A, you have heard the word of God in reproofs, in counsels, in warnings, as well as in the entreaties of love. But hearing is not enough. “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” It is easy to be borne along by the current, and to cry Hosannah with the multitude; but in the calm of everyday life, when there is no special excitement or exaltation, then comes the test of true Christianity. It is then that your heart becomes cold, and your zeal abates, and religious exercises become distasteful to you. {4T 187.4}

A, du har hørt Guds ord i irettesættelser, råd, i advarsler, såvel som i kærlige bønner. Men at høre (188) er ikke nok. »Og vær ordets gørere, ikke blot dets hørere, ellers bedrager I jer selv.« Det er let at blive båret af sted af strømmen og råbe Hosianna sammen med mængden; men i hverdagslivets stilhed, hvor der ikke er nogen særlig spænding, kommer prøven for sand kristenhed. Det da at dit hjerte bliver koldt og din iver mindskes og religiøse aktiviteter bliver usmagelig for dig.