Brethren in the Review and Herald Office
Battle Creek, Michigan
March 16, 1891
This letter is published in entirety in 19MR 16-18.
Brethren who are entrusted with weighty responsibilities in the Office, 7LtMs, Lt 6, 1891, par. 1
I appeal to you to make special efforts to attend our yearly meetings; not merely the business meetings, but the meetings that will be for your spiritual enlightenment. You do not realize the positive necessity of having a close connection with Heaven, but not one of you is in a safe position before God, not one of you is qualified to do His work in a right manner, without this connection. You need to have greater respect for sacred things. You will place sacred things upon a level with common things and judge them accordingly unless you change decidedly in some matters. 7LtMs, Lt 6, 1891, par. 2
While I rejoice that many of the laborers in the office are receiving the benefit of the evening Bible teachings, let me tell you that the ones that have the responsibility as managers in the work need to place themselves in a position where they can be deeply impressed by the Spirit of God. You should have as much greater anxiety to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and a knowledge of God and of Christ as your position of trust is more responsible than that of the common working hand. 7LtMs, Lt 6, 1891, par. 3
You cannot do your work in a manner that will be approved of God unless you feel your great need of divine help. In this work, more than in any secular business, success is proportioned to the spirit of consecration and self-sacrifice in which the work is done. You have not had God working with you in all your plans because you have not sought Him with humility of heart. 7LtMs, Lt 6, 1891, par. 4
Natural and acquired endowments are all the intrusted gifts of God and need to be constantly held under the control of His Spirit, of His divine, sanctifying power. You need to feel most deeply your lack of experience in this work and put forth earnest endeavor to acquire needed knowledge and qualifications and wisdom to use your intellect in such a way that glory shall redound to God. You have felt that business is business; religion is religion; but I tell you that these cannot be divorced. If you seek God with the whole heart, He will be found of you; but, said Christ, “Without me ye can do nothing.” [John 15:5.] You are not to put asunder that which God has joined—business and religion. 7LtMs, Lt 6, 1891, par. 5
“A new heart will I give you.” [Ezekiel 36:26.] Christ must dwell in your hearts just as the blood must be in the body and circulate there as a vitalizing power. In this subject we cannot be too urgent. While truth must be our panoply, our convictions need to be strengthened by the living sympathies which characterized the life of Christ. If the truth, living truth, is not exemplified in the character, no man can stand. There is only one power that can either make us steadfast or keep us so—the grace of God, in truth. And the man who confides in aught else, is already tottering, ready to fall. 7LtMs, Lt 6, 1891, par. 6
The Lord wants you to rely on Him. It is your privilege and duty to make the most of your opportunities to come to the light. If you remain apart from the holy influences that come from God to His people, how can you discern spiritual things? You need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Do you feel that you are safe and in no need of religious influences? If ever men in our world needed these things, you do. 7LtMs, Lt 6, 1891, par. 7
Those who hold weighty responsibilities in the office have a very indistinct sense of the justice, mercy, and love of God. Therefore God calls upon you to make the most of every opportunity for securing a preparation for His work. He expects you as His employed workers, to put forth all your energies in its performance and to keep your souls alive to its sacredness and fearful responsibilities. God’s eye is upon you. It is not safe for any one of you to bring into divine presence a marred sacrifice, a sacrifice that cost neither study nor prayer, for God will not accept it at your hand. 7LtMs, Lt 6, 1891, par. 8
I entreat you to awake and seek God for yourselves, individually. While Jesus of Nazareth passeth by, cry most earnestly unto Him, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me” [Mark 10:48], and you will receive clearer sight than you have had. Through the grace of God you may receive that which will be more valuable to you than gold or silver or precious stones. 7LtMs, Lt 6, 1891, par. 9