As much as possible have your Bible beside you. Be familiar with its books, chapters, and pages. Have its doctrines and truths stored up in the heart and memory. Be able to give at least one positive Scripture for the new-birth, life, salvation, forgiveness, justification, glory, which are yours. Count up your treasures gathered from God’s Word, again and again. You will gain immensely by constant study and reference to the Scriptures of all you are taught and enjoy.
Depend upon it, however, that the habitual reading of God’s Word without much prayer and self-examination, will only inflate you with spiritual pride and conceit which are hateful in any, but especially so in the young. Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought to; think soberly of your own attainments (Rom. 12:33For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)). Know your membership in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:1818But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (1 Corinthians 12:18)), then practically act upon it (Rom. 123For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)).
Beware of the evil in thinking you know more than other people. Do not be morbid, cynical, and fault-finding. When you meet a fellow believer do not cause friction of spirit by rubbing against his angles and corners, but look for some traits of Christ in him and esteem him better than you do yourself (Phil. 2:33Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3)).
Again we say, Beware of conceit; it is awfully destructive of Christian progress and testimony, and makes one forward, bumptious, and most unpleasant in Christian society. We are here to display Christ and get people to know Him. Live and act in view of eternity and of the judgment-seat of Christ. Let help, not hinder, be our practical daily motto.
Do not lend an ear to evil reports and accusations against any of God’s children. If you are compelled in the interests of truth to hear certain things, see that the evidence be irresistibly clear; there is a lying and unwholesome spirit abroad avoid it. Treat with reverence the aged, and with loving respect the servants of the Lord (1 Tim.; Titus). In all things, in all circumstances, in all relationships, be faithful. Be courteous and gracious, but never condescend to lower the truth, or adapt it, or trim it to suit the whims or the convenience of people.
“Buy the truth and sell it not.”
Cultivate a spirit of cheerfulness and thanksgiving (Phil.). Look onward and up ward. All is bright on the other side of the cloud. Be quiet, modest, and unostentatious in your ways. Avoid habits which are unlike Christ whose name you bear. Be obliging, and generous, and most kind to all, “especially to the household faith” who have the first claim upon your thoughts and purse.
Speak up for your Master; confess Christ openly and decidedly. Solemnly remember the words of Luke 12:8-98Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8‑9). Make Christ your one object on earth; how to please Him your one desire (2 Cor. 5:14-1514For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑15); Phil. 1:20-2120According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:20‑21)).