THE PROMISE VERIFIED by M. Wood

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 13, 1879

THE PROMISE VERIFIED.

By M. Wood

“ALL the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen.” 2 Cor. 1:20. And we are glad to know that the people who are looking for the speedy advent of their Lord are arousing to the importance of believing that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. When we seek God, we desire to know his will; and if we are faithful subjects, loyal to the government of the Great King, we shall delight to do those things which please him, and bring the promised blessing to the obedient.

There is a most remarkable promise in Malachi 3:10, and, like all other promises in the Bible, it has clusters of conditions to make the promise the more brilliant. That which can be obtained for naught is of little value. The blessing of God is of priceless worth, and yet how easily we may obtain it. “Prove me,” says the Lord. How? by bringing half the tithes into the storehouse? No. Two-thirds? No. But prove me by bringing all the tithes. What will follow? God says, I will pour you out such a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

The church at South Lancaster, Mass., has just had a sprinkling of this promised blessing. A recent Sabbath meeting was one long to be remembered on account of the wonderful manifestation of the Spirit of God. For several weeks there had been a special burden resting upon this church for the young. And since we adopted the Bible plan of paying s. B., at times God has been very near to us. The hearts of the fathers have turned to the children, and the hearts of the children have turned to their fathers. Truly God’s promises are yea and Amen. They were verified to us at this Sabbath meeting. Fathers confessed to their children, and the whole congregation wept before the Lord. It was good to be there, and hear the sweet testimonies of the children who were just starting for the kingdom.

One little girl of eleven summers, with deep feeling begged the privilege of praying, and as Christ says, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not,” we bowed in humble prayer with this little child to lead. God came divinely near; it was a solemn place on account of his presence. We take this great blessing as an evidence that God is well pleased with his people when they prove him in deed and in truth. One little boy who had not paid any S. B. for a long time came on first-day and paid up his dues, $1.20.

This is not caused by excitement, dear reader, nor by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God. Try a little of the remedy, brethren; it will warm you up, and unloose your purse strings. It is an effectual cure for a dead church or a backslidden people. Try it. M. WOOD.