Let Us Remember by J. S. James

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 13, 1902

Let Us Remember

By J. S. James

WE are constantly forgetting things we should remember, and remembering things that we should forget. It is a blessed thing for us to rehearse the promises of God, and renew them in our remembrance. It is a fatal thing for us to retain in our minds those things that should be forgotten. By doing the former, we are enabled to establish ourselves against temptation, and to discern evil. By doing the latter, we weaken the mind by burdening it with useless trash, thereby lessening its power to grasp divine truth.

No one has greater need of calling to remembrance the sure promises of God than does the canvasser. In his work he is surrounded with circumstances far different from those of his brethren. No one can fully appreciate his place unless he has had an experience in that work. Daily and hourly he comes face to face with problems that would puzzle the best of minds.

It takes more than human wisdom to meet the things that have to be met in the canvassing field. The Lord must be sought earnestly to go before and prepare the way for the truth to enter.

I wish to mention a few things that have come to me by way of remembrance since engaging in the canvassing work, that have been a great help to me, as well as an encouragement. I would like to have you follow me as I relate them.

Let us remember that “the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.” Luke 10:2. Let us remember to read the rest of that verse and practice it every day.

Let us remember that the Lord has said, “There should be one hundred canvassers in the field where there is one.”

Let us remember that our dropping out of this work will not increase the number.

Let us remember to place ourselves in a position where we can truthfully say, “Here am I; send me.”

Let us remember that the Lord has said, “Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” Matt. 20:7.

Let us remember, “There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.” Luke 18:29, 30.

After we have spent the entire week toiling over hot and dusty roads under a broiling sun, or through winter’s blast of snow and wind, without seeing any apparent result, let us remember, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps. 126:6.

Let us remember, “Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters.” Isa. 32:20.

When we are told that the man in the next house is not a Christian, and would not be interested in our book, let us remember, “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Eccl. 11:6.

When the door is shut in our face, let us remember, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Isa. 53:3.

When we are called a “set of religious tramps” and an “abominable horde of proselyters,” let us remember to read the record given in the fourth chapter of first Corinthians beginning with the tenth verse: “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labor, working with our hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.”

When the bed in which we sleep seems hard, cold, and damp, let us remember, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” Luke 9:58.

When the food we have to eat does not taste as good as it might, let us remember, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

John 4:34. To “keep the commandments of his lips,” and to esteem the words of his mouth is more than my necessary food. Job 23:12; also see John 17:18.

Let us remember that we should be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Eph. 5:16.

Let us remember that if we are faithful to our trust, “when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” 1 Peter 5:4.

“Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he will also deny us: if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance.” 2 Tim. 2:10–14.

J. S. JAMES.

Decatur, Ill.