Call to Arouse
105
Those who reject the privilege of fellowship with Christ in service,
reject the only training that imparts a fitness for participation with Him
in His glory. They reject the training that in this life gives strength and
nobility of character.—
Education, 264
.
Let none suppose that they can live a life of selfishness, and then,
having served their own interests, enter into the joy of their Lord. In
the joy of unselfish love they could not participate. They would not
be fitted for the heavenly courts. They could not appreciate the pure
atmosphere of love that pervades heaven. The voices of the angels and
the music of their harps would not satisfy them. To their minds the
science of heaven would be as an enigma.—
Christ’s Object Lessons,
364, 365
.
Christ calls upon us to labor patiently and perseveringly for the
thousands perishing in their sins, scattered in all lands, like wrecks on
a desert shore. Those who share in Christ’s glory must share also in
His ministry, helping the weak, the wretched, and the despondent.—
Testimonies for the Church 9:31
.
The common people are to take their place as workers. Sharing
the sorrows of their fellow men as the Saviour shared the sorrows of
humanity, they will by faith see Him working with them.—
Testimonies
for the Church 7:272
.
Christ is sitting for His portrait in every disciple. Every one God
has predestinated to be “conformed to the image of His Son.” In every
one Christ’s long-suffering love, His holiness, meekness, mercy, and
truth, are to be manifested to the world.—
The Desire of Ages, 827
.
[105]
The call to place all on the altar of service comes to each one. We
are not all asked to serve as Elisha served, nor are we all bidden to
sell everything we have; but God asks us to give His service the first
place in our lives, to allow no day to pass without doing something
to advance His work in the earth. He does not expect from all the
same kind of service. One may be called to ministry in a foreign
land; another may be asked to give of his means for the support of
gospel work. God accepts the offering of each. It is the consecration
of the life and all its interests, that is necessary. Those who make this
consecration, will hear and obey the call of Heaven.—
Prophets and
Kings, 221
.
The worldly wise man, who meditates and plans, and whose busi-
ness is ever in his mind, should seek to become wise in matters of