And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Colossians 3:23.

Every individual, from the lowliest and most obscure to the greatest and most exalted, is a moral agent endowed with abilities for which each is accountable to God….

Let the business man and woman do their business in a way that will glorify their Master because of their fidelity. Let them carry their religion into everything that is done, and reveal to others the spirit of Christ. Let the mechanic be a diligent and faithful representative of Him who toiled in the lowly walks of life in the cities of Judea. Let all who name the name of Christ so work that others, by seeing their good works, may be led to glorify their Creator and Redeemer….

Those who have been blessed with superior talents should not depreciate the value of the services of those who are less gifted than themselves. The smallest trust is a trust from God. With the blessing of God, the one talent through diligent use will be doubled, and the two used in the service of Christ will be increased to four; and thus the humblest instrument may grow in power and usefulness….

We are responsible only for the talents which God has bestowed upon us. The Lord does not reprove the servant who has doubled his talent, who has done according to his ability. Those who thus prove their fidelity can be commended and rewarded; but those who loiter in the vineyard, those who do nothing, or do negligently the Lord’s work, make manifest their real attitude toward the work to which they have been called, by their works. They show that their hearts are not in the service for which they have been engaged….

Let none mourn that they have not larger talents to use for the Master…. Thank God for the ability you have, and pray that you may be enabled to meet the responsibilities that have been placed upon you. If you desire greater usefulness, go to work and acquire what you mourn for. Go to work with steady patience, and do your very best, irrespective of what others are doing…. Let not your thought or your words be, Oh, that I had a larger work! Oh, that I were in this or that position! Do your duty where you are. Make the best investments possible with your entrusted gift in the very place where your work will count the most before God.—The Review and Herald, October 26, 1911.

From From the Heart

I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed. Revelation 3:18.

The Lord Jesus has sent a most solemn message to the Laodicean church…. In the counsel of the True Witness, He urges upon His people the necessity of being clothed in the white garment of His righteousness. Every guest accepted for the marriage supper of the Lamb will be arrayed in this spotless robe. But Satan is determined that those who have been sinners shall not wear this spotless garment, and he is seeking to obtain unlimited power over them. The controversy over those who have been purchased by the blood of Christ is pictured by the prophet. He says, “And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?”

Joshua represents those who are making a penitent plea at the throne of grace, and Satan stands as their adversary to accuse them before Christ. The prophet continues, “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment….”

The wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ and represents the character of those who will be accepted as guests for the marriage supper of the Lamb. Those who have transgressed the law, who have committed sin, can find no saving quality in the law which condemns them, but Christ has become the sin bearer for the whole world….

Those who receive Christ as their personal Savior yield up their way to His will and His way. They cast their sins upon Him and receive and rejoice in the imputed righteousness of Christ. They know what it means to have a change of raiment…. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”—Youth’s Instructor, October 21, 1897.

From From the Heart

I will not let You go unless You bless me! Genesis 32:26.

There is need of earnest work, that we may have strength from God to resist the enemy when he shall come in like a flood. We must agonize in order to subdue self; for self-ease and self-indulgence are the most deceptive of sins, stupefying the conscience and blinding the understanding…. We need the earnest desire of the importunate widow and the Syrophenician woman—a determination that will not be repulsed.

Many, very many, are making a fatal mistake by failing to heed this lesson of God’s providence. Peace and rest can be secured only by conflict. The powers of light and darkness are in array, and we must individually take a part in the struggle. Jacob wrestled all night with God before he gained the victory. As he pleaded with God in prayer, he felt a strong hand laid upon him, and thinking it to be the hand of an enemy, he put forth all his strength to resist Him. He wrestled for hours, but gained nothing over his Opponent, and he dared not relax his efforts for one moment, lest he should be overcome and lose his life…. Then the Stranger brought the conflict to a close. He touched the thigh of Jacob, and the wrestler’s strength was paralyzed. It was not until then that Jacob learned who his Opponent really was, and, falling crippled and weeping on His neck, he pleaded for his life.

