Secret of Successful Work

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The Lord has a work which is above the world’s seeking. To those who have not the mind of Christ, the features of our faith and our work, the great object to be accomplished, is far above their comprehension, and unseen. But we are not to come down from our position of ever remaining a people distinct and peculiar from the world. Our vocation is high, holy and elevated. Our faith, if appreciated, will keep all true believers from political strife. We are to work for the spiritual recovery of mankind to God, to bring them under His theocracy. Then only are we a safe people. In keeping ourselves in close sympathy with God, our hearts bound up in love for Him, is our only security.

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There is no safety for a Christian who acts from the lowest rather than from the highest views of Christian motives. We do not sympathize with God as we should in the salvation of the human race. We do not regard it in the light in which it is viewed by the universe of Heaven, as a plan devised from eternity in the mind of God. The greatness of the theme almost takes my breath away,-the conditions of life or death to the human race. It required the life of God’s only begotten Son as a sacrifice.

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Oh, how tame are our religious exercises. The Holy Spirit is the only adequate agency for our full development. As I look upon those who are handling sacred things, and who feel so self-sufficient and so capable of engaging in the great and solemn work of God, I feel pain of heart that I cannot express; for I know that these men, unless they humble their hearts before God, will mar His work, and will be a hindrance when they suppose they are doing a great work. Oh, how few are heart-to-heart with God in this solemn, closing-up work. There are so many to be warned, and yet how few sympathize with God sufficiently to be anything or nothing, to see souls brought back to their loyalty to God. These poor souls will never see, will never properly consider the influence they leave behind them. There is scarcely a tithe of the sympathetic compassion there should be toward the souls unsaved.

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Jesus died to redeem a depraved and guilty world. He worked for them in humility, in meekness and lowliness of heart. But those who ought to learn His method, to wear His yoke, and lift His burdens, are self-elated, self-sufficient. Their hearts do not beat in unison with the heart of God. O, that I had the strength to labor as I once labored. Who is there that makes the burden of a dying world his own, who watches and prays for souls as he that must give an account? How many are left without any special labor. If one-half of the sermonizing were done, and double the amount of personal labor given to souls, in their homes and in the congregations, a result would be seen that would be surprising.

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Jesus wept over obdurate Jerusalem. «O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,» he said, «thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not.» Again He weeps over the devoted city, exclaiming, «O that thou hadst known, even thou in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace.» Then with tears in His eyes and quivering lips, He pronounced the irrevocable sentence, » But now they are hid from thine eye .»

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It was a hard sentence for Christ to pronounce. It was hard for Him to give up the son of His care. Who can sympathize with Christ in His distress and anguish over the loss of a nation? This was only a symbol of the giving up of a world. Who are so moved by the terrible loss of souls that they have even a faint appreciation of the anguish of Christ’s soul? Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah, and Paul were partakers with Christ in His depths of compassion as far as their human perception could take in the situation. Who can say with Jeremiah. «Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not Thy law? O that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughters of my people.» «I could wish myself accursed from Christ for my brethren,» Paul exclaimed.

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This sympathy is manifestly needed. Unless the heart can beat in sympathy with Christ, man will never understand the elevated and sacred character of the words. «Watch for souls as they that must give an account.» We talk of Christian missions. Our voices are heard, but our hearts have never felt the tender longing and craving for souls that they must feel. With many, trifling acts of service are supposed to be all-sufficient, but there is not the feeblest appreciation for the souls whom Christ died to save. They know not the indulged value to the human soul.

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The fires of the last day will consume many souls who might have been saved if the church had but comprehended her sacred responsibilities. Souls are trifling with their own salvation and are unfitted to cooperate with the Lord Jesus Christ. When will the church become laborers together with God? The laborers have themselves to blame largely for the state of indifference seen. They need to be broken up in heart and in action. Then the Lord will work to strengthen them.