Words of Counsel

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My Dear Brethren and Sisters in Australia,-

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I read with the deepest interest the letters that come to me from you. My prayers often ascend to God in your behalf. I pray that you may be «steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.» We are living amidst the closing scenes of this world’s history, and to us comes the warning, «Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.»

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By our unity we are to bear strong, indisputable evidence that Christ came to this world to save sinners. Satan works with all his ingenuity to prevent human beings from bearing this evidence. He wants them to develop an unsanctified individuality, so that they shall not love one another. Too often professing Christians yield to him, and then the merest trifle causes a difference to spring up amongst them. Men and women professing godliness build walls of separation between them and their fellow-workers, because not all think in exactly the same way, or follow exactly the same methods. Those who stand apart, refusing to harmonize, dishonor God before the world. Christ prayed for unity. It is His will that His followers shall labor together in Christian fellowship. Shall it be thus, or shall we grieve Him by disunion and lack of harmony?

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Let us respond to Christ’s invitation, «Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.» To respond to this invitation, we must let go all self-importance, all feeling of superiority, and bow in submission to the will of God.

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«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.»

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What a wonderful change would be seen in our world if all would obey Christ’s words. He has united His interests with those of humanity, that men and women may receive from Him power to do His will. Those who through His grace become partakers of the divine nature, receive the rich blessings that in the councils of heaven it was declared should be bestowed on those who believe in Christ as a personal Saviour.

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«If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.»

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Why do not these words make men afraid to sin against God? There are many to-day who, though professing Christians, are not one with Christ. They are drifting hither and thither. May God pity them. Unless help from above reaches them, they will be lost, eternally lost.

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The members of our churches need to be converted, that they may understand what the love of Jesus means,-the love that He revealed in His life of meekness and lowliness. Profession without practice is of no value. Position can not gain for us salvation. Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of the greatest of earth’s kingdoms, but his greatness did not give him acceptance with God. In a moment his power was taken from him.

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«If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.» Fruit-bearing, then, is the condition of discipleship. What is the fruit that is to be borne?-Purity of character, unselfish deeds, Christlike words. Those who do not bear this fruit, those whose lives do not reveal the tenderness of Christ, are not accepted as representatives of God.

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In order for us to bear the fruit that glorifies God, our hearts must be filled with the love of Christ. We must learn of Him His meekness and lowliness. Then we shall not strive for self-exaltation. Those who retain their own unchristlike peculiarities are not sanctified through oneness with the Saviour. Self is so prominent that Christ is not seen. When men see more clearly the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice and condescension, they will better understand what is comprehended by oneness with Him.

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A Christian is one whose heart is controlled by the Holy Spirit. The love of God pervades his soul. He desires to live, not to get glory for himself, not to serve himself, but to serve and glorify the One who gave His life for him. He may have business to attend to, but it is not unlawful business. And his business life is not separate from his religious life. His business is a part of his service to God. He worships God as verily when attending to this business as when offering prayer. Daniel and his fellows had important duties to perform in connection with the government of Babylon, but they were none the less in the service of God.

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All have not the same office. God’s workers are given different duties to perform. Some are entrusted with the spiritual interests of His cause. Others are given lowlier duties. But all are in the service of the Lord, and His blessing rests upon every one who puts forth faithful effort.

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My dear fellow-workers, whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might. Make your work pleasant with songs of praise. If you would have a clean record in the books of heaven, never fret nor scold. Let your daily prayer be, «Lord, help me to do my best. Teach me how to do better work. Give me energy and cheerfulness. Help me to bring into my service the loving ministry of the Saviour.»

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Look upon every duty, however humble, as sacred, because it is part of God’s service. Do not allow anything to make you forgetful of God. Bring Christ into all that you do. Then your lives will be filled with brightness and thanksgiving. We need a deeper faith. To each one of us God has assigned a certain task. Let us do our best, moving forward cheerfully in the service of the Lord, with our hearts filled with His joy. Mrs. E.G. White. —