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Need of Earnest Effort
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the wily foe in all his deceptive working, and fortified to do His
work of uplifting and restoring humanity.
The man who loves God does not measure his work by the eight-
hour system. He works at all hours and is never off duty. As he has
opportunity he does good. Everywhere, at all times and in all places,
he finds opportunity to work for God. He carries fragrance with him
wherever he goes. A wholesome atmosphere surrounds his soul.
The beauty of his well-ordered life and godly conversation inspires
in others faith and hope and courage.
It is heart missionaries that are needed. Spasmodic efforts will
do little good. We must arrest the attention. We must be deeply in
earnest.
By aggressive warfare, in the midst of opposition, peril, loss, and
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human suffering, the work of soulsaving is to be carried forward. At
a certain battle, when one of the regiments of the attacking force was
being beaten back by the hordes of the enemy, the ensign in front
stood his ground as the troops retreated. The captain shouted to him
to bring back the colors, but the reply of the ensign was: “Bring the
men up to the colors!” This is the work that devolves upon every
faithful standard-bearer—to bring the men up to the colors. The
Lord calls for wholeheartedness. We all know that the sin of many
professing Christians is that they lack the courage and energy to
bring themselves and those connected with them up to the standard.
From all countries the Macedonian cry is sounding: “Come over,
... and help us.” God has opened fields before us, and if human
agencies would but co-operate with divine agencies, many, many
souls would be won to the truth. But the Lord’s professing people
have been sleeping over their allotted work, and in many places
it remains comparatively untouched. God has sent message after
message to arouse our people to do something, and to do it now. But
to the call, “Whom shall I send?” there have been few to respond,
“Here am I; send me.”
Isaiah 6:8
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When the reproach of indolence and slothfulness shall have been
wiped away from the church, the Spirit of the Lord will be graciously
manifested. Divine power will be revealed. The church will see the
providential working of the Lord of hosts. The light of truth will
shine forth in clear, strong rays, and, as in the time of the apostles,