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Gospel Workers 1915
So to the apostle Paul, praying in the temple at Jerusalem, came
the message, “Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
[
Acts 22:21
.] So those who are called to unite with Christ must leave
all in order to follow Him. Old associations must be broken up, plans
of life relinquished, earthly hopes surrendered. In toil and tears, in
solitude and through sacrifice, must the seed be sown.
Those who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to God, will constantly
receive a new endowment of physical, mental, and spiritual power.
The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ
gives them the breath of His own Spirit, the life of His own life. The
Holy Spirit puts forth His highest energies to work in heart and mind.
The grace of God enlarges and multiplies their faculties, and every
perfection of the divine nature comes to their assistance in the work
of saving souls. Through co-operation with Christ, they are made
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complete in Him, and in their human weakness they are enabled to do
the deeds of Omnipotence.
The Redeemer will not accept divided service. Daily the worker
for God must learn the meaning of self-surrender. He must study the
word of God, learning its meaning and obeying its precepts. Thus
he may reach the standard of Christian excellence. Day by day God
works with him, perfecting the character that is to stand in the time
of final test. And day by day the believer is working out before men
and angels a sublime experiment, showing what the gospel can do for
fallen human beings.
When Christ called His disciples to follow Him, He offered them
no flattering prospects in this life. He gave them no promise of gain or
worldly honor, nor did they make any stipulation as to what they should
receive. To Matthew as he sat at the receipt of custom, the Saviour
said, “Follow Me. And he arose, and followed Him.” [
Matthew 9:9
.]
Matthew did not, before rendering service, wait to demand a certain
salary, equal to the amount received in his former occupation. Without
question or hesitation he followed Jesus. It was enough for him that
he was to be with the Saviour, that he might hear His words and unite
with Him in His work.
So it was with the disciples previously called. When Jesus bade
Peter and his companions follow Him, they immediately left their
boats and nets. Some of these disciples had friends dependent on them
for support; but when they received the Saviour’s invitation, they did