Now Is the Time to Work
By E. T. Russell
At this season of the year the evenings are long, and the farmers and others of the laboring classes have more time for reading than during the busy days of summer. This will be a slack period of the year, with many of our people, as their crops are being secured for the winter. Shall not our churches and brethren everywhere improve the time by getting literature before the people? How many excellent books we have that should be placed in their homes! The world needs the light that these books contain; and as they are read, many will be led to praise God for the precious gems of truth they receive. Why not take hold of this work and sell all you can during the present winter months? For the adults, I would recommend such books as “Christ’s Object Lessons,” “Steps to Christ,” “Great Controversy,” “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” “The Desire of Ages,” “Heralds of the Morning,” etc. For the children, I would suggest “Best Stories from the Best Book,” “Easy Steps,” etc. Satan has his angels flooding the world with books that lead the mind away from God. Why should not God’s people be more in earnest than the servants of Satan? Let us walk as children of the light. God Has a Work for You to Do
“God expects his church to discipline and fit its members for the work of enlightening the world. But let no one feel that because he is not educated, he cannot be expected to take part in the work. God has a work for you to do. He has given to every man his work. You can search the Scriptures for yourself. ‘The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.’ The prayer of the sinner’s heart, offered in faith, will be heard in heaven.” “Some who have long professed to be Christians, and yet have felt no responsibility for the souls of those who are perishing right around them, within the shadow of their own homes, may feel a burden to go to foreign lands and take hold of the work afar off; but where is the evidence of their fitness for such work? Let such begin the work at home, in their own household, in their own neighborhood, among their own friends. Here they will find a favorable missionary field. The home missionary work first is a test revealing their ability or inability for service in a wider field.” Why Are God’s People so Indolent?
“Why are the churches so indolent? Why have they no burden for the souls for whom Christ died, and how does heaven regard their inefficiency? The angels are constantly earnest and active, seeking to bring every child of God to work in the vineyard of the Lord. O, how they rejoiced when they saw that, through the word of Christ, the world was brought back into favor and position with God, and again connected with heaven, to be benefited with all the treasures of light and knowledge emanating therefrom; and they sorrow when they see that those for whom so much has been done have no interest to win souls for Christ.” The Angels Are Anxious to See You Work
“Angels of God are soliciting you to work in fellowship with them, doing the will of God on earth as verily and unitedly and devotedly as they do the work appointed them in heaven and earth. The angels are surveying the ground occupied by the individual members of the church. They see the advantage gained by Satan when men and women neglect their God-appointed work. They see this work neglected or done in a bungling manner by those who claim to be Christians, and they sorrow over souls lost in consequence of this neglect. They cannot take your place nor discharge your duty.” “The members of the church of Christ are to be faithful workers in the great harvest field. They are to be diligently working and earnestly praying, making progress, and diffusing light amid the moral darkness of the world; for are not the angels of heaven imparting to them divine inspiration? They are never to think of, much less speak of, failure in their work.” Will you not heed the entreaty of the Spirit of God? The Lord is very anxious that you should rise and shine; he is anxious that you should bear fruit to his glory. Will you not say, as did Isaiah, to the call of the Lord, “Here am I; send me”? I beseech you to take hold of this work without delay. President Central Union Conference.