LABOR ONLY IN LOVE by J. S. M.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 23, 1879

LABOR ONLY IN LOVE.

By J. S. M.

A PORTION of Mr. Moody's experience has been going the rounds of the papers, in which he relates how he heard another preacher take the position that God loves sinners, and since that time his preaching has been from the same standpoint. Whatever Mr. Moody's preaching may be in other respects, in this thing he is certainly correct. While it is true that God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil,” it is equally true that he “so

loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

In performing missionary labor, love for the erring one should be the motive power, and our only object should be to see him ultimately saved in the everlasting kingdom. With such a power to prompt us and such an object in view, we shall sooner or later have success. We shall find but very few hearts so hard as to refuse to listen when they are once convinced that we are actually striving to secure their happiness. While it may sometimes be necessary to use great plainness of speech with regard to sinful practices, it should always be accompanied with the spirit of love for the sinner. J. S. M.