Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:7.

The question is often asked, Why is there not more power in the church? why not more vital godliness? The reason is, the requirements of God’s Word are not complied with in verity and in truth; God is not loved supremely, and our neighbor as ourselves. This covers the entire ground. Upon these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Let these two requirements of God be obeyed explicitly, and there would be no discord in the church, no inharmonious notes in the family. With many the work is too superficial. Outward forms take the place of the inner work of grace…. The theory of the truth has converted the head, but the soul temple has not been cleansed from its idols….

True conviction of sin, real heart sorrow because of wickedness, death to self, the daily overcoming of defects of character, and the new birth—these, represented as old things, Paul says had passed away, and all things had become new. Such a work many know nothing of. They grafted the truth into their natural hearts, and then went on as before, manifesting the same unhappy traits of character. What is now needed is the plain testimony borne in love from lips touched with living fire.

Church members do not show that living connection with God that they must have in order to win souls from darkness to light. Make the tree good, and good fruit will be the result. The work of the Spirit of God upon the heart is essential to godliness. It must be received into the hearts of those who accept the truth, and create in them clean hearts, before one of them can keep His commandments and be doers of the Word. “Marvel not,” said the great Teacher unto the astonished Nicodemus, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

The Bible is not studied as much as it should be; it is not made the rule of life. Were its precepts conscientiously followed, and made the basis of character, there would be steadfastness of purpose that no business speculations or worldly pursuits could seriously influence. A character thus formed, and supported by the Word of God, will abide the day of trial, of difficulties, and dangers. The conscience must be enlightened, and the life sanctified by the love of the truth received into the heart, before the influence will be saving upon the world.

What is needed is men of action for the time, prompt, determined, firm as a rock to principle, and prepared to meet any emergency. Why we are so weak, why there are so many irresponsible men among us, is because they do not connect with God; they have not an indwelling Saviour, and do not feel the love of Christ ever fresh and new…. No earthly relationship is as strong as this love. Nothing can compare with it.—The Review and Herald, August 28, 1879.

From Reflecting Christ

Them that honour me I will honour. 1 Samuel 2:30.

You are God’s hired servant to give light, to give time, thought, tact, to His work; and if you do this, you will receive the approbation of your heavenly Father and the gift of eternal life….

Be much in prayer. Let no person, or personal interest, separate you from God, who is the source of your strength. When you arise in the morning, gather all the members of your household together, as did Abraham, and invite them to seek God with you. If your business presses strongly, and urges you to your work, then there is still greater need to take time to pray, to present your petitions to the throne of grace, and secure the protecting care, the aid, the mercy and blessing of God. Do not grudge the time that God requires, and hurry through a faithless, formal prayer, that you may rush to your business.

God can do much for you, even in your labor, if you ask Him. He can send His angels to preserve you from accidents, from breakage, and losses of life and property. The reason why those who neglect the privileges that God has provided have no more comfort and peace and joy is that they do not pause to have communion with God, who is the source of their strength. Can God pour out His Spirit, can He bless us, where there is so much indifference to His service? He cannot give us His rich blessing without our cooperation in His plans. He says, “Them that honour me I will honour.”

It is just as convenient, just as essential, for us to pray three times a day as it was for Daniel. Prayer is the life of the soul, the foundation of spiritual growth. In your home, before your family, and before your workmen, you should testify to this truth. And when you are privileged to meet with your brethren in the church, tell them of the necessity of keeping open the channel of communication between God and the soul. Tell them that if they will find heart and voice to pray, God will find answers to their prayers. Tell them not to neglect their religious duties. Exhort the brethren to pray. We must seek if we would find, we must ask if we would receive, we must knock if we would have the door opened unto us.

If there are only a few assembled, there are enough to claim the precious promises of God. The Father, the Son, and the holy angels will be present with you to behold your faith, your steadfast principle, and there you will have of the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit. God has rich blessings in store for those who will bring not only all the tithes into His storehouse, but also time and strength of bone and brain and muscle into His service.—The Signs of the Times, February 10, 1890.

From Reflecting Christ

I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:26.

Everyone who has to deal with others should make their case his own; for just as we deal with others will God deal with us. We are treating Christ as we treat His children; for He is represented in the person of His saints. The truth of God must sanctify the soul, refine and elevate the character, and we must obtain the heavenly mold, before we shall be fitted for the courts above.

Many are situated where they are brought in contact with believers in present truth, and with those who do not believe, and how important that all the lower lights should be trimmed and burning, that all may catch rays of light from the shining lamps of those who profess to be the followers of Christ. We need plenteous grace for this time of spiritual declension….

Have you, who have hired help, let your light shine to your workmen, that they, too, may be laborers together with God? God has given you precious privileges and advantages in sending you the light of His truth, and you are to improve these blessings, and let others share your mercies. What large missionary fields there are right around your homes, what opportunities every day for you to speak of the value of God’s promises.—The Signs of the Times, February 3, 1890.

