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Gospel Workers 1915
often spoken vanity. Well may they despair as they contrast their own
unworthiness with the perfection of Christ. With contrition of heart,
feeling wholly unworthy and unfit for their great work, they cry,“I am
undone.” But if, like Isaiah, they humble their hearts before God, the
work done for the prophet will be performed for them. Their lips will
be touched with a live coal from off the altar, and they will lose sight
of self in a sense of the greatness and power of God and His readiness
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to help them. They will realize the sacredness of the work entrusted
to them, and will be led to abhor everything that would cause them to
dishonor Him who has sent them forth with His message.
The live coal is symbolical of purification, and it also represents
the potency of the efforts of God’s true servants. To those who make
so full a consecration that the Lord can place His touch upon their lips,
the word is spoken, Go forth into the harvest-field. I will co-operate
with you.
The minister who has received this preparation will be a power
for good in the world. His words will be right words, pure and true,
fraught with sympathy and love; his actions will be right actions, a
help and a blessing to the weak. Christ will be to him an abiding
presence, controlling thought, word, and deed. He has pledged himself
to overcome pride, covetousness, selfishness. As he seeks to fulfil this
pledge, he gains spiritual strength. By daily communion with God he
becomes mighty in a knowledge of the Scriptures. His fellowship is
with the Father and the Son; and as he constantly obeys the divine will,
he becomes daily better fitted to speak words that will guide wandering
souls to the fold of Christ.
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