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Review and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 47.

For Us

Review and Herald

Nov 21, 1907

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 21, 1907

For Us

I pray not for the world, but for those whom Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. . . . I pray not that Thou shouldest take them from the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth: Thy word is truth. As Thou didst send Me into the world, even so sent I them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us: that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as We are one; I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and lovedst them, even as Thou lovedst Me. . . . I made known unto them Thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith Thou lovedst Me may be in them, and I in them. —John 17:9-26.

One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund

By I. H. Evans

For Special Work at Home and Abroad

Received on the $150,000 Fund up to Nov. 12, 1907

Atlantic Union Conference

Conference Amount
*Central New England $2,771.18
Chesapeake 519.04
Eastern Pennsylvania 1,889.18
Greater New York 1,118.11
New Jersey 807.63
Maine 689.88
New York 1,628.50
*Southern New England 1,158.50
Vermont 1,255.00
Virginia 717.14
West Pennsylvania 1,451.85
*Western New York 1,973.80
West Virginia 381.51
Total 16,361.32

Canadian Union Conference

Conference Amount
Maritime 317.43
Quebec 63.64
Ontario 770.70
Total 1,151.77

Central Union Conference

Conference Amount
Colorado 2,635.65
Iowa 4,256.95
Kansas 2,681.29
Missouri 1,553.23
*Nebraska 5,686.90
*Wyoming 780.99
Total 17,595.01

District of Columbia

Conference Amount
*Washington churches 1,358.69

Lake Union Conference

Conference Amount
East Michigan 2,439.01
*Indiana 5,177.27
North Michigan 841.74
*Northern Illinois 2,778.31
Ohio 5,468.81
Southern Illinois 1,136.29
West Michigan 4,711.15
Wisconsin 3,805.47
Total 26,358.05

North Pacific Union Conference

Conference Amount
Conference not specified 429.66
British Columbia 122.80
Montana 497.63
Upper Columbia 2,296.53
Western Washington 1,914.78
Idaho 889.90
Western Oregon 2,129.94
Total 8,281.24

Northern Union Conference

Conference Amount
Alberta 200.80
Manitoba 305.30
Saskatchewan Mission Field 47.60
Minnesota 5,288.50
*South Dakota 2,645.47
*North Dakota 1,949.13
Conference not specified 73.82
Total 10,510.62

Pacific Union Conference

Conference Amount
*Arizona 388.74
California-Nevada 7,986.35
Southern California 1,575.06
*Utah 431.58
Total 10,381.73

Southern Union Conference

Conference Amount
South Carolina 144.39
Alabama 433.89
Tennessee River 1,119.61
Florida 613.54
*North Carolina 587.21
Cumberland 906.72
Louisiana 390.61
Mississippi 254.59
*Georgia 408.47
Total 4,859.03

Southwestern Union Conference

Conference Amount
Not specified 20.18
Arkansas 384.86
Oklahoma 2,769.35
Texas 1,266.41
Total 4,380.80

Unknown

Conference Amount
Unknown 158.20

Foreign

Country Amount
*Algeria 13.33
Australia 163.84
Bermuda 36.00
China 31.60
South Africa 278.16
Jamaica 13.41
Yukon Territory 20.00
England 263.06
West Africa 14.06
Mexico 2.00
Costa Rica 6.25
India 147.94
South America 41.80
Switzerland 9.69
Panama 19.00
Nicaragua 4.00
Central American Mission 26.00
Trinidad 28.69
Norway 25.00
Japan 12.50
Hayti 5.00
*Egypt 51.55
Palestine 2.00
Tobago, W. I. 1.22
Cuba 8.00
Hungary 3.00
Tahiti 14.88
France 6.80
Philippine Islands 1.00
Samoa 8.00
Barbados 5.00
Portugal 1.00
Straits Settlement 10.08
Total $1,273.86
Grand Total $102,670.32
I. H. EVANS, Treasurer.

Giving According to Their Power

“According to their power, . . . yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, . . . not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. . . . As ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.”