There is a work for every Christian to do right at his own door, in his own neighborhood. But how many lose sight of eternal interests and are completely swallowed up in their temporal affairs. There is no necessity for this, for Jesus says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Make your own and your neighbor’s eternal welfare the first and most important consideration. Your neighbors have souls to save or to lose, and God expects those to whom He has given the light to make decided, interested efforts for others. They must remember the holy claims of the truth in every transaction of life. Let believers and unbelievers see in the life of those who claim to have a knowledge of advanced truth a steady, clear, strong light shining forth in zeal, in devotion, in nobility of character, in their dealings with men. Then the Lord will deal bountifully with you, His servants….

Suppose that you let your light shine, and through your devotion to the cause of God, a few others are led to consecrate their service to Him; then they will be a blessing to still others that you could not reach by your personal influence. The Lord says, “I will make … the places round about … a blessing.” Your light is to be far-reaching.—The Signs of the Times, February 10, 1890.

From Reflecting Christ

Ye are the salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13.

Christ’s church is to be a blessing, and its members are to be blessed as they bless others. The object of God in choosing a people before all the world was not only that He might adopt them as His sons and daughters, but that through them He might confer on the world the benefits of divine illumination. When the Lord chose Abraham it was not simply to be the special friend of God, but to be a medium of the precious and peculiar privileges the Lord desired to bestow upon the nations. He was to be a light amid the moral darkness of his surroundings.

Whenever God blesses His children with light and truth, it is not only that they may have the gift of eternal life, but that those around them may also be spiritually enlightened…. “Ye are the salt of the earth.” And when God makes His children salt, it is not only for their own preservation, but that they may be agents in preserving others.

The religion of Christ is not a selfish religion. It is not to be kept under lock and key, but it is to be an influence of power going forth from every genuine Christian to enlighten those that sit in darkness. Every soul connected with a true Christian will be made better thereby. We are to be God’s light bearers, reflecting the steady beams of heaven upon others.

It is through the merits of Christ that all our spiritual and temporal blessings are given us to enjoy. The salvation of Christ was placed within our reach that we might lay hold upon it by faith, that we might weave the love of Christ into our characters, and practice it in our lives, that we might be a blessing to all our race. But not one of us can shed light upon others unless we ourselves have gathered rays of divine illumination from the Word of God. We must have the Christlike mold of character or we cannot be true representatives of our Lord.

We can do nothing without the help of God. The Spirit of God must work with our efforts, and if God’s blessing attends us, we shall be channels of light. The Lord is willing to give us all an experience, which, if improved, will bring us from the lowlands of earth into close, heavenly relationship with God, and every fiber of selfishness will be uprooted from our natures.

Do you shine as living stones in God’s building? … We have not the genuine religion, unless it exerts a controlling influence upon us in every business transaction. We should have practical godliness to weave into our lifework. We should have the transforming grace of Christ upon our hearts. We need a great deal less of self, and more of Jesus….

We need plenteous grace to keep us humble, to make us prayerful, pitiful, tenderhearted, and courteous, that we may deal with others as the Lord designs we should.—The Signs of the Times, February 3, 1890.

From Reflecting Christ

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4.

Never have I felt more deeply than now the necessity of keeping the way of the Lord, and of doing His will at all times. Now is the time to do thorough work for eternity. We must be humble and trustful. We must make use of every talent that God gives us. We have been blessed with great and precious light from the Word of God, and we should study how to make the best use of this light. Individually we are on test and trial. God is watching to see how we will use His great blessings.

What can we say to arouse our people to use their entrusted talents to the honor and glory of God? The world’s greatest need is consecrated effort for the conversion of souls. Thousands upon thousands are perishing without a knowledge of the truth. My soul is sometimes stirred to its very depths as I see the terrible picture. I would urge our people to seek to bring every thought into subjection to Christ, that all their powers may be employed in the work of saving souls. There should be no sleeping now. It is time for us to awake, and to watch for souls as they that must give account.

Will our churches now arise, and awake to the situation? The representatives of Christ are to carry a burden for souls. Every nation and kindred and tongue and people is to hear the last message of mercy to the world. When our church members have a better understanding of Bible truth, they will arouse from their drowsy slumber and will be ready to devote their money to the cause of God, and to give themselves in earnest labor under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God’s people are His agents, appointed to proclaim the truth in all parts of the world.

Christ has taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” This opens before us the height to which we are to attain by steady progress and continual advancement. As members of the church of Christ, we are to do His will on earth. If all would do unto others as they would have others do unto them, we would see indications of a converted world. Upon this principle the Christian is to build. We are to ascend a ladder whose top reaches to heaven.

Every church member is to engage in active service for the Master. “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” He asks. “Go work today in My vineyard. Work while it is day; for the night cometh, when no man can work.”

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord.” Can we comprehend this? In Christ’s stead we are to beseech men to become reconciled to God…. Acknowledge Him as your Redeemer, and you will become one with Him, even as He is one with the Father.—Letter 190, 1907.

From Reflecting Christ