God's Desire for His People
By Ellen G. White
GOD is waiting to see revealed in His people a faith that works by love and purifies the soul; for this alone will fit them for the future, immortal life. There is a great work to be accomplished, and little time in which to do it. The cause needs converted, devoted men who will make the Lord their dependence. Through such workers the Lord will reveal the power of His grace.
Christ placed Himself where He could, by word and work, become a Minister of healing and blessing. As the sin-pardoning Saviour, He was a Well-Spring of life wherever He was. In His work to relieve the sick and suffering, He was fulfilling His mission to men. His example is to be prayerfully followed by His servants. Believers are first to be converted to obedience to God's commandments; then as obedient children they will minister of their abundance to the suffering and the needy. There will be an example given of true Christian self-denial and self-sacrifice. The time now devoted to pride of dress and love of the world will be given to the uplifting of humanity. And when God's Word is presented in simple faith, Christ will make the Word effectual.
My brethren and sisters, let the truth of God abide in your heart by a living, holy faith. Bible truth must be comprehended before it can convict the conscience and convert the life. The remnant people of God must be a converted people. The presentation of this message is to result in the conversion and sanctification of souls. We are to feel the power of the Spirit of God in this movement. This is a wonderful, definite message; it means everything to the receiver, and it is to be proclaimed with a loud cry. We must have true, eternal faith that this message will go forth with increasing importance to the close of time.
Christ desires to see His likeness reflected in every renewed soul. Those who continue meek and lowly in heart, He will make labourers together with God. Our spiritual conflicts might often be called our spiritual rebellions. It is the heart's lack of submission to the will of God that so often brings us into difficulty. We want our own way, and this often means rebellion against God's way. We need to do as Christ did--wrestle with the Father in prayer for strength and for power to make Him known in our words and actions.
Study the instruction given in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. Here are life and light, goodness and truth, for all who will receive the words of warning and encouragement, and will apply the truth to their individual lives. In working to benefit and bless others, a sense of satisfaction is experienced. The Lord creates peace in the soul. This is of more value than gold. Every faithful performance of duty stands registered in the books of heaven, and receives more than an earthly reward. It is a sacred duty that we owe to God to receive His grace that we may give it to others.
All that we have has been entrusted to us by God for wise investment. We are to devote our means, and our physical and mental powers, in the service of the Master. We are to seek to increase our talents. With them we are to accomplish results that will be as far-reaching as eternity. Our Lord's entrusted goods are sacred, and are to be kept unmingled with worldly merchandise. Few, even among church members, realise their accountability to God as His servants. The leaven of worldliness permeates the mind, and spiritual discernment is lost. My brethren and sisters, let us cleanse the soul temple from the buyers and the sellers.
To do the Master's bidding, and to promote His work in the earth, should be the one aim and purpose of our lives. Then there would be an upward growth, and the Holy Spirit would work upon the heart to transform the character. A generous spirit would be revealed in kindness and tender regard for others. Self would be hid with Christ in God. Beholding the character of Christ, we would become changed into His likeness.
Let us forsake self, and accept Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. Faith in Him is the only valuable science. He is the living representative of perfect obedience to the eternal Word. He took human flesh into vital union with Divinity. He passed over the same ground where Adam fell. He bore the test upon which our first parents failed; He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. Had He failed on one point, Satan would have been victorious.
In the night season my mind often dwells upon the work of infinite sacrifice revealed in the humiliation and death of Christ. The Creator of man, He who upon Mount Sinai proclaimed the eternal law; in His dying agony vindicated His right to pardon transgression and sin. As He hung upon the cross, His murderers and they that passed by reviled Him: "Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he can not save." Matthew 27:40-42.
O how His mother and His disciples hoped that He would manifest His mighty power, and silence His revilers by coming down from the shameful cross! They were pained by the unfeeling taunts of the ignorant revilers. "Let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him; for he said, I am the Son of God." Verses 42-43.
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Luke 23:39-42.
The faith of the dying thief grasped the truth of a sin-pardoning Saviour. And Jesus showed Himself able to save to the uttermost all who should receive Him. Verily I say unto thee today, he said, thou shalt be with me in paradise. See Luke 23:43. Even in the agonies of death, in His humiliation and apparent defeat, He asserted His right and His power to forgive sin.
For you and for me, our Saviour hung on Calvary's cross. What are we willing to do and to sacrifice for His sake? Let every soul make some sacrifice for Christ. He has given His life for us; He has risen from the dead, and is now at the right hand of God. He is still at work for the salvation of men and women. Who will unite with Him in labour?
Review and Herald, August 26, 1909