An Object-Lesson in Liberality

LIBERALITY both in temporal and in spiritual things is taught in the lesson of seed sowing. The Lord says, “Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters.” “This I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” To sow beside all waters means a continual imparting of God’s gifts. It means giving wherever the cause of God or the needs of humanity demand our aid. This will not tend to poverty. “He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” The sower multiplies his seed by casting it away. So it is with those who are faithful in distributing God’s gifts. By imparting they increase their blessings. God has promised them a sufficiency that they may continue to give. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.”
And more than this is wrapped up in the sowing and the reaping. As we distribute God’s temporal blessings, the evidence of our love and sympathy awakens in the receiver gratitude and thanksgiving to God. The soil of the heart is prepared to receive the seeds of spiritual truth. And he who ministers seed to the sower will cause the seed to germinate and bear fruit unto eternal life.
All who would bring forth fruit as workers together with Christ, must first fall into the ground and die. The life must be cast into the furrow of the world’s need. Self-love, self-interest, must perish. But the law of self-sacrifice is the law of self-preservation. The seed buried in the ground produces fruit, and in turn this is planted. Thus the harvest is multiplied. The husbandman preserves his grain by casting it away. So in human life, to give is to live. The life that will be preserved is the life that is freely given in service to God and man. Those who for Christ’s sake sacrifice their life in this world, will keep it unto life eternal. . . .
You may plan for merely selfish good, you may gather together treasure, you may build mansions great and high, as did the builders of ancient Babylon; but you can not build wall so high or gate so strong as to shut out the messengers of doom. Belshazzar the king “feasted in his palace,” and “praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, or iron, of wood, and of stone.” But the hand of One invisible wrote upon his walls the words of doom, and the tread of hostile armies was heard at his palace gates. “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain,” and an alien monarch sat upon the throne.
To live for self is to perish. Covetousness, the desire of benefit for self’s sake, cuts the soul off from life. It is the spirit of Satan to get, to draw to self. It is the spirit of Christ to give, to sacrifice self for the good of others. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
Wherefore he says, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
God imparts his gifts to us that we also may give.—“Christ’s Object Lessons.”

The Place and Effect of Prayer

EVERY new move in the history of God’s work among men has been inaugurated by prayer and made possible by prayer. Prayer has brought it sustenance and growth. Prayer has opened the way before it, and scattered hindrances to the right and left. The prayers of God’s servants through the ages have kept alive his work and prospered it. The Christian is wisely occupied when he is seeking God for strength and guidance for the prosecution of his work. Look at this list: “Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed him Abimelech;” “When Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched;” “Moses prayed for the people;” “Hannah . . . prayed unto the Lord;” “Elisha prayed unto the Lord;” “Hezekiah prayed;” “Isaiah . . . prayed;” “Now when Ezra had prayed;” “The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed;” Jeremiah “prayed unto the Lord;” “Jonah prayed;” Daniel “kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed;” Jesus “fell on his face, and prayed;” “Peter . . . prayed;” Paul “kneeled down, and prayed.”
God’s band has always been a praying band, and in that has dwelt the secret of their power; for it is one of the attributes of God that he hears truly prayer (Ps. 65:2), and “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Jesus, the Son of God, did not enter upon the great work he was commissioned to do without approaching the Father’s throne in prayer. The record says: “Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21, 22. If intercessory prayer was necessary to Jesus in inaugurating the work given him to do, how necessary it is to us if we are to be his instruments in bringing that work to a successful completion!
God can work through a man who prays, if his prayers are prayers indeed, and not in form alone; if his prayers are genuine recognitions of existing need rather than assertions of goodness inherent and wisdom already possessed. When Saul had been stricken on his tour of persecution, and was desirous of knowing the divine will, the Lord spoke thus to his servant Ananias concerning him: “Arise, and go to the street which is called Strait, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth.” Acts 9:11. Ananias, knowing Saul’s record, was fearful of obeying; but the command was repeated, with the reason why it was given: “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel.” But the first thing the Lord mentions of him is, “Behold, he prayeth.” Because he did, God wrought mightily through him for the conversion of Jews and Gentiles.

