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Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
A Call for Burden Bearers
While God has given us our work to do in bearing our testimony
to the people by pen and voice, others must come to bear burdens
in connection with the cause. They should not become discouraged,
but should endeavor to learn by every apparent failure how to make
a success of the next effort. And if they connect with the Source of
wisdom, they will surely succeed.
God is putting burdens upon more inexperienced shoulders. He is
fitting them to be care-taking, to venture, to run risks.
All who have responsible positions must realize that they must
first have power with God, in order that they may have power with
the people. Those who devise and execute plans for our institutions
must connect with heaven, if they would have wisdom, foresight,
discernment, and keen perception. The Lord is left out of the question
altogether too much, when everything depends upon His blessing. God
listens to the appeals of His self-denying workers who labor to advance
His cause. He has even condescended to talk with feeble mortals, face
to face.
The close intercourse which Moses had with God, and the glorious
manifestation vouchsafed to him, caused his face to shine so brightly
with heavenly luster that the people of Israel could not look upon him.
He appeared like a bright angel from heaven. This personal experience
of the knowledge of God was of more value to him as a man bearing
responsibilities as a leader than all his former education in the learning
of the Egyptians. The most brilliant intellect, the most earnest study,
the highest eloquence, can never be substituted for the wisdom and
power of God in those who are bearing the responsibilities connected
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with His cause. Nothing can be substituted for the grace of Christ and
the knowledge of God’s will.
God has made every provision for man to have help which He alone
can give him. If he allows his work to hurry, drive, and confuse, so
that he has no time for devotional thought or for prayer, he will make
mistakes. If a standard is not lifted up by Jesus Christ against Satan,
the enemy will overcome those who are engaged in the important work
for this time.
It is the privilege of every one connected with our denominational
institutions to be connected in close relationship with God; and if they