupted by them, looking ever to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith, planning wisely in much prayer, and becoming partakers of the divine nature. The doctrine is adorned by a changed life that cleanses thoughts and soul, prays, brings children to Jesus by faith, and rises above low conduct, while selfish indulgence makes a wrong impression, fails to adorn the doctrine, does not elevate truth, and dishonors God, and turning from God through an ungodly relationship fails to display the doctrine in life.
To adorn profession means to do right by obedience and right doing that honors parents and comforts them, to be thorough in all Christian duties, and to make the life God grants of service to others and to glorify God by a Christian course. It means submitting to the judgment of the church instead of taking responsibility to keep the church in order, trusting God to vindicate the right in His own time if the church decides wrong, humbling self, living wholly for God, taking an elevated position, exalting truth, and using influence in union with brethren rather than against them, thereby redeeming the past and remaining loved and respected in the heart of God's people. It means being faithful in the Lord and finding help and strength in Jesus by feeling need of help and hungering and thirsting for righteousness in order to be filled, for Jesus reveals Himself as One in whom all fullness dwells to the hungering, thirsting soul, and in Him is no darkness at all. It means opening the door of the heart wide for the Saviour to enter, carrying every perplexity, grief, and burden to Jesus in prayer, not making religion mere form and outward show, setting the heart in order because out of it are the issues of life, seeking purity of heart and thought and letting no impure thought lodge in the mind for a moment. It calls for a deep and thorough experience in the things of God to stand when faith is tried, for troublous times are before us and commotions in the nation will bring scenes heretofore unknown.
People Called to Adorn
Ministers adorn the teaching about God the Saviour through a life that reflects Christian virtue and excellence in every part. Because ministers are examples to God's people and representatives of Christ, their character and conduct shape the character of those they teach. A life marked by Christian excellence can be reproduced in people who truly love God, while harmful traits can spread through the same influence, so ministers should devote their abilities to saving souls and exercise careful discipline. When men and women receive the truth and adorn it by following Christ's example, they commend both the truth and the minister who presented it. Such transformed lives are seals of his ministry that greatly strengthen him, and his usefulness as a minister of Christ is measured by these results.
Ministers and physicians adorn Christ's teaching when they make His healing grace visible in words, actions, works and influence. The Saviour is revealed as altogether lovely when the whole being represents the life of Christ, learned from Him who is pure and holy and undefiled. This requires truth in the inner life, in the inner sanctuary of the soul, with its precious principles worked out in life. Those who do this will be known as having been with Jesus and as without rebuke in a sinful and corrupt generation. Through their earnest efforts many will be turned to the Lord and a great work will be done in behalf of other souls.
Physicians adorn the doctrine of God the Saviour and the doctrine of Christ in all things by faithful conduct in every matter, practicing with pure, unselfish motives and a desire to honor Christ's teaching. This means working as a colaborer with Christ under the counsel of God, firm as a rock to principle yet kind and courteous to all. It means moving with the greatest caution in dealing with all classes of minds and diseases, lest by mismanagement one of God's creatures be injured. The Christian physician is to feel the responsibility of a position even more responsible than that of the minister of the gospel. Such a life gives heaven-born dignity and makes one a powerful agent for good in the world, honored of Heaven and more precious in God's sight than gold, even the gold of Ophir, though not appreciated by those who have no connection with God. In a sanitarium, patience, kindness and proper behavior in conduct that reflects professed truth can leave patients with a good impression and help bring the truth to people who might otherwise be difficult to reach.
Children are to be educated as useful servants of the Lord, living to please Jesus rather than themselves, so that character and service make the doctrine of Christ attractive. Such a life of service to Christ bears witness that their Saviour did not die for them in vain. Youth adorn the doctrine of God the Saviour in all things, at all places and at all times by a character that glorifies the Master and witnesses to the work of the Holy Spirit upon the soul, with Christ abiding in the soul as a wellspring of life. This means taking warning not to be forward in conversation but to be modest and retiring in demeanor, showing humility of mind. It means being quick to hear things that profit the soul and slow to speak except to represent Jesus and witness to the truth, keeping conversation seasoned with grace. It means educating the soul to cheerfulness, thankfulness and expression of gratitude to God for the great love wherewith He has loved us, displaying Christ in character and conversation.