The Blessedness of His Peace

No storm of this world has power to overwhelm the soul when Christ has spoken peace. No soul needs to fear being overwhelmed so long as he has confidence in the promise and the power of Jesus Christ. He who can smooth out the angry billows with a word can just as easily put quietness and peace in the human breast. The power he had on Galilee he has to-day. He was with his disciples then in visible presence; but his promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,” insures his presence with us just as truly. Because of that fact, we may know that the only thing that can stand between us and the peace of heaven is our own self, our own will. Eliminate self, let the mind of Christ take the place of our will, and there is no promise of God that may not be fulfilled to us. When we have thus come to him in faith, believing his Word, submissive to his will, the cares and troubles and sorrows of this world lose their power to worry and distress the soul. In one way they are like the poisonous serpent that has been robbed of its sting. They have no more power to do us injury. But the simile is not broad enough to cover the actual experience; for they have not only lost their power to do us injury; they have become real stepping-stones to our success in the divine life. It makes a vast difference to us whether we conform to the divine plan for us and make helps of our hindrances, or whether we let the natural heart have its way, letting obstacles remain obstacles, and enlarging them into perpendicular mountain walls. We break our own wings when we turn our backs on Christ and let self rule. Then comes trouble that has no lotion for its bruisings, and the soul worries and frets and beats against the bars of the prison its own hands have built.
With Christ in the heart, all that is impossible. Stumbling-blocks are stepping-stones; snares set for our feet become ropes to lift us over the cliffs; rebuffs soften our own actions toward others; temptations strengthen our powers to resist; poverty brings us into sympathy with the poor, and thus nearer to the heart of Christ; we “gather warmth from others’ coldness;” in the face of their unbelief our faith grows stronger; and while the billows of this world’s trouble mount higher, our bark rides safely on His “Peace, be still.”
Says the apostle, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Now, Christ has bequeathed peace to his followers just as much as he commanded peace to the waves of Galilee. They obeyed the command. Shall we accept the bequest? He says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.
The peace of Christ is a harbinger of heaven, a foretaste of the blessings of the redeemed. Let it “rule in your hearts.”

Editorial

By Editor

It was while Daniel was praying that an angel was commissioned to fly swiftly and give him skill and understanding. The answer to that prayer gave us the history of the world in advance, and pointed out the course of apostasy and the eternal triumph of God's faithful children. It was when Peter was praying that God taught him the great lesson of the equality of men in the sight of heaven. Acts 11: 5-18. It was while the church was gathered together in earnest prayer that God sent his angel and slipped the shackles from imprisoned Peter, opening locked doors and bolted gates to set him free. It was while Paul and Silas were praying and praising God, in spite of their lacerated backs and imprisoned limbs, that an earthquake shook them free. We must be a praying people if we are to be a triumphant people.

Prayer and the Open Doors

By C. M. S.

If there ever was a work that was conceived in prayer and baptized in tears, it was this work that is now going forth to the world as the “third angel’s message.” Prayer has been the key, that has opened doors and hearts before it in all parts of this country and in all countries of this world where it has entered. The prayers offered and the tears shed over the first issue of this paper have been most fruitful seeds, and have yielded a wonderful harvest.
A people unknown had committed to them a truth unpopular, to be given to a world unevangelized; and the time for the giving of that truth must come within the life of a man. It was a stupendous task—an impossible task with the best of human power and the wisest of human planning. Prayer was the solution of the problem, the key to the impassable door, the bridge over the impassable chasm, the tunnel through the impassable mountain. Because that fact was realized, men and women went down upon their knees before God. They found the One who had the power to make dry land of the sea and plains of the mountains, the One who could make possible the impossible. They laid the situation before him—their weakness and the undertaking impossible without him, gave themselves to him for that work, permitting him to be responsible for the consequences.
God accepted the offering; he has accepted the responsibility also; and that prayer-born and prayer-guided work has grown in a short time from nothing to a world-wide movement. In every hour of the twenty-four the sun looks down upon dark lands where this message is finding glad adherents, and is being proclaimed in languages unknown to those who first gave tongue to its truths. Wherever men dwell, this threefold message will go. The very word of God itself is behind the movement, and that can not fail. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” “And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people.”
The magnitude of the task makes prayer a necessity. It is impossible without prayer. He who essays to give that message without the most humble and implicit reliance upon divine wisdom and strength would better choose some other calling. But letting divine purpose displace his will, divine wisdom shine out through his humility, and divine strength replace his weakness, and the love of God be in and through and over it all, he will see walls tumble, the powers of darkness tremble, and hearts be melted and touched and made susceptible to the truth of God for this time.
The minister needs to pray, but that is not the end of the need; the minister needs to have the layman pray. The rapid progress of this work has been due to the fact that in the homes all over the land, humble, consistent, Christian men and women have been praying for the ministers, the Bible workers, the canvassers, and colporteurs. This has strengthened their hands and made their work effectual.
In order that we might understand the absolute necessity of prayer to the successful prosecution of the work of God, Jesus “spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18: 1. He recognized the likelihood of our fainting in the struggle with the powers of darkness. But the only preventive he has to offer is prayer, not occasional and intermittent prayer, but continual and earnest. He showed that need further in his constant practise of that precept.
But we have noticed by our statistical reports a lessening in the increase of our numbers. Does this indicate that the rank and file are forgetting or neglecting to pray as they used to do? Is the family altar falling into disuse? Are the tendrils of our hearts twining more strongly around the things of this life and choking out eternal interests? Each must ask himself the question, and answer it to God. Whatever the trouble in our individual cases, we know the remedy; and when it has been applied, we shall see a cementing, strengthening influence running through the denomination, and with that influence will come a swifter, more powerful stride in the progress of the work. Let this season of prayer come as such to each individual heart, not as a formality which can do no good, but as a real reaching out after God, that will not be satisfied with anything short of the actual blessing of heaven. Then hearts will be watered and seeds of truth will grow. God can put into our hands then work that he can not trust us with while we lack that experience. “Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” C. M. S.

