Fidelity and Perseverance Needed
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This is the position the child of God should ever be in—willing to go
where duty calls, to deny self, and to sacrifice for the cause of truth.
The Christian church was founded upon the principle of sacrifice. “If
any man will come after Me,” says Christ, “let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” He requires the whole
heart, the entire affections. The exhibitions of zeal, earnestness, and
unselfish labor which His devoted followers have given to the world
should kindle our ardor and lead us to emulate their example. Genuine
religion gives an earnestness and fixedness of purpose which molds
the character to the divine image and enables us to count all things but
loss for the excellency of Christ. This singleness of purpose will prove
an element of tremendous power.
We have a greater and more solemn truth than was ever before
committed to mortals, and we are responsible for the way we treat that
truth. Every one of us should be intent on saving souls. We should
show the power of the truth upon our own hearts and characters, while
doing all we can to win others to love it. To bring a sinner to Christ is
to elevate, dignify, and ennoble his whole character, and make him a
blessing in the home, in society, and in the church. Is not this a work
that is worthy of our noblest powers?
Persons of little talent, if faithful in keeping their hearts in the
love of God, may win many souls to Christ. Harlan Page was a poor
mechanic of ordinary ability and limited education; but he made it his
chief business to seek to advance the cause of God, and his efforts
were crowned with marked success. He labored for the salvation
of his fellow men in private conversation and in earnest prayer. He
established prayer meetings, organized Sunday schools, and distributed
tracts and other religious reading. And on his deathbed, with the
shadow of eternity resting upon his countenance, he was able to say:
“I know that it is all of God’s grace, and not through any merit of
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anything that I have done, but I think I have evidence that more than
one hundred souls have been converted to God through my personal
instrumentality.”
Every member of the church should be instructed in a regular sys-
tem of labor. All are required to do something for the Lord. They may
interest persons to read; they may converse and pray with them. The
minister who shall educate, discipline, and lead an army of efficient
workers will have glorious conquests here, and a rich reward awaits