Labor in Faith and Humble Dependence
Labor
in Faith and Humble Dependence
Review and Herald, March 4, 1909
Ellen G. White
I wish that I could present before
all our people the light God has given me regarding the spirit of labor and of
humble dependence upon him that should be encouraged throughout our churches. Many of the
members of our churches are Christians only in name; if they truly believed in
Christ, they would, as his disciples, be doing works of Christ. “If any man
will come after me,” the Saviour declared, “let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow me.” {RH March 4, 1909, Art. A, par. 1}
Sinners make a
fatal mistake in continuing in impenitence and unbelief. But professed
Christians make a more grievous error when they refuse to acknowledge their
responsibilities, and leave those without the fold to perish. If they were
truly Christians, they would follow the example of Christ. He left the heavenly
courts, where he was the adored of angels, to come to earth and accept a life of
poverty and self-denial, that he might unite humanity to the infinite God,
fallen beings with the sinless inhabitants of unfallen worlds. By sacrifice
of self he would make men the recipients of his grace [His Holy Spirit], and
bind them to the family of heaven by the golden cords of mercy and love. {RH
March 4, 1909, Art. A, par. 2}
“O the depth of the riches both of
the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Wonderful divine economy! Notwithstanding
their fallen state, men, through the redeeming power of Christ, are enabled
to co-operate with him for the salvation of the race. Their
influence, no longer destructive, becomes God’s helping hand to correct the
existing evils. Their powers and capabilities become agencies for the
restoration of good. That which heretofore has helped on the work of
destruction, brought under the discipline of the Holy Spirit, becomes a means
of recovery to souls that are ready to perish. That which in the past has
driven from the paths of right and truth now binds souls to the throne of God.
This is God’s purpose for those who accept his name and character. {RH March 4,
1909, Art. A, par. 3}
This is no time for any of the Lord’s
workers to lose heart. The commission to the first disciples was, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Very shortly
after these words were spoken, Christ was received up into heaven. As the
disciples were gazing up into heaven for a last glimpse of their departing
Lord, two angels stood by them, and said, “This same Jesus, which
is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen
him go into heaven.” This promise is soon to be fulfilled. We are watching and
waiting for its fulfilment. And while we watch and wait, God bids us work
courageously to proclaim the message of his return, “unto the uttermost part of
the earth.” {RH March 4, 1909, Art. A, par. 4}
The promise of the Saviour’s presence
was given in connection with the great commission. “All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth,” the Saviour said; “go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world.” {RH March 4, 1909, Art. A, par. 5}
These are the words of inspiration.
You need not fear that you are making a mistake by believing fully in them.
“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may
have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know
that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born
of him.” Here is set forth the life of the church. The Son of God gave his life
that he might become the propitiation for the sins of the world. “He that hath
the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” {RH
March 4, 1909, Art. A, par. 6}
The promise of the Father concerning
his Son had been, “He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the
pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” At the close of his work on
earth the Saviour could say, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with
thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”
Christ claims his own recompense for his conquests. “I am glorified in them,”
he says. His ransomed church is to be the chief source of his glory. Through
them, unto principalities and powers in heavenly places is to be made known the
manifold wisdom of God. {RH March 4, 1909, Art. A, par. 7}
“I have given them thy word,” Christ
said; “and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even
as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest
take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest
keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the
world. Sanctify them through thy
truth: thy word is truth. {RH March 4,
1909, Art. A, par. 8}
“As thou hast sent me into the world,
even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they
also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these
alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that
they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. {RH March 4,
1909, Art. A, par. 9}
“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as
we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and
that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou
hast loved me.” {RH March 4, 1909, Art. A, par. 10}
It is the privilege of every believer
first to talk with God in his closet, and then, as God’s mouthpiece, to talk
with others. In order that we may have
something to impart, we must daily receive light and blessing. Men and women
who commune with God, who have an abiding Christ, who, because they co-operate
with holy angels; are surrounded with holy influences, are needed at this time.
The cause needs those who have power to draw with Christ, power to express the
love of God in words of encouragement and sympathy. {RH March 4,
1909, Art. A, par. 11}
As the believer bows in supplication
before God, and in humility and contrition offers his petition from unfeigned
lips, he loses all thought of self. His mind is filled with the thought of what
he must have in order to build up a Christlike
character. He prays, “Lord, if I am to be a channel through which thy love is to flow day by day and hour by hour, I claim by
faith the grace and power that thou hast promised.” He fastens his hold firmly
on the promise, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to
all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall
be given him.” {RH March 4, 1909, Art. A, par. 12}
How this dependence pleases the
Master! How he delights to hear the steady, earnest pleading! How quickly the
sincere, fervent prayer is recognized and honored! How intensely interested the
heavenly angels are! “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to
minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” With wonderful and ennobling grace the Lord sanctifies
the humble petitioner, giving him power to perform the most difficult duties. All that is
undertaken is done unto the Lord, and this elevates and sanctifies the lowliest
calling. It invests with new dignity every word, every act, and links the
humblest worker, the poorest of God’s servants, with the highest of the angels
in the heavenly courts. {RH March 4, 1909, Art. A, par. 13}
True believers are the light of the
church and of the world. God has true
messengers of healing in the world. They are those who are taught of God, who
are imbued with his Spirit, ministers who experience the sanctification of the
Spirit. The sons and daughters of God have a great work to do in the world.
They are to accept the Word of God as the man of their counsel, and to impart
it to others. They are to
diffuse light. All who have received the engrafted word will be
faithful in giving that word to others. They will speak the words of Christ. In
conversation and in deportment they will give evidence of a daily conversion to
the principles of truth. Such believers will be a spectacle to the world, to
angels, and to men, and God will be glorified in them. {RH March 4, 1909, Art.
A, par. 14}
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