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Work in Christ’s Lines, December 27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit
the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself
unspotted from the world.
James 1:27
.
Our work is incomplete if we do not educate others to be laborers together
with God, visiting and praying with families, showing to the world what
Jesus has done for us. God’s Word declares, “Pure religion and undefiled
before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their
affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (
James 1:27
). These
words are spoken to every follower of Christ. Not only the minister, but every
soul connected with Him, is to be a worker in His vineyard. “Herein is my
Father glorified,” Christ said, “that ye bear much fruit” (
John 15:8
). By His
own life Christ has paid for your earnest, hearty cooperation. If you do not
work as faithful missionaries, you are untrue to your trust, and you disappoint
your Saviour....
In His Word God has shown us the only way in which this work should
be done. We are to do earnest, faithful work, laboring for souls as they that
must give an account. “Repent, repent,” was the message rung out by John in
the wilderness....
Christ’s message to the people was, “Unless ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.” And the apostles were commanded to preach everywhere that men
should repent. The Lord would have His servants preach today the old gospel
doctrine, sorrow for sin, repentance, and confession. We want old-fashioned
sermons, old-fashioned customs, old-fashioned fathers and mothers in Israel,
who have the tenderness of Christ.
The sinner must be labored for perseveringly, earnestly, wisely, until he
shall see that he is a transgressor of God’s law, and shall exercise repentance
toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. When the sinner is
conscious of his helpless condition, and feels his need of a Saviour, he may
come with faith and hope to “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of
the world.” Christ will accept the soul who comes to Him in true repentance.
A broken and a contrite heart He will not despise.
The battle cry is sounding along the line. Let every soldier of the cross
push to the front, not in self-sufficiency, but in meekness and lowliness of
heart.—
The Signs of the Times, December 27, 1899
.
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