Words of Encouragement
177
God. At every supposed slight, resentful feelings rise. They cherish
bitterness, wrath, malice. By their words and spirit they show that they
have not been born again. Their tendencies are downward, tending
to sensuality. They are untrustworthy, unthankful, unholy. Thus it is
with all who have not been soundly converted. Every one of these
marred characters, untransformed, becomes an efficient worker for
Satan, creating dissension and strife.
The Lord has marked out our way of working. As a people we
[185]
are not to imitate and fall in with Salvation Army methods. This
is not the work that the Lord has given us to do. Neither is it our
work to condemn them and speak harsh words against them. There
are precious, self-sacrificing souls in the Salvation Army. We are
to treat them kindly. There are in the Army honest souls, who are
sincerely serving the Lord and who will see greater light, advancing to
the acceptance of all truth. The Salvation Army workers are trying to
save the neglected, downtrodden ones. Discourage them not. Let them
do that class of work by their own methods and in their own way. But
the Lord has plainly pointed out the work that Seventh-day Adventists
are to do. Camp meetings and tent meetings are to be held. The truth
for this time is to be proclaimed. A decided testimony is to be borne.
And the discourses are to be so simple that children can understand
them.
Helping or Hindering the Lord
There are those entering the medical missionary work who are in
danger of bringing into it the objectionable sentiments received in their
former education. They need to practice the principles laid down in the
word of God, else the work will be marred by their preconceived ideas.
When we work with all the sanctified ability that God has given us,
when we put aside our will for the will of God, when self is crucified
day by day, then good results are seen. We move forward in faith,
knowing that our Lord has promised to undertake the work entrusted
to Him and that He will accomplish it; for He never makes a mistake
or a failure.
The Lord’s servants are merely stewards. The Lord will work
through them when they surrender themselves to Him to be worked
by the Holy Spirit. When by faith men place themselves in the Lord’s