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The Desire of Ages
blessed by their prayers, their songs of praise, and the opening of the
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Scriptures in the family circle.
These disciples were to be heralds of the truth, to prepare the way
for the coming of their Master. The message they had to bear was
the word of eternal life, and the destiny of men depended upon their
reception or rejection of it. To impress the people with its solemnity,
Jesus bade His disciples, “Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear
your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the
dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for
the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that
city.”
Now the Saviour’s eye penetrates the future; He beholds the
broader fields in which, after His death, the disciples are to be wit-
nesses for Him. His prophetic glance takes in the experience of His
servants through all the ages till He shall come the second time. He
shows His followers the conflicts they must meet; He reveals the char-
acter and plan of the battle. He lays open before them the perils they
must encounter, the self-denial that will be required. He desires them
to count the cost, that they may not be taken unawares by the enemy.
Their warfare is not to be waged against flesh and blood, but “against
the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this
darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places.”
Ephesians 6:12
, R. V. They are to contend with supernatural
forces, but they are assured of supernatural help. All the intelligences
of heaven are in this army. And more than angels are in the ranks.
The Holy Spirit, the representative of the Captain of the Lord’s host,
comes down to direct the battle. Our infirmities may be many, our sins
and mistakes grievous; but the grace of God is for all who seek it with
contrition. The power of Omnipotence is enlisted in behalf of those
who trust in God.
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“Behold,” said Jesus, “I send you forth as sheep in the midst of
wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
Christ Himself did not suppress one word of truth, but He spoke it
always in love. He exercised the greatest tact, and thoughtful, kind
attention in His intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never
needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive
soul. He did not censure human weakness. He fearlessly denounced
hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were in His voice as He