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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
The work of Christ was largely made up of personal interviews.
He had a faithful regard for the one-soul audience. From that one soul
the intelligence received was carried to thousands.
We should educate the youth to help the youth; and as they seek
to do this work they will gain an experience that will qualify them to
become consecrated workers in a larger sphere. Thousands of hearts
can be reached in the most simple, humble way. The most intellectual,
those who are looked upon and praised as the world’s most gifted men
and women, are often refreshed by the simple words that flow from the
heart of one who loves God and who can speak of that love as naturally
as the worldling speaks of the things which his mind contemplates
and feeds upon. Often the words well prepared and studied have little
influence. But the true, honest words of a son or daughter of God,
spoken in natural simplicity, will open the door to hearts that have long
been locked.
The wails of a world’s sorrow are heard all around us. Sin is
pressing its shadow upon us, and our minds must be ready for every
good word and work. We know that we have the presence of Jesus.
The sweet influence of His Holy Spirit is teaching and guiding our
thoughts, leading us to speak words that will cheer and brighten the
pathway of others. If we can speak to our sisters often, and instead
of saying, “Go,” lead them ourselves to do as we would do, to feel as
we would feel, there will be a growing appreciation of the value of the
human soul. We are learners, that we may be teachers. This thought
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must be impressed on the mind of every church member.
We fully believe in church organization; but this is not to prescribe
the exact way in which we should work, for not all minds are to be
reached by the same methods. Nothing is to be allowed to keep the
servant of God from his fellow men. The individual believer is to
labor for the individual sinner. Each person has his own light to keep
burning; and if the heavenly oil is emptied into these lamps through
the golden pipes; if the vessels are emptied of self, and prepared to
receive the holy oil, light will be shed on the sinner’s path to some
purpose. More light will be shed on the pathway of the wanderer by
one such lamp than by a whole procession of torchlights gotten up for
show. Personal consecration and sanctification to God will bring better
results than the most imposing display.