THAT PRECIOUS LIST by H. A. St. John

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 3, 1876

THAT PRECIOUS LIST.

By H. A. St. John

The names of the members of the church. Have you got that list of valuable names, brother elder? You are an under shepherd, those are the sheep of your fold. The Great Shepherd “calleth them all by their names.” Can you do this? Precious souls! they have covenanted to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. They are trying to walk in the light of the last message of mercy, to get ready for the soon coming of Jesus. Are there any lonely or discouraged ones among them? Strengthen the feeble knees, and lift up the hands that hang down. Look after the scattered ones. Keep a watchful eye upon every sheep of the fold. If one wanders, leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after the wanderer.

How encouraging to hear that a flock is thriving—that the church is growing. How it does cheer the heart of a minister, after having left a church for which he has labored to the best of his ability, to hear from the elder or leader that the good work is progressing.

Be entreated, brother elder, O, be entreated to take a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the church. Look after all its officers. Do your best to keep things in order. With a heart filled with the same care, tenderness, compassion, and forgiveness, that characterized the Great Shepherd, move around among your flock. How can the Lord bless his cause and people, unless they get into better working order, unless they come up on higher ground? Everything does not depend upon the elder, of course, but very much responsibility rests upon his shoulders. May God bless you abundantly, brother elder, as you look after the spiritual interests of those precious souls, represented by that list of names in your possession, and as you present them before the Lord in prayer. H. A. St. John.