CONSECRATION by Mrs. Wm. H. Brown

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 16, 1879

CONSECRATION

By Mrs. Wm. H. Brown

“I love thee, I love thee, I love thee, my Lord; I love thee, my Saviour; I love thee, my God; I love thee, I love thee, and that thou dost know, But how much I love thee my actions will show.”

How comprehensive and full of meaning are these words. They were sung at our annual meeting at Rome, N. Y., a short time ago, and they left a deep impression upon my mind. In God’s word we are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart. God requires the heart’s supreme affection, and when we give it to him unreservedly, he will accept and bless our labors. If we are the Lord’s and desire to please him in all our ways, we shall at once lay aside everything that hinders our communion with the Holy Spirit, our advancement in the divine life. If self is the obstacle, we shall lay it at the foot of the cross; if we have idols, we shall lay them aside, and worship only the true and living God. If our ways or plans conflict in any way with the spirit of this work, we shall at once lay them on the altar, and retain in their place the sacrifice of God,—“A broken and a contrite spirit,” which will not be despised.

The leading question of our minds should be, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” and if we are living as it is the privilege of every true child of God to live, we can prevail with him in prayer, and know his will concerning us. And when duty is made known, we should stand like minute men, ready to act in the fear and counsel of God. Although the part assigned us may at times seem humble and small, yet we may fill it to divine acceptance. We should remember that it is a condescension on the part of God, and an exalted privilege to us, that we are permitted to bear any part in the work of God.

Truly I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickedness; and though in the past I have sometimes grieved the tender Spirit of God, and brought upon myself barrenness of soul, I can to-day truthfully say that to make a success of the great work in which we are engaged is my highest ambition. I cannot find words to express the love I feel in my heart for Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, and the truths of the third angel’s message. Do we not all feel to praise the Lord for the good and timely instruction given us by his servants at our late Conference! And are we not fully determined to put in practice the things we profess to believe, and to seek to be baptized with that spirit of consecration which will enable us to walk as God shall lead the way, and to co-operate with those who are led by the Spirit of God?

Dear brethren and sisters, let us draw close to God and acquaint ourselves with him, and show to those around us by our words and acts that we are sincere in our profession of love and obedience.

Mrs. Wm. H. Brown.

Adams Center, N. Y.