This week's SSLesson teaches us how to develop and imitate Christ as the only true model of winning souls. The more we learn of Jesus, the more we're marvel to the great ability and amazing grace that He hath show to humanity. He is our example in all dealings with different personalities and all kinds of people. The following are to be considered in this lesson: A. Finding Receptive Hearts, B. Speaking Words of Congratulations, C. Emphasizing the positive, D. Accepting People, E. Teaching in Love.

Memory Verse:

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15)

Prayer Thought:

To take God's entrusted talents and employ them for earthly, selfish, worldly purposes, and neglect the work of God in winning souls to Christ, unfaithful servants is charged upon all who do this and neglect a sacred responsibility. It is a fearful thing to take the powers of the body and of the mind, given you to be employed to be a blessing to the world, and use them in such a way that God is not honored. It is also a fearful thing to fold up the talent in a napkin, and hide it in the earth, or world, for fear God would demand it of you. This will be the cutting off of our own hopes of an eternal reward; it is the forfeiting of the crown of life, and showing that we have no esteem for an eternity of bliss. God calls upon you who have the precious light of truth in the State of New York, to no longer have your time and talents devoted to selfish purposes, and thus lost to humanity, and lost to God by folding up your talents and hiding them in the earth. All these talents must be employed to bring glory to the Giver. Accept your God-given responsibilities and take up your cross, denying yourself, or you cannot be disciples of Christ. God did not design that you should devote brain, bone, and muscle to earthly employments; he intended you should improve your talents to fill some grand and noble place in God's plans, in saving of souls, and in doing God's work. The selfish thoughts and feelings have dried up your souls. The moisture of heaven is not upon many of you. You are as dry as the hills of Gilboa that was not visited by dew nor rain. Grand opportunities are being lost and you are shriveled and dying spiritually of non-use of your talents. You cannot fulfill your solemn responsibilities to God unless you are transformed in character. Your unconscious influence in your spiritual attitude of selfish love of the world, is saying to the world, "My Lord delayeth his coming." {PH039 page 8}

C. Emphasizing the positive

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

1. Truth Spoken Clear, Plain and Decided

He who really believes the truth will live a life of unselfishness; for the truth is elevating, refining, and sanctifying in its influence. The true minister of the gospel will not stand before the people to speak smooth words, to cry, Peace and safety. He realizes the dangers that threaten the soul, and he presents the truth as it is in Jesus. The truth comes from his lips clear, plain, decided, as if he fully believed that the words spoken will be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. The words of the minister who knows that he has the Spirit and power of God, will awaken the conscience of his hearers. {RH, March 29, 1906 par. 8}

2. Christians Have a Positive Duty to Cultivate Respect for Themselves.

It should be the fixed purpose of the youth to aim high in all their plans for their life-work. They should adopt for their government in all things the standard which God's Word presents. This is the Christian's positive duty, and it should be also his positive pleasure. Cultivate respect for yourself because you are Christ's purchased possession. Success in the formation of right habits, advancement in that which is noble and just, will give you an influence that all will appreciate and value. Live for something besides self. If your motives are pure and unselfish, if you are ever looking for work to do, if you are always on the alert to show kindly attentions and do courteous deeds, you are unconsciously building your own monument. This is the work God calls upon all children and youth to do. Do good, if you would be cherished in the memory of others. Live to be a blessing to all with whom you come in contact, wherever your lot may be cast. Let the children and youth awake to their opportunities. By kindness and love, by self-sacrificing deeds, let them write their names in the hearts of those with whom they associate.--YI, Feb. 7, 1901.{DG 143.3}

3. The words of Christ have been plain and positive:

"Agonize to enter in at the strait gate; for many I say unto you shall seek to enter in and shall not be able." Professed Christians are not all so at heart. There are sinners in Zion now, as there were anciently. Isaiah speaks of them in referring to the day of God: "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from the holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil. He shall dwell on high; his defense shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure." {PH011 10.2}

Let's Consider these points:

• Paul wrote his letters to encourage and strengthen the local churches.

• Sometimes he had to reprimand them because of their mistakes, but he always emphasized the positive things in them first.

• It’s important to cultivate the habit of finding the good things in people.

• This way we’ll create deep bonds of friendship and we’ll bring them closer to Christ.

D. Accepting people

“Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

1. Most Earnest Heed to the Word of God

Unless we give the most earnest heed to the Word of God, human minds will work up theories according to their own deficient practices, and will misrepresent and misapply a "Thus saith the Lord." A departure from the great principles Christ has laid down in His teachings, a working out [of] human projects, using the Scriptures to justify a wrong course of action, will confirm men in misunderstanding, and the truth that they need, to keep them from wrong practices, will leak out of the soul like water from a leaky vessel. {13MR 381.1}

Points to Note:

• Jesus knows both the good and bad things in us. Despite that, He still accepts us, forgives us, and loves us.

• We don’t deserve His acceptance, but He accepts us in His kindness.

• Shouldn’t we accept others as God accepts us?

• An attitude of acceptance and love will open the hearts and change the lives of those around us.

E. Teaching in love

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15)

1. Transforming Power of Love

Unless a man is renewed in the spirit of his mind by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, he will become restless and dissatisfied, because he has not died to self. "Come unto me," Christ said, "all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Again Christ says, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Without me ye can do no good thing, any more than could Cain. Of what advantage is any system of religion to one who has not been transformed in character by the Holy Spirit's power. It is as saying without doing. It is a confession of faith, without works. {RH, March 29, 1906 par. 7}

Points of Emphasis!

• Teaching the truth without love leads to either an accusing legalism or an indifferent tolerance.

• Teaching the truth in love captivates the hearts and leads people to a saving relationship with Jesus.

• We must be ready to defend what we believe in. However, we should always do so with humbleness, respect, and love (1 Peter 3:15).

• Show others the same love Christ has shown towards us.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to lead us to people with a receptive heart. Then emphasize the good things we see in them, accept them without criticizing them, and teach them in love.

From the Pen of Inspiration:

“While we were yet unloving and unlovely in character, ‘hateful, and hating one another,’ our heavenly Father had mercy on us […] His love received, will make us, in like manner, kind and tender, not merely toward those who please us, but to the most faulty and erring and sinful […]

Even sinners whose hearts are not utterly closed to God’s Spirit, will respond to kindness; while they may give hate for hate, they will also give love for love. But it is only the Spirit of God that gives love for hatred. To be kind to the unthankful and to the evil, to do good hoping for nothing again, is the insignia of the royalty of heaven, the sure token by which the children of the Highest reveal their high estate.” {MB 75}