Those entrusted with riches adorn the teaching about Christ by using earthly wealth to advance God's kingdom and help people Christ purchased with His blood. Rich people are held to the same call to self-sacrifice as the poor, and must not live to please or glorify themselves or seek honor because of wealth, but represent Christ. God's people likewise adorn the doctrine of Christ their Saviour by putting entrusted resources, strength, abilities and affections into the work of the gospel, with the Holy Spirit working through willing, active service to make the teaching attractive and lead people from sin toward holiness. Christ's teaching is adorned when those who profess it live well-ordered, godly lives that reveal the doctrines they teach, with principles woven into life and expressed through good works that make the power of Christianity visible to the world. Workers entrusted with teaching or leadership must learn from Christ and show His love and tenderness. Those entrusted with the oracles of God must make it their very first work to adorn the doctrine they claim to believe with well-ordered life and godly conversation, and can succeed in work committed to them in Los Angeles and in Paradise Valley only as dependence is placed in the Lord God of Israel. Adorning in this sense means self no longer strives for the mastery but is hid with Christ in God so all pettishness of self dies, Christ's altogether perfect character appears in His followers and is formed within them, His children grow up into Christ their living Head, His mind is revealed through the mind and behavior of His witnesses, and self is exercised in good works after the example given in the life of Christ.
Individually adorning the doctrine of God the Saviour is done through true service to the Master that acts as leaven in every relationship of life. It means working for Him where He places a person and not where self chooses, and doing duty faithfully to God and not to men even when meeting many discouragements and when encouragement and sympathy are withheld because the Spirit of Jesus Christ is greatly absent. Knowing Christ as the crucified and risen Lord leads both young and old to this adornment through active Christian service, sharing received light so that devotion and gratitude are evident in what is done, not only in what is said. The light given and the light shared correspond, so those who have received much light should impart it. Christ's doctrine is adorned when believers consecrate themselves to God and live in a way that commends it, with the Holy Spirit giving love, tenderness and overcoming grace that fits them to labor for others, so that as they adorn the doctrine of Christ their Saviour they see God's salvation. It also means making the teaching attractive by daily life where one is, living the truth in purity and humility when physical strength does not allow labor as a traveling evangelist, with cheerfulness and good courage but without carelessness or imprudence in efforts to advance the cause, which brings safety with the joy and peace of Christ in the heart.
Character Speech and Witness
To adorn in all things is to cherish love, for love is of God, and to express it in kindly, tender, sympathetic words spoken in simplicity and Christlikeness, rejecting all harshness and accusation. It means talking cheerfully and hopefully and talking faith and love whether hopeful feelings are present or not. God is best glorified by such witnesses that through the power of His rich grace there is peace and joy in the Saviour. Cheerful, holy endeavor to keep the unity of the faith presents heavenly credentials to the world that God has sent His only begotten Son as Saviour of men.
Discourteous, cutting, harsh and coarse speech fails to adorn, while gentle speech, self-control, kindness, courtesy, thoughtfulness, sanctified tempers and sanctified words, faithfulness under every test, and not being easily provoked make believers witnesses for Christ. Words and conduct are to give a right example consistent with light and privileges, showing Christ formed within and making truth visible in character. Outward behavior is to show the inward work of sanctification, treating spiritually blind people without anger and acting wisely and harmlessly. Manners, words and spirit used in this way remove prejudice without compromising truth, while humble, choice, refined conduct gives a saving influence that can win souls. Coarse, rough, slack, boisterous, overbearing and easily provoked ways do not adorn profession but injure the truth, fail to win souls, drive unbelievers farther off, prejudice and disgust them, and cause enemies to reproach the truth, so one who lives this way must entirely reform and first learn what to do to be saved before seeking to talk truth to others.
