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Encouraging Words

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jan 12, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 2.

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Encouraging Words

By L. A. S.

AMONG the privileges of the Christian life, a most valuable one is that of being ever “strong and of a good courage.” This privilege is independent of circumstances. Men of the world are hopeful and courageous when there is a prospect before them of success, but the world has nothing to offer the one who has neither fortune nor inherent abilities to raise him above the level of his birth. Christianity takes men from the lowest planes of life, and raises them up to sit with Christ in the heavenly places, because the power, and wisdom, and glory of such exaltation are all of God, and not of men.
It is for the glory of God that he should take from the last generation of humanity, from the most degenerate period of earth’s history, a class who will be honored above all others in the world to come, by being privileged to “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.”
The following words of cheer, spoken through the spirit of prophecy, should be kept in mind by any who, because of inherent lack or defects, may be tempted to become discouraged:—
The Saviour takes those whom he finds will be molded, and uses them for his own name’s glory. He uses material that others would pass by, and works in all who will give themselves to him. He delights to take apparently hopeless material, those whom Satan has debased, and through whom he has worked, and make them the subjects of his grace.He rejoices to deliver them from suffering, and from the wrath that is to fall upon the disobedient.
Are you one of those whom others have passed by as being useless material — one not gifted with natural abilities, or one whom Satan has debased through years spent in his hard service? If so, then you are one of those whom the Saviour “delights to take,” and make “the subjects of his grace.” And he will certainly do that in which he delights if you will but give him the opportunity to use you for his name’s glory, by surrendering the hopeless, useless material of self into his hands.
The Christian life is always one of courage and of rejoicing. L. A. S.