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The Desire of Ages
apart, ... and rest awhile,” He says to those who are worn and weary. It
is not wise to be always under the strain of work and excitement, even
in ministering to men’s spiritual needs; for in this way personal piety
is neglected, and the powers of mind and soul and body are overtaxed.
Self-denial is required of the disciples of Christ, and sacrifices must
be made; but care must also be exercised lest through their overzeal
Satan take advantage of the weakness of humanity, and the work of
God be marred.
In the estimation of the rabbis it was the sum of religion to be
always in a bustle of activity. They depended upon some outward
performance to show their superior piety. Thus they separated their
souls from God, and built themselves up in self-sufficiency. The same
dangers still exist. As activity increases and men become successful
in doing any work for God, there is danger of trusting to human plans
and methods. There is a tendency to pray less, and to have less faith.
Like the disciples, we are in danger of losing sight of our dependence
on God, and seeking to make a savior of our activity. We need to look
constantly to Jesus, realizing that it is His power which does the work.
While we are to labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost, we must
also take time for meditation, for prayer, and for the study of the word
of God. Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified
by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for
good.
No other life was ever so crowded with labor and responsibility as
was that of Jesus; yet how often He was found in prayer! How constant
was His communion with God! Again and again in the history of His
earthly life are found records such as these: “Rising up a great while
before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there
prayed.” “Great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by
Him of their infirmities. And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness,
and prayed.” “And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into
a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
Mark
1:35
;
Luke 5:15, 16
;
6:12
.
In a life wholly devoted to the good of others, the Saviour found
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it necessary to withdraw from the thoroughfares of travel and from
the throng that followed Him day after day. He must turn aside from
a life of ceaseless activity and contact with human needs, to seek
retirement and unbroken communion with His Father. As one with us,