Note and Comment

By Editor

Marshalling the Forces

We are not the only people who see the swift hand of a great purpose in the events taking place in the earth. The editor of that great conservative magazine, the Missionary Review of the World, in each number of that journal reviews the great movements of the world, editorially, under the general heading, “Signs of the Times,” showing their meaning and their relation to the progress of the gospel work. In the October issue these editorials bear the following titles: “Peace Versus War;” “The Unrest in India;” “Unrest in South Africa;” “Unrest in Morocco;” “Unrest in Persia;” “The Present Opportunity in the East;” “The Opportunity in Russia;” “The Kingdom Coming in Korea;” “The Menace of Strikes.” The array of these headings is significant, and it shows that this world-restlessness is attracting attention. One writer says of it:—
The simultaneous movements in China, India, Persia, and Egypt indicate that the causes are not local or transient.
The editor says:—
One can not conjecture the future; it can only be left in the hands of Him who is wiser than us all, and in whose hands the hearts of kings are turned as the streams of water.
In the same magazine for November, under the same general heading the editor reviews the condition of the world under these subtitles: “The Crisis in Persia;” “The Crisis in India;” “The Crisis in Morocco;” “The Crisis on the Kongo.” The editor shows that in all these countries matters are indeed drifting toward a crisis. So acute has the situation become, for instance, in India that “nothing but the thorough awakening of the church in India, in England, and in America to the importance of the present situation will avoid disastrous consequences.” But these crises are but heralds of the great approaching crisis of the whole world. While heaven is urging on and strengthening its loyal forces, and opening doors for their entrance to the most remote corners of the earth, the legions of Satan are also mustering for the final contest, seeking to close every entrance by which the gospel might enter heathendom, and to undermine faith in Jesus Christ and the Bible in the home field. This makes the present generation the most important, the most glorious, and also the most dangerous of any in the history of this world. If we go forth implicitly trusting in the strength and protection of heaven and doing heaven’s will, we are safe. Outside of that there is no hope of safety. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

