September 1, 1898

The Work for Today

EGW

Our Lord Jesus Christ was the majesty of heaven, yet he came to our world as a physician, a healer of physical and spiritual maladies. What was his work?—To do good. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted; to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”GosHealth September 1, 1898, par. 1

The Lord's people are mainly made up of the poor of this world—the common people. Not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. God hath chosen the poor of this world. The poor have the gospel preached unto them. The wealthy are called, in one sense; they are invited, but they do not accept the invitation. In the large cities the Lord has many who are humble and yet trustful. Many of these the ministers of the gospel know nothing about. The churches do not know them, because while there are many professors, there are but few who minister. They are the Lord's lights, shining in lowly, miserable places. Patient, meek, gentle, suffering with nakedness, hunger, and cold, they are the Lord's martyrs. Angels visit them, and then bear to heaven the record that the Lord's capital, entrusted to human agents, is misappropriated; that the church is guilty of squandering the Lord's means.GosHealth September 1, 1898, par. 2

It was an insult to God when David numbered Israel. God's rebuke rested upon him; for he made himself as God, as though he could tell the strength of the armies of Israel by their numbers. “This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.” God looks not to the numbers of Israel for the success of his work. His armies number thousands of thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. These co-operate with the men who will connect with God to be channels of light.GosHealth September 1, 1898, par. 3

There are in our cities thousands who have the fear of God before them, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. It is because so many of these are in lowly circumstances that the world does not notice them. But though hidden in highways and hedges, they are seeking God.GosHealth September 1, 1898, par. 4

It is because of poverty that many are sick, and because of sickness that there is so much poverty. Many, in their poverty, minister to others. The reward received by these will be proportionate to their willing obedience. Jesus saw how it would be, and he desires his servants to communicate with these suffering ones. The last gospel call is to be sounded, not only in the highways, but in the hedges.GosHealth September 1, 1898, par. 5

Jesus does not say to the Christian, Strive to shine; but, “Let your light so shine before men [for it is God's gift], that they may see your good works.” Never shut in the light God has given you, by mist and darkness caused by ill-advised words, an impatient spirit, murmuring, or complaining. Wherever you are, let your light shine in clear rays. Do not hide your light under a bushel. You need not make extra exertions to shine, for light from the throne of God will shine. The reason for this is given in Isaiah: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”GosHealth September 1, 1898, par. 6

Many voices will be heard inviting you to wrong. Heed them not. Open the Scriptures, and let God speak to you. The time is now very short; listen to his voice. “Prepare to meet thy God.” Lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset, and run with patience the race set before thee. “What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”GosHealth September 1, 1898, par. 7

The time when Babylon is to come into remembrance before God, when he is to give her to drink of the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath, has come. The Lord will come out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Who is on the Lord's side? Let each one take his position, truly, firmly, and wholeheartedly.GosHealth September 1, 1898, par. 8