Our Greatest Need
“Ye shall be witnesses unto Me.” [
Acts 1:8
.] These words of Jesus
have lost none of their force. Our Saviour calls for faithful witnesses
in these days of religious formalism; but how few, even among the
professed ambassadors for Christ, are ready to give a faithful, personal
testimony for their Master! Many can tell what the great and good men
of generations past have done, and dared, and suffered, and enjoyed.
They become eloquent in setting forth the power of the gospel, which
has enabled others to rejoice in trying conflicts, and to stand firm
against fierce temptations. But while so earnest in bringing forward
other Christians as witnesses for Jesus, they seem to have no fresh,
timely experience of their own to relate.
Ministers of Christ, what have you to say for yourselves? What
soul conflicts have you experienced that have been for your good, for
the good of others, and for the glory of God? You who profess to be
proclaiming the last solemn message of mercy to the world, what is
your experience in the knowledge of the truth, and what has been its
effect upon your own hearts? Does your character testify for Christ?
Can you speak of the refining, ennobling, sanctifying influence of the
truth as it is in Jesus? What have you seen, what have you known, of
the power of Christ? This is the kind of witness for which the Lord
calls, and for which the churches are suffering.
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Without a living faith in Christ as a personal Saviour, it is impos-
sible to make your faith felt in a skeptical world. If you would draw
sinners out of the swift-running current, your own feet must not stand
on slippery places.
We need constantly a fresh revelation of Christ, a daily experience
that harmonizes with His teachings. High and holy attainments are
within our reach. Continual progress in knowledge and virtue is God’s
purpose for us. His law is the echo of His own voice, giving to all the
invitation, “Come up higher; be holy, holier still.” Every day we may
advance in perfection of Christian character.
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