The doctrine is adorned by a meek and quiet spirit as a precious inward ornament given by God and a sign of discipleship for both women and men to seek and wear habitually. It is adorned by a life shaped by Christ in which selfish likes, dislikes and desires that disadvantage others are overcome, God's peace rules the heart, and Christ works within as a living power. Adorning is being good and doing good in a well-ordered life and godly conversation that increases the happiness of those around, which requires first receiving light in order to impart light. God's converting power adorns the gospel when it transforms the heart and produces a well-ordered life and godly speech marked by kindness, mercy, humility and self-control rather than evil speaking, suspicion, accusation or efforts to exalt self and disparage others. Those still ignorant of grace upon the heart must in humility learn of Christ who is meek and lowly in heart, shown by good fruits and a daily walk, being modest and reserved in conversation and holding back from introducing truth to unbelievers until life can adorn it.
Faithful conduct in every part of life makes the teaching attractive and credible, displaying its worth through good works and a life shaped by Christian faith. A consistent, whole-hearted character and conduct shaped by God's Word give evidence of sincere faith, with Christ supplying the grace and spiritual gifts needed to develop such character that can influence others and help lead to salvation, every part of life lived for God's glory. Those who serve God wholeheartedly and put His service first adorn the truth professed and the doctrines of Christ, serving as ornaments to their religion and as heirs of heaven. Believers are to be earnest, faithful servants showing perseverance, zeal and energy in God's work and seeking to perfect Christian character, including faithful dealings with fellow believers, so that profession is adorned and teaching made visible in conduct.
Adorning is shown by staying close to Christ, being daily converted, and making faith visible in conduct at home. When professed believers live worldly rather than spiritually they fail to adorn, for conduct should help convince others of the truth. Believers adorn when in affliction they bear testimony for the Master by trusting Him who is strong to save and mighty to deliver, living truth out in practice and hopefulness, and the Lord sometimes permits most trying circumstances so His people will seek Him and bear testimony for truth in this way. Every believer is to show in life that faith is real and that power to become sons of God has been received, giving proof by words and actions that are frank, sincere, kind, amiable, sober-minded yet cheerful, showing by example the elevating character and sanctifying influence of faith so believers and unbelievers recognize the mark of Christ, that they have learned from Him and work together with God. Believers adorn by living as transformed Christians whose conduct exerts positive influence for right, with obedience to God's Word, a life worthy of profession, and conduct reflecting appreciation for Christ's sacrifice making profession honorable, while being molded by the world makes a mockery of it.
Teaching others to live consistently includes faithfully correcting wrong and deception and reproving wrongdoing with patience, meekness, gentleness and firmness so the deceived may be freed from error. Adorning means stating truth more correctly because it is understood better, practicing soul-powerful truth brought home with power, and showing corresponding zeal as witnesses for Christ near and far with modest simplicity of language and sincere, honest, earnest purpose to follow Christ the Pattern so as through His grace to represent perfect manhood by living an actual Christian life. Those sound in the faith adorn profession by piety and religious life after examining the Scriptures personally to see if these things are so and standing fully with truth despite former prejudice. Defenders of truth adorn by bringing spirit, thoughts, mind, words, behavior and deportment under Christ's control and bearing patiently with human inconsistency, perversity and error as Christ has borne with them. Patience and a Christlike manner show truth well, while defending it with an intolerant, self-exalting spirit injures the cause far more than it advances it and gives unbelievers reason to doubt and discredit the sincerity of those who love truth.
Truth is adorned by daily conduct with close attention to the heart, faith working through love and purifying the soul, faithful dealings with others, a conscience kept sacred, and an example that does not lead others astray. Adorning is an individual work done by Christ's imparted grace, giving knowledge of how to accept Christ as personal Saviour and imitate His example while He molds and fashions character by imparting His divine attributes. The adorned life brings forth as precious fruits of the Christian tree whatever is true, honest, lovely and of good report, revealing the religion of Jesus in a winsome character bright as light shining in darkness. The gospel is adorned when God's people cherish and practice the pure, holy principles God requires in dealings with others, living as obedient subjects with greater light than Israel had in the wilderness journey.