Unwearied Well-Doing by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 26, 1911

Unwearied Well-Doing

By F. M. W.

It is by the maintenance of an undaunted purpose that success is ordinarily achieved. Singleness of heart and unswerving fidelity to an ideal have marked the lives of the men and women who have accomplished results in the world's work. It is only by the possession of this spirit that the child of God will succeed in the Christian warfare. The apostle Paul says that he desired to know but one thing, and that was Christ and him crucified. In writing to the Philippian church, he stated that one purpose possessed his heart: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” We shall be “made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.”

God has committed to this people today a great work. It embraces nothing less than giving the last gospel message to a sinful world. What an exalted privilege does God give to us, in making us colaborers with himself, in constituting us the representatives of his government, heralds of his coming kingdom, the messengers of his grace! Higher than any position which this world can afford, more honorable than the estate of kings and potentates, is the position of one who truly fulfils this mission for his divine Lord.

But this position involves in this world the acting of a humble part. While we are called to be Christ's free men, called to occupy the position of friends, we are called also to follow in the lowly footsteps of the Man of Nazareth, to partake of his spirit of self-denial and self-abnegation, to live in all lowliness and meekness, even as he lived, to minister rather than to be ministered unto. As he who hath called us is holy, so we are to be holy in our great calling. To the prosecution of this calling we are to bend every energy, and devote every purpose of the heart and mind.

It may seem to us many times that our efforts are unappreciated, and they truly may be. Even Christ was set at naught by his fellows, but the Captain of our salvation has his eye upon every soldier of the cross. He marks not alone every step in the warfare, but the spirit which prompts the life. Standing, as it were, in his presence, and knowing that his eye is upon us, what can we not attempt and endure for his sake? If the cross is heavy, the crown will be more glorious in the end. If the toil is hard and unremitting, sweeter will be the rest. We are to endure, as did Moses, “as seeing Him who is invisible.” We are to judge of the merits and outcome of the conflict, not by outward appearance, but in the light of eternal realities.

We know that God is true; and if we commit to him the keeping of our souls, he will see to it that our confidence is not misplaced. Of ourselves we are utter weakness, but in his might we are well able to conquer the foes that beset us. Let us maintain undaunted singleness of purpose to persevere even unto the end. We shall see, in the glad day of final reckoning, that we have not labored in vain.

F. M. W.