Readings for the Week of Prayer

By Ellen G. White

To Be Read in all the Churches in the United States
December 14-21, 1907

A Call to Consecration

MRS. E. G. WHITE
(Reading for Sabbath, December 14)
The world's greatest need is consecrated effort for the salvation of souls. Christ desires by the fulness of his power so to strengthen his people that through them the whole world shall be encircled with an atmosphere of grace. When his people shall make a whole-hearted surrender of themselves to God, walking before him in humility and faith, he will carry out through them his eternal purpose, enabling them to work harmoniously in giving to the world the truth as it is in Jesus. He will use all, men, women, and children, in making the light shine forth to the world, and calling out a people who will be true to his commandments.
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The salvation of souls was the great object for which Christ sacrificed his royal robe and kingly crown, the glory of heaven, and the homage of angels, and laying aside his divinity, came to earth to labor and suffer with humanity upon him. He who has been transformed into the likeness of Christ, he who cherishes the spirit of the great Missionary Worker, is filled with a desire to bear the tidings of salvation to the regions beyond, to those who know not the Saviour. To the work of soul-saving he consecrates time and strength, means and influence. He uses every jot of his ability in an effort to win souls to Christ. The sacrifice made on the cross of Calvary is the motive that inspires him to put forth untiring efforts and to show unflagging zeal. His determination is, “I will not fail nor be discouraged.” By his consistent life he draws those around him to the Saviour.
Those who give their lives to Christian ministry know the meaning of true happiness. Their interests and their prayers reach far beyond self. They themselves are growing up as they try to reach others. They become familiar with the largest plans, the most stirring enterprises; and how can they but grow when they place themselves in the channel of light and blessing? They become more and more identified with Christ in all his plans. There is no opportunity for spiritual stagnation. Selfish ambition and self-seeking are rebuked by constant contact with the absorbing interests which belong to high and holy aspirations.
All who surrender themselves to God in unselfish service for humanity are in co-operation with the Lord of glory. This thought sweetens all toil, it braces the will, it nerves the spirit for whatever may befall. Working with unselfish heart, ennobled by being partakers of Christ's sufferings, sharing his sympathies, they help to swell the tide of his joy, and bring honor and praise to his exalted name.
Very much more might be done for Christ if all who have the light of truth would practise the truth. There are whole families who might be missionaries, engaged in personal labor, toiling for the Master with busy hands and active brains, devising new methods for the success of his work. There are earnest, prudent, warm-hearted men and women who could do much for Christ if they would give themselves to God, drawing near to him, and seeking him with the whole heart.
The Lord is calling his people to take up different lines of work. Those in the highways and byways of life are to hear the gospel message. Church-members are to do evangelistic work in the homes of their neighbors who have not yet received full evidence of the truth for this time. The presentation of the truth in love and sympathy, from house to house, is in harmony with the instruction that Christ gave to his disciples when he sent them out on their first missionary tour. By songs of praise to God, by humble, heartfelt prayers, by a simple presentation of Bible truth in the family circle, many will be reached. The divine workers will be present to send conviction to hearts. “I am with you alway,” is his promise. With the assurance of the abiding presence of such a Helper, we may labor with hope and faith and courage.
Those who have long known the truth need to seek the Lord most earnestly, that their hearts may be filled with a determination to work for their neighbors. My brethren and sisters, give yourselves to the Lord for service. Allow no opportunity to pass unimproved. Visit those who live near you, and by sympathy and kindness try to reach their hearts. Visit the sick and suffering, and show a kindly interest in them. If possible, do something to make them more comfortable. Through this means you can reach their hearts, and speak a word for Christ. Eternity alone will reveal how far-reaching such a line of labor can be.
Other lines of usefulness will open before those who are willing to do the duty nearest them. It is not learned, eloquent workers that are most needed now, but humble, Christlike men and women, who have learned from Jesus of Nazareth to be meek and lowly, and who, trusting in his strength, will go forth into the highways and hedges to give the invitation, “Come, for all things are now ready.” This work will give life and vigor to the mental and spiritual powers. Light from Christ will shine into the mind. The Saviour will abide in your hearts, and in his light you will see light.
Consecrate yourselves wholly to the work of God. He is your strength, and he will be at your right hand, helping you to carry out his merciful designs. By personal labor reach those around you. Preaching alone will not do the work that needs to be done. A perfect work can not be done by proxy. Money lent or given will not accomplish all that is to be done. By visiting the people, talking, praying, sympathizing with them, you will win hearts. This is the highest missionary work that you can do. To do it, you will need resolute, persevering faith, unwearying patience, and a deep love for souls.
