Spiritual Food by E. Hilliard

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 8, 1883

Spiritual Food.

By E. Hilliard

THE harvest laborer returns from the field at noon, his garments moistened with perspiration, and his body tired and weak with the forenoon's toil. He finds a table loaded with wholesome food to satisfy his hunger, and a pitcher of good, cool water awaiting to quench his thirst. No one has to urge him to sit by and eat, but with a good will and strong appetite he partakes of the repast. It is just as essential to a growth in grace that we have spiritual food, and just as necessary to perform spiritual labor, that we drink deep of Christ, the living fountain, as it is that we have daily food and drink to supply our temporal wants.

Privation, perplexity, and suffering, is the lot of all Christ's followers in this life. Paul says, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him." He who shuns to work for Christ because it incurs suffering, must, in the day of Judgment, experience a deep anguish of spirit and physical suffering that is not to be compared with that endured in this brief life. It is a fearful thing to know all these things, and then not be willing to do and bear all that is required of us for Christ's sake. The punishment of the forgetful hearer who is not a doer of the word, will be far more severe than that experienced by those who have not had the privilege of knowing the truth of God's word. "And that servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes."

The Bible reveals to us God's will, and how are we to know it and do it without studying its sacred pages. Many will be held responsible in the Judgment for their ignorance of God's requirements through neglected opportunities in studying the sacred volume. "Search the Scriptures," said our Saviour. Search does not mean to give them a cursory perusal. It does not mean to mechanically read a chapter for the morning and evening worship; it does not mean to read them merely to escape the penalty of God's wrath set forth in them. It means to peruse them diligently with an inquiring mind, "for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they that testify of me."

An invitation to the great marriage supper of the Lamb in the kingdom of God, is given through the Scriptures to all the inhabitants of earth, with a promise that, if we are there dressed in the wedding garment, due respect shall be paid to us. Only those who are hungry and thirsty will ever sit down to the King's repast. The Master requires that we shall give the invitation proper consideration, accept of it heartily, and make the necessary preparation to be in a presentable condition.

E. HILLIARD.

Medford, Minn.