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108
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
standard. The Lord sees the soul want, the conscious soul hunger.
He regards the disposition of the mind, from whence our actions
proceed. He sees whether above everything else respect and faith are
evidenced toward God. The true seeker, who is striving to be like
Jesus in word, life, and character, will contemplate his Redeemer
and, by beholding, become changed into His image, because he
longs and prays for the same disposition and mind that was in Christ
Jesus. He is not restrained from evil through fear of shame or through
fear of loss, for he knows that all he enjoys comes from God, and
he would improve his blessings that he may represent Christ. He is
not hungry to stand the highest, to obtain praise from human beings.
This is not his eager interest. By making a wise improvement of
what he now has, he seeks to obtain more and still more ability, that
he may give to God greater service. He longs after God. The history
of his Redeemer, the immeasurable sacrifice that He made, becomes
full of meaning to him. Christ, the Majesty of Heaven, became poor,
that we through His poverty might become rich; not rich merely in
endowments, but rich in attainments.
These are the riches that Christ earnestly longs that His followers
shall possess. As the true seeker after the truth reads the word and
opens his mind to receive the word, he longs after truth with his
whole heart. The love, the pity, the tenderness, the courtesy, the
Christian politeness, which will be the elements in the heavenly
mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him, take
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possession of his soul. His purpose is steadfast. He is determined
to stand on the side of righteousness. Truth has found its way into
the heart, and is planted there by the Holy Spirit, who is the truth.
When truth takes hold of the heart, the man gives sure evidence of
this by becoming a steward of the grace of Christ.
The heart of the true Christian is imbued with true love, with a
most earnest hunger for souls. He is not at rest until he is doing all
that is in his power to seek and to save that which is lost. Time and
strength are spent; toilsome work is not shunned. Others must be
given the truth which has brought to his own soul such gladness and
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
When the truly converted soul enjoys the love of God, he will
feel his obligation to yoke up with Christ and work in harmony with
Him. The Spirit of Christ rests upon him. He reveals the Saviour’s