Editorial Notes by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 8, 1901

Editorial Notes.

By Editor

To see duty clearly we should view it in the light of Christian privilege.

THE life that is lived for self is soon finished; but the life that seeks to serve all others requires eternity for its completion.

THE greatest obstacles in the Christian pathway are the imaginary ones—the doubts about the ability or willingness of God to do exactly as He has promised.

DOES your life show that you “seek a country” other than one to which railway or steamship can transport you? or does it show that you are satisfied to dwell permanently in this present world?

“THE grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2 : 11. And, therefore, no man can say that salvation has not come within his reach. If he is lost, it will be only because he would not accept the gift.

THE commandments of God express the height of perfection of character, not to which we must climb, but to which God will elevate us if we will let Him. We should rejoice that God does not purpose to make us merely a little better than we are.

“If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?” Jer. 12 : 5. If you have not kept pace with the message while it has gone slowly, how will you keep up with it when it moves with the swiftness that will characterize the closing work?

THE power of God belongs with the Christian just as much as steam belongs with an engine; and for a Christian to go along satisfied without being filled with the Spirit is a spectacle no less strange than for an engineer to be satisfied month after month without steam to set his machine in motion.

DON’T try to push anybody along the way of truth, or force any person to take the stand that you have taken. Let your own light shine fully, and then let God do the drawing. Leave every person free to take his stand for or against the truth under the pressure of the Holy Spirit alone. You are more likely to force a person to a wrong decision than to a right one.

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” But how may we know whether we truly love the brethren? The Scripture assures us that “charity [love] envieth not,” and “thinketh no evil.” If we envy any person, or think evil of any, or are willing to attribute wrong motives to any, we do not yet “love the brethren” in the Christian sense.

“THE easiest way to become great,” said the late Frances Willard in reply to a question once put to her by a boy, “is to be with great people.” Ordinary people cannot have the privilege of associating much with great people; but every one can, if he will, be always in the company of the Lord; and he who will do this will not have to study over the problem of becoming great. This was the secret of the greatness of John the Baptist, who dwelt by himself in the wilderness, of whom Jesus said there had “not risen a greater” in all the world.

FOR years the Lord has “waited to be gracious,” being “long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish,” so that it has even seemed to some that the Lord has been “slack concerning His promise;” but now the word from the Captain of the Lord’s host is, “Delay no longer.” He will delay the work no longer for you, or for any upon whom He has been waiting, but will manifest His power now to accomplish His work unchecked by human hindrances. This means that you must now move forward with the Israel of God, or be left behind.

L. A. S.