My sisters, do not spend your money lavishly for dress. Fathers and mothers, teach your children to dress inexpensively; teach them to save their pennies for missionary work. Let every member of the family practise self-denial. Christ is our example. He was the Prince of glory, but he had such an interest in our world that he left his riches and came to this earth to live a life that should be an example to rich and poor alike. He taught that all should come together in love and unity, to work as he worked, to sacrifice as he sacrificed, and to love as children of God.
Parents, gather your children around you each morning and evening, and in humble supplication lift the heart to God for help. Your dear ones are exposed to temptations. Daily annoyances beset the pathway of old and young. Those who would live patient, loving, cheerful lives, must pray. Only by receiving constant help from God can we gain the victory over self.
Each morning consecrate yourselves and your children to God for that day. Make no calculation for months or years; these are not yours. One brief day is given you. As if it were your last on earth, work during its hours for the Master. Lay all your plans before God, to be carried out or given up, as his providence shall indicate. Accept his plans instead of your own, even though their acceptance requires the abandonment of cherished projects. Thus the life will be molded more and more after the divine example; and “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Brethren and sisters, arouse, and show a living interest in the unworked portions of the Lord's vineyard. Consecrate yourselves unreservedly to the work of giving the rich treasures of truth to those in darkness. Catch the spirit of the great Master Worker. Learn from the Friend of sinners how to minister to sin-sick souls. His heart was ever touched with human woe. Why are we so cold and indifferent? Why are our hearts so unimpressible? Christ placed himself upon the altar of sacrifice, a living sacrifice. Why are we so unwilling to give ourselves to the work to which he consecrated his life? Something must be done to cure the terrible indifference that has taken hold upon us. Let us bow our heads in humiliation as we see how much less we have done than we might have done to sow the seeds of truth.
When we are converted, our desire for ease and elegance will be changed. Christ brought his desires and wishes into strict abeyance to his mission—a mission that bore the insignia of heaven. He made everything subordinate to the great work that he came into the world to accomplish for the fallen race. When in his youth his mother found him in the school of the rabbis, and said to him, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing,” he answered—and his answer is the key-note of his life-work—“How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
My brethren and sisters, I speak to you in words of love and tenderness. Every earthly interest must be made subordinate to the great work of redemption. Remember that in the lives of the followers of Christ must be seen the same devotion, the same subjection to God’s work of every social claim and every earthly affection, that was seen in his life. God’s claims must ever be made paramount. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.”
Eternity stretches before us. The curtain is about to be lifted. What are we doing, what are we thinking of, that we cling to our selfish love of ease, while all around us souls are perishing? Have our hearts become callous? Can we not see and understand that we have a work to do in behalf of others? My brethren and sisters, are you among those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not? Is it in vain that God has sent you a knowledge of his will? Is it in vain that he has sent you warning after warning of the nearness of the end? Do you believe in the declarations of his Word concerning what is coming upon the world? Do you believe that God’s judgments are hanging over the inhabitants of the earth? How, then, can you sit at ease, careless and indifferent?
Every day that passes brings us nearer the end. Does it bring us also nearer God? Are we watching unto prayer? Those with whom we associate day by day need our help, our guidance. They may be in such a condition of mind that a word in season will be sent home by the Holy Spirit as a nail in a sure place. To-morrow some of these souls may be where we may never reach them again? What is our influence over these fellow travelers? What effort do we make to win them to Christ?
Time is short, and our working forces must be organized to do a larger work. Workers are needed who comprehend the greatness of the work, and who will engage in it, not for the wages they receive, but from a realization of the nearness of the end. The time demands great efficiency and deeper consecration. O, I am so full of this subject that I cry to God, “Raise up and send forth messengers filled with the sense of their responsibility, messengers in whose hearts self-idolatry, which lies at the foundation of all sin, has been crucified.”
(For description see article “Fiji,” page 21)
(For description see article “Fiji,” page 21)

The Lord’s Prayer

Children’s Lesson—No. 1

The Lord’s Prayer

“Our Father which art in heaven.”
Memory Verse: Prov. 23:26.
We may learn of the love of our Heavenly Father by considering the love of a good father and mother for their children. Ps. 103:13; Isa. 49:15.

PARENTS GIVE CHILDREN

Home Clothing
Food Gifts
Drink Love

GOD GIVES

Mansions. John 14:2, 3 Bread from Heaven. John 6:32–34 Water of Life. John 4:14 White Raiment. Rev. 3:5 Every Good Gift. James 1:17 Love. John 3:16
In return children should give to parents and to God— Love. Ex. 20:12; Matt. 22:37. Obedience. Col. 3:20; John 14:15, 21. Service. Luke 2:49–51; Mark 13:34.
Who are invited to become children of God? John 3:16.
Continue reading: Messages from the Mission Fields