Servants of God
483
that is required of him. “Faith without works is dead.” He needs that
faith that works by love and purifies the soul. A living faith in Christ
will bring every action of the life and every emotion of the soul into
harmony with God’s truth and righteousness.
Fretfulness, self-exaltation, pride, passion and every other trait of
[528]
character unlike our holy Pattern must be overcome; and then humility,
meekness, and sincere gratitude to Jesus for His great salvation will
continually flow out from the pure fountain of the heart. The voice
of Jesus should be heard in the message coming from the lips of His
ambassador.
We must have a converted ministry. The efficiency and power
attending a truly converted minister would make the hypocrites in
Zion tremble and sinners afraid. The standard of truth and holiness is
trailing in the dust. If those who sound the solemn notes of warning
for this time could realize their accountability to God they would
see the necessity for fervent prayer. When the cities were hushed
in midnight slumber, when every man had gone to his own house,
Christ, our Example, would repair to the Mount of Olives, and there,
amid the overshadowing trees, would spend the entire night in prayer.
He who was Himself without the taint of sin,—a treasure house of
blessing; whose voice was heard in the fourth watch of the night by
the terrified disciples upon the stormy sea, in heavenly benediction;
and whose word could summon the dead from their graves,—He it
was who made supplication with strong crying and tears. He prayed
not for Himself, but for those whom He came to save. As He became a
suppliant, seeking at the hand of His Father fresh supplies of strength,
and coming forth refreshed and invigorated as man’s substitute, He
identified Himself with suffering humanity and gave them an example
of the necessity of prayer.
His nature was without the taint of sin. As the Son of man, He
prayed to the Father, showing that human nature requires all the divine
support which man can obtain that he may be braced for duty and
prepared for trial. As the Prince of life He had power with God and
prevailed for His people. This Saviour, who prayed for those that felt
no need of prayer, and wept for those that felt no need of tears, is now
before the throne, to receive and present to His Father the petitions of
those for whom He prayed on earth. The example of Christ is for us
to follow. Prayer is a necessity in our labor for the salvation of souls.
[529]