The Personal Touch by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 14, 1913

The Personal Touch

By Editor

Editorial

The Personal Touch

How much of so-called missionary and philanthropic work done by professed Christians is carried on by proxy? Comparatively by far the larger part of the work done by Seventh-day Adventists is done in this way. We pay our tithe for the support of conference laborers. We give of our means to send missionaries to other lands as our representatives. We encourage faithful brethren and sisters to go out and sell publications. All this is very good, and an irreparable loss would come to the church if this kind of work should cease. In fact, it is through these means of missionary effort largely that this movement has attained its present growth. But there is great danger that we shall content ourselves with doing missionary work by proxy, and fail to gain that personal experience in direct personal contact in labor for souls that is really necessary to the fullest development of Christian life.

We find pleasure in rendering to God his own. There is joy in giving for the support of the needy cause of missions, but O, this joy is as nothing compared to the joy of personal soul-saving service! To reach down the hand and lift up a fallen fellow; to point the repentant sinner to the Lamb of God that died to save him; to speak words of comfort to the broken-hearted; to feel the thankful hand-clasp; to see the gratitude in the eyes that speaks louder than words; to hold the consciousness in your own soul that you are a laborer with the Lord Jesus Christ; to close your eyes in sleep at night feeling that through God's grace you have made some life purer and nobler and stronger, that you have uttered a word, given a smile, which has brought hope and courage and cheer,—in this experience is more satisfaction and joy than can come to us in any other service. This is the joy of the Lord Jesus Christ,—the joy which he must experience even now during his ministry as high priest above,—the great joy he will have when he “shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied,” in the last great day.

Are any who read this word strangers to this joy? Have we put forth for those in our own family, for our neighbors and our associates, earnest, persevering, prayerful labor? Have we made to the Lord definite requests for the salvation of definite men and women, presenting their cases by name and pleading for their salvation? And then have we sought to cooperate with God in bringing an answer to our prayer by personal labor in their behalf? If we know the joy that comes in this service, we do not need urging to continue it. If we have not experienced it, let us enter upon its quest, and we shall be surprised at the revelation that awaits us.

In seeking to help others we ourselves shall be warmed with new zeal for the Master, and that which we impart by his grace will return with sevenfold blessing into our own hearts. Let us seek the personal touch with the Lord Jesus Christ, and then pass on this personal touch to others needing our help.