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The Neighborhood: A Large Field of Work, June 16
Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done
unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole
city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
Luke 8:39
.
The fields are opening everywhere, calling for the living preacher. At
home and abroad are openings that there seems no way to fill. Yet there is a
large number who have the light of truth, and if these would do all in their
power to give light to others, how much might be accomplished! All cannot
be preachers of the Word, but in their own homes all might do something for
Christ. They could do a good work among their neighbors. If they would put
their minds and hearts to the work, they might devise plans by which they
could be useful in a small way, whatever their position.
The ever-increasing opportunities for usefulness, the providential open-
ings for the Word of God to be presented, demand our offerings of time and
intellect and money, gifts large and small, as God has prospered us, to make
a way for the truth in the dark places of the earth, to set up the standard of
righteousness, and to advance the interests of the kingdom of Christ. The
heavenly angels are waiting to unite with the human agent, that many souls
may hear and be impressed by the Holy Spirit, and be converted.
We have long been looking and waiting for the coming of the Lord; but
are we doing all in our power to hasten His coming? “The Lord is not slack
concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering
to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance” (
2 Peter 3:9
). While the Lord is ever working, while all heaven
is engaged in the work on earth to draw men to Christ and repentance, what
are the human agents doing to be channels of light, that they may cooperate
with the divine agencies? Are they daily inquiring, “Lord, what wilt thou
have me to do?” (
Acts 9:6
). Are they practicing self-denial, as did Jesus? Are
they deeply stirred, their hearts drawn out in prayer to God that they may be
receiving of His grace, the Holy Spirit of God, that they may have wisdom to
work with their ability and their means to save souls that are perishing out of
Christ?—
The Review and Herald, May 16, 1893
.
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