Consecrated Ministry
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seeing Him who is invisible that strength and vigor of soul are gained
and the power of earth over mind and character is broken.
A pastor should mingle freely with the people for whom he labors,
that by becoming acquainted with them he may know how to adapt
his teaching to their needs. When a minister has preached a sermon,
his work has but just begun. There is personal work for him to do.
He should visit the people in their homes, talking and praying with
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them in earnestness and humility. There are families who will never be
reached by the truths of God’s word unless the stewards of His grace
enter their homes and point them to the higher way. But the hearts of
those who do this work must throb in unison with the heart of Christ.
Much is comprehended in the command, “Go out into the highways
and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.”
Luke 14:23
. Let ministers teach the truth in families, drawing close
to those for whom they labor, and as they thus co-operate with God,
He will clothe them with spiritual power. Christ will guide them in
their work, giving them words to speak that will sink deep into the
hearts of the listeners. It is the privilege of every minister to be able to
say with Paul, “I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel
of God.” “I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have
showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
... repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Acts 20:27, 20, 21
.
The Saviour went from house to house, healing the sick, com-
forting the mourners, soothing the afflicted, speaking peace to the
disconsolate. He took the little children in His arms and blessed them,
and spoke words of hope and comfort to the weary mothers. With
unfailing tenderness and gentleness He met every form of human woe
and affliction. Not for Himself but for others did He labor. He was the
servant of all. It was His meat and drink to bring hope and strength to
all with whom He came in contact. And as men and women listened
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to the truths that fell from His lips, so different from the traditions
and dogmas taught by the rabbis, hope sprang up in their hearts. In
His teaching there was an earnestness that sent His words home with
convicting power.
God’s ministers are to learn Christ’s method of laboring, that they
may bring from the storehouse of His word that which will supply the
spiritual needs of those for whom they labor. Thus only can they fulfill