Missionary Department by M. W.

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 24, 1875

Missionary Department.

By M. W.

“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Eccl. 11 : 6.

An Exalted Privilege.

Go, says our blessed Master, and preach the gospel to every creature. We find by reading the Acts of the Apostles that the primitive believers believed God, and trusted in his word. They proved themselves disciples of Christ by following the voice of the good Shepherd. They were devoted, self-sacrificing Christians. They exhibited the true missionary spirit. Their life record shows the deep anxiety manifested for perishing souls around them. There was no sacrifice too great for them to make, no burden too heavy to be borne for Christ's sake and for the sake of suffering humanity.

Although they did a noble work in their time, we have a more solemn work to perform in our day. A world is to be warned of the approaching judgments of God. The last message of mercy is to go with a loud cry to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. And as it appears to be in the order of God's providence to have this message delivered by man, how highly we ought to prize the privilege of being a co-laborer with Jesus in gathering sheaves for the heavenly garner. We are commanded in the word of God to work while it is day. Labor for that meat which perisheth not. And in one place we are called laborers together with God. 1 Cor. 3 : 9 Where is the Christian that would not avail himself of this exalted privilege of laboring in the vineyard of the Lord? But I am no preacher, says one. If I could, I would most cheerfully sound an alarm and wake the inhabitants of the earth, and show them their lost condition out of Christ and their need of a Saviour.

It is not neccessary to be preacher in order to be a worker. There are two ways in which things may be done; viz., actually and virtually. For instance, there is a house to be built. I am no mechanic, nor do I strike a stroke on the house; yet, by the blessing of God, I am enabled to furnish all the material, bear all the expense, and support all the mechanics while at work. Hence it will be said of me, and justly too, that I built the house, not actually but virtually. And so it is, dear friends in preaching the gospel. Though you may be no preacher, and even confined to a sick bed, yet by affording a part of all these secondary means which are neccessary in carrying forward the work connected with the third angel's message at home and abroad, we thus become the weak, though much-honored and happy instrument in the hands of Almighty God in preaching (that is virtually) the present truth. Oh! my brother and sister, what Christian should not exhult and praise the Lord for such a privilege.

M. W.