708
The Desire of Ages
human race are reclaimed and reinstated in their holy privileges as His
sons and daughters.
In Christ is the tenderness of the shepherd, the affection of the
parent, and the matchless grace of the compassionate Saviour. His
blessings He presents in the most alluring terms. He is not content
merely to announce these blessings; He presents them in the most
attractive way, to excite a desire to possess them. So His servants are to
present the riches of the glory of the unspeakable Gift. The wonderful
love of Christ will melt and subdue hearts, when the mere reiteration
of doctrines would accomplish nothing. “Comfort ye, comfort ye My
people, saith your God.” “O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee
up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift
up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities
of Judah, Behold your God! ... He shall feed His flock like a shepherd:
He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.”
Isaiah 40:1, 9-11
. Tell the people of Him who is “the Chiefest among
[827]
ten thousand,” and the One “altogether lovely.” The
Song of Solomon
5:10, 16
. Words alone cannot tell it. Let it be reflected in the character
and manifested in the life. Christ is sitting for His portrait in every
disciple. Every one God has predestinated to be “conformed to the
image of His Son.”
Romans 8:29
. In every one Christ’s long-suffering
love, His holiness, meekness, mercy, and truth are to be manifested to
the world.
The first disciples went forth preaching the word. They revealed
Christ in their lives. And the Lord worked with them, “confirming
the word with signs following.”
Mark 16:20
. These disciples prepared
themselves for their work. Before the day of Pentecost they met
together, and put away all differences. They were of one accord. They
believed Christ’s promise that the blessing would be given, and they
prayed in faith. They did not ask for a blessing for themselves merely;
they were weighted with the burden for the salvation of souls. The
gospel was to be carried to the uttermost parts of the earth, and they
claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it
was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted
in a day.
So it may be now. Instead of man’s speculations, let the word of
God be preached. Let Christians put away their dissensions, and give
themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them in faith ask for