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Counsels on Stewardship
the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God!” Divine
and human instrumentalities are to unite for the accomplishment of
one great object. Now is the day of our responsibility. “The Spirit and
the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him
that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life
freely.—
Manuscript 2, 1914
.
Fruit of This Twofold Effort
In the providence of God, those who are bearing the burden of
His work have been endeavoring to put new life into old methods of
labor, and also to invent new plans and new methods of awakening the
interest of church members in a united effort to reach the world. One
of the new plans for reaching unbelievers is the Harvest Ingathering
campaign for missions. In many places, during the past few years, this
has proved a success, bringing blessing to many, and increasing the
flow of means into the mission treasury. As those not of our faith have
been made acquainted with the progress of the third angel’s message
in heathen lands, their sympathies have been aroused, and some have
sought to learn more of the truth that has such power to transform
hearts and lives. Men and women of all classes have been reached,
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and the name of God has been glorified.
In years past, I have spoken in favor of the plan of presenting our
mission work and its progress before our friends and neighbors, and
have referred to the example of Nehemiah. And now I desire to urge
our brethren and sisters to study anew the experience of this man of
prayer and faith and sound judgment, who made bold to ask his friend,
King Artaxerxes, for help with which to advance the interests of God’s
cause. Let all understand that in presenting the needs of our work,
believers can reflect light to others, only as they, like Nehemiah of
old, draw nigh to God, and live in close connection with the Giver of
all light. Our own souls must be firmly grounded in a knowledge of
the truth, if we would win others from error to truth. We need now to
search the Scriptures diligently, that, as we become acquainted with
unbelievers, we may hold up before them Christ as the anointed, the
crucified, the risen Saviour, witnessed to by prophets, testified of by
believers, and through whose name we receive the forgiveness of our
sins.—
Manuscript 2, 1914
.