Consecration and Christian Experience
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16. FLB 153.1
Many of the young have not the spirit of Jesus. The love of God is not in their hearts, therefore all the natural besetments hold the victory instead of the Spirit of God and salvation. FLB 153.2
Those who really possess the religion of Jesus will not be ashamed nor afraid to bear the cross before those who have more experience than they. They will, if they earnestly long to be right, desire all the help they can get from older Christians. Gladly will they be helped by them; hearts that are warmed by love to God will not be hindered by trifles in the Christian course. They will talk out what the Spirit of God works in. They will sing it out, pray it out. It is the lack of religion, lack of holy living, that makes the young backward. Their life condemns them. They know they do not live as Christians should, therefore they have not confidence toward God, or before the church.89Testimonies for the Church 1:154. FLB 153.3
We should speak of the mercy and loving-kindness of God, of the matchless depths of the Saviour's love. Our words should be words of praise and thanksgiving. If the mind and heart are full of the love of God, this will be revealed in the conversation. It will not be a difficult matter to impart that which enters into our spiritual life.90Christ's Object Lessons, 338. FLB 153.4
Never be ashamed of your faith; never be found on the side of the enemy. “Ye are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14. Your faith is to be revealed as precious truth, truth which all should have and all must have if they are saved.... We should fight the good fight of faith, and be found “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58.91Testimonies for the Church 5:520, 521. FLB 153.5
The unstudied, unconscious influence of a holy life is the most convincing sermon that can be given in favor of Christianity. Argument, even when unanswerable, may provoke only opposition; but a godly example has a power that it is impossible wholly to resist.92The Acts of the Apostles, 511. FLB 153.6