July 5, 1905

Ye are my Witnesses

EGW

Sabbath after Sabbath many of you hear the voice of the living preacher, but how many feel the need of bringing the truth into your practical life? How many realize that light is given you that you may reflect it upon others? There is great need that the people should be educated that they may do the part of the work that has been appointed unto them to do; but the education of church-members has been neglected. If the minister would instruct his people, he might have an army to help him in diffusing the light when a crisis comes to the work. Each member of the church should do the work for which he is best adapted, and the work could be so arranged that everything would move off harmoniously, and the prosperity of a working church would be manifested in the vital interest which would spring up among those who put their energies into the cause of Christ.AUGleaner July 5, 1905, par. 1

When souls are first converted to the truth, they should be instructed as to what Christ expects from them in loving, whole-hearted service,—that he invites them to be laborers in his moral vineyard. However trembling may be their efforts, however imperfect their work, they should be patiently and lovingly borne with; for if they are meek and lowly in heart, the Lord can turn what appears to be defeat into signal victory. Every soul born of the Spirit of God is to grow up into Christ, the living head. Under apprenticeship to Christ, those who profess his name are to become apt scholars, learning how to cooperate with heavenly intelligences^{*The original publication had the spelling “intelligencies.”} in drawing souls to Christ. To every one the Lord has given his work.AUGleaner July 5, 1905, par. 2

But instead of doing the work the Lord has appointed to be done through human agencies, many are idling away the precious moments of probation. Satan has come in to preoccupy the field, and he has filled the hands of those who should have been laborers together with God, with work that causes him to exult, because the cause of Christ is left to languish by those who profess to be the followers of Jesus. The instruction of Paul to the Ephesians is applicable to us, and we should heed the exhortation. He says: “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” “But unto every one of you is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”AUGleaner July 5, 1905, par. 3

From the inspired words which we have quoted, we can see that many workers are needed in the cause of God, in order that the saints may be perfected. The reason of the weakness of the church is made manifest, for these workers are lacking. No man has entered into the work of educating the members as to the duties devolving personally upon them. Men should be trained for the work of training others, that order may be found in the church, and that each one may do for the Master according to his God-given ability. It is not a matter to be deplored that those who accept the truth are differently organized and endowed; for there is work for every one, and if the people of God reach to the measure of the fulness of Christ, there must be earnest work for the individual members of the body of Christ, “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”AUGleaner July 5, 1905, par. 4

Mrs. E. G. White