The Angel could easily have released Himself from the grasp of Jacob, but He did not do this. “Let me go,” He pleaded, “for the day breaketh.” But the answer came from the suffering but determined Jacob, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” The suppliant’s tears and prayers gained for him what he struggled in vain to obtain. “What is thy name?” the Angel asked. “And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed…. And he blessed him there.” …

Resolution, self-denial, and consecrated effort are required for the work of preparation…. Only by earnest, determined effort and faith in the merits of Christ can we overcome and gain the kingdom of heaven. Our time for work is short. Christ is soon to come the second time.—Youth’s Instructor, May 24, 1900.

From From the Heart

Enter into the joy of your lord. Matthew 25:21.

Though the disciples had gazed far into the heaven until their Lord had vanished from their sight, they did not behold the angels that gathered around their beloved Commander. Jesus led a multitude of captives who had risen from the grave at His resurrection. As the glorious company approach the gates of the eternal city, the angels sing, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” And the angels guarding the gates respond, “Who is this King of glory?” The attendant angels reply, “The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.” As the glorious train passes in, the angels are about to bow in adoration before the Lord of glory; but He waves them back. Before He will permit their homage He must know that His sacrifice for the fallen race has been accepted of the Father. He must know whether the price paid for the redemption of the lost has been sufficient to ransom them from the power of sin and the grave…. Amid the splendor of the courts of glory, amid ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands waiting to cast their crowns at His feet, He does not forget those that He has left on earth to bear opposition, reproach, and scorn. After the Father has assured Him that the ransom paid is accepted, still He has a request to offer for those who believe in Him and follow in His footsteps, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” He requested that His disciples might enter into His joy and share His glory, and at last the faithful servant of the Lord will hear the glad words, “Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

When He had finished preferring His requests, the Father gave the command, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Then the song of joy and love swells through the heavenly courts, “Worthy, worthy, worthy, is the Lamb that was slain, and lives again, a triumphant conqueror.” And this same Jesus, whom unnumbered hosts of angels delight to adore, is coming again to fulfill His promise and receive those who love Him unto Himself. Have we not great reason to rejoice? … The consummation of our hope is at hand; the faithful will soon enter into the joy of their Lord.—Signs of the Times, January 27, 1888.

From From the Heart

I will come again and receive you to Myself John 14:3.

The time of Jesus’ betrayal, suffering, and crucifixion was drawing near; and as the disciples gathered around Him, the Lord unfolded to them the mournful events that were about to take place, and their hearts were filled with sorrow. To comfort them He spoke these tender words: “Let not your heart be troubled…. I will come again, and receive you unto myself.” He directed their minds away from the scenes of sorrow to the mansions of heaven and the time of reunion in the kingdom of God…. Though He must go from them and ascend to His Father, His work for those He loved would not be at an end. He was to prepare homes for those who, for His sake, were to be pilgrims and strangers on the earth….

After His resurrection “he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” … Do you imagine as they went back to Jerusalem that they said to one another, “Well, the Lord has left us. What is now the use of trying to gain followers to Jesus? Let us return to our nets.” … There is no record of any such conversation. Not a line is written or a hint given that they had a thought of leaving the service of their ascended Lord for the service of self and the world. The Savior’s hand had been outstretched in blessing His disciples He had left behind as He ascended. They had seen His glory. He had gone to prepare mansions for them. Their salvation had been provided for, and if they were faithful in complying with the conditions, they would assuredly follow Him to the world of unending joy. Their hearts were filled with songs of rejoicing and praise.

We all have the same cause for thanksgiving. The resurrection and ascension of our Lord is a sure evidence of the triumph of the saints of God over death and the grave, and a pledge that heaven is open to those who wash their robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. Jesus ascended to the Father as a representative of the human race, and God will bring those who reflect His image to behold and share with Him His glory….

Let us go forward together to reach the great reward and join in the song of the redeemed. If we ever sing the praises of God in heaven, we must first sing them here.—Signs of the Times, January 27, 1888.

From From the Heart