January 16, 1907

Witnessing for Christ

EGW

In order to save fallen man, under a sense of the infinite magnitude of the task, Christ undertook to represent to the world the character of God in His great love for the world. Nothing was allowed to divert His attention for a moment. His one effort was to carry out the plan of God laid before the foundation of the world. Said Christ, “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life that I might take it again.” “As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” That is: “My Father hath so loved you, that He even loves Me more for giving My life to redeem you. In becoming your substitute and surety, by surrendering My life, by taking your liabilities, your transgressions, I am endeared to My Father; for by My sacrifice, His will is fulfilled, His law vindicated, and God can be just, and yet justify him who believes in Jesus.”ST January 16, 1907, par. 1

This is a love that passeth knowledge. Shall we not be filled with astonishment at the amazing riches of the grace of Christ? Jesus alone could do the work. Knowing the height and depth of the love of God, he engaged to come into the world to make it manifest to sinners. Nothing less than the infinite sacrifice made by Christ in behalf of fallen man could express the love of God to lost humanity. It is impossible for us to conceive of the riches of His grace abundantly provided for all who believe on Christ. And having thus Himself represented the love of the Father, He has enjoined upon those who believe in Him to represent His character to the world, and thus reflect the glory of God in their own character.ST January 16, 1907, par. 2

Jesus says, “As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world,” to be witnesses for Me. Christ calls upon each of His followers to represent His goodness, His mercy, and His love to the world, as He represented the love of the Father. He has made those who believe in Him as their personal Saviour, partakers of the divine nature, that they should not perish, but have everlasting life; and those who are saved by His grace are to reveal His power to others, that others may be saved thru their instrumentality. All who are truly converted are commissioned of God to be light bearers to the world.ST January 16, 1907, par. 3

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” It is the privilege and duty of every child of God to obtain day by day a living experience in the things of Christ. Thru a connection with Christ, we are to go forth in His Spirit, with His mind, as agents to cooperate with the divine, to bear to the world the message of the love of God to man. We are to proclaim that Christ is our Advocate, that the bow of promise encircles the throne, that the Lord is waiting to be gracious. This work must not be set aside because it requires self-denial and self-sacrifice. Looking to the Author and Finisher of our faith, we must see there our pattern, and shape our life after the example He has given.ST January 16, 1907, par. 4

The church may individually be all that they profess to be; for if they will seek the Lord with all the heart, they will be filled with the Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Pattern, and every one who copies the Pattern will estimate the value of his own soul as the purchased possession of Christ. He will see that the Lord requires all the members of His church, as living, human agencies, to exert a sanctified influence in unity to build up the Redeemer's kingdom in the earth. The careless inaction, the indolence, the neglect to improve a single faculty and intrusted capability which might have been employed for blessing humanity, robs the world of the promised influence of the Holy Spirit, which might have accompanied with its presence the living witness for God. A message from heaven is sent to the world by those whom the Lord has called. They are to make known the salvation of God, that, by the testimony of those who are sanctified, many may be saved.ST January 16, 1907, par. 5

Mrs. E. G. White