To the Bro. in Missouri and Kansas.
By J. N. Ayers
The year is almost gone. We are past the middle of the fourth quarter. Our S. B. for 1874 and tent pledges will soon all be due. Will we pay them promptly, and commence the New Year with a clean record? I believe we can if we commence to work for it in earnest. I know it will require a sacrifice for a great many of us in this Conference to pay our pledges, as the drouth, chintz bugs, and grasshoppers have left us but very little to live on this winter. But are we afraid to trust the Lord? Read Mal. 3: 10–12. Do we believe his promises? If we do, let our actions show that we do. Let us do as the Lord says. Verse 10. His promises are sure. Oh! that we could believe. Lord, help our unbelief. Shall we let the cause of God suffer? Shall the ministers leave their work to go laboring with their hands to support their families? Or will we each do all we can, make a sacrifice, pay our pledges, and trust the Lord in the future. He will provide. And to those that have means they can spare, I would say that now is a good time to invest in the cause. Come brethren, let us all lift together with our means, that the cause of God may not be hindered, and that we may see our friends and neighbors rejoicing in the truth of the third angel’s message. We had better put some of our means into the cause while it is needed, than to hoard it up for the fires of the last days. We profess to believe that time is short. Let our actions show that we do believe what we profess. Dear brethren, the Lord is soon coming. Are we ready to meet him? Have we made a covenant with him by sacrifice? Ps. 50: 5. He allows us to be brought into these close places to test us. Will we stand the test? May the Lord help us to form such characters as will stand every test, that we may at last receive everlasting life and be permitted to dwell with Christ in that beautiful city. Oh! I want to be there; I want to form such a character as will fit me for a home in that beautiful place. We all can be there. What a happy thought! We must be there. Let us be faithful a little while, then the dear Saviour will come and take us to himself, that where he is there we may be also. J. N. AYERS, Treas. of the Mo. and Kan. Conf.