“The Lord would have you lay aside that spirit of wrath and be disrobed of your war garment. . . . ‘You have inherited and cultivated a contentious spirit. Put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and speak not one word that is not subdued by the Spirit of God. Let your heart break in tenderness before God. Become as a little child. You are not appointed by the Lord to dictate…’
“There are those who will come to council meetings stirred for battle. Let them put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and let their feet be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
“Do not, now or ever, charge your brethren with their mistakes. This is what separated you from the Lord’s service for so many years. Your testimony, if borne with meekness and humility, will be in the assembly as good leaven.
“Things are not so bad as they might be. Mistakes are constantly being made by men who are constantly tempted to speak unadvisedly, even as Moses spoke. It is such words as these, and your way of speaking them, that shows that you have not yet learned the meekness and lowliness of Christ.
“God will use you if you will be used.”
Such advice was given in a letter to an early church pioneer.
But I am certain that at least some of the same can be said about many of us today. Let us, therefore, go forth under the banner of peace, rather than the banner of wrath. Let us pray for the wisdom that is from above, which is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17 KJV).
“Here is our sufficiency. Our defense is in the preparation of the gospel. . . . Satan knows upon just what traits of character to work, that objectionable features may be revealed. These traits of character, received by inheritance or cultivated, are to be cut away from the soul, and the Spirit of Christ is to take possession of the organs of speech, of the mental power, of the physical and moral powers, else when in the midst of important interests Satan shall work with his masterly power to create a condition of things that will call into active exercise these special traits of character, and will bring defeat just when there should be a victory… .”
“If you feel a spirit of controversy with any one, just go out somewhere and speak of the love of Christ to souls who need a testimony in favor of the truth. Speak of the loveliness of Christ, and the wicked spirit that has been in your heart will depart. What we need is an experience in overcoming the enemy, and in clinging to the Mighty One. We cannot afford to lose everlasting life.”