94
Daughters of God
act as the Lord’s helping hand, doing deeds of love and kindness,
uplifting the oppressed, rescuing those ready to perish, the glory of the
Lord would be their rereward.... They would call, and the Lord would
answer, “Here am I.” They would turn to the One close beside them,
who has given them the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto
the end of the world.”—
Manuscript Releases 16:73, 74 (1901)
.
Women to Consecrate Their Time to Service of God—Women
who are willing to consecrate some of their time to the service of the
Lord should be appointed to visit the sick, look after the young, and
minister to the necessities of the poor. They should be set apart to
this work by prayer and laying on of hands. [
The article in which
this statement appears is entitled “The Duty of the Minister and the
People.” It is a call for involvement of the laity in the church to become
active and to share the burdens of the minister. See Appendix C.
] In
some cases they will need to counsel with the church officers or the
minister, but if they are devoted women, maintaining a vital connection
with God, they will be a power for good in the church. This is another
means of strengthening and building up the church. We need to branch
out more in our methods of labor. Not a hand should be bound, not a
soul discouraged, not a voice should be hushed; let every individual
labor, privately or publicly, to help forward this grand work. Place the
burdens upon men and women of the church, that they may grow by
reason of the exercise, and thus become effective agents in the hand
of the Lord for the enlightenment of those who sit in darkness.—
The
Review and Herald, July 9, 1895
.
Not Eloquence That Makes Work Acceptable—God wants
workers who can carry the truth to all classes, high and low, rich
and poor. In this work women may act an important part. God grant
that those who read these words may put forth earnest efforts to present
an open door for consecrated women to enter the field. Those who in
their lifework have not come into contact with the higher classes of
society need not feel that they cannot do the work. It is not eloquence
[103]
that makes their work acceptable. It is through the human and contrite
that the Lord works. The dignified and self-sufficient cannot touch or
help needy souls.—
Manuscript Releases 5:162 (1898)
.