The Missionary by George I. Butler

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 25, 1886

The Missionary.

By George I. Butler

Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ.

CHRIST was ever earnest; therefore the Spirit of Christ leads to earnestness. Christ was ever faithful to duty; therefore the Spirit of Christ will lead us to be faithful to duty. Christ was untiring in his efforts to accomplish the work his Father gave him to do; therefore, if we possess the Spirit of Christ, we shall labor in the same manner to accomplish the work that is given us to do.

Christ’s life was given for the salvation of the lost and perishing. If we have Christ’s Spirit, we shall labor to accomplish the same results. Christ regarded not ease, riches, or pleasure, and labored in weariness and sorrow, unheeding the ingratitude of those he came to save. He never allowed the tenderest ties of nature, the endearing influences of friendship, or the dangerous malice of his enemies, to interfere with the work he came to do. So, also, shall we act, if we possess the Spirit of Christ. That Spirit will always prompt us to do the same kind of works that it prompted him to do.

This view of the effects of the Spirit of God is sensible and consistent, while the popular idea of its influence is foolish and misleading. To shout, dance, roll on the ground, and act like fools and fanatics, as certain classes do who claim to be exercised by the Spirit, is to utterly misrepresent that blessed emissary of the court of Heaven, the Spirit of God. To imitate our Lord and Master in doing our work with the same spirit of faithfulness with which he did his, should now be the object of every one. Would to God we all might feel straightened and burdened with it, as he did with his work. It would take away from us our love of ease and pleasure, our jesting and joking, our chaff and nonsense, our love of the world and its vanities and trifles. It would sober us down, give weight to our talk and discourses, and put within us a new spirit.

We have a most solemn work committed to our hands, which admits of no trifling or delay. It requires the utmost devotion and consecration. What we need is consecration to the work until our greatest happiness will consist in doing the work God has given us to do. It was Christ’s meat to do the work his Father had given him to do. The word meat here signifies his food, that which sustained him, his chief object, desire, happiness, and joy. He could not be at rest, or at all contented, unless he was engaged in this—his business. It was his life and chief satisfaction.

Prompted by the fullness of love which filled his great heart, he went forth to his work, delighting to bring the hope of the gospel before the poor, sorrowing, desponding, sin-sick souls around him. He was pleased when he could reach down his arm of pity, and lift them up. This kind of work was happiness to him.

How different this kind of labor from that in which we are driven to our task by the stern whip of duty, working because we feel we must, or be lost, looking back all the time with longings, as the Israelites did, to the leeks and onions of Egypt, the perishable things of this poor world. O brethren and sisters, we all need a new baptism of the Spirit of Christ, filling our hearts with the real joy of laboring for God.

We need to listen attentively to the call, "Go labor in my vineyard." Not one of us will be excused. Labor we must, if we receive the reward at the end of the gospel day. A solemn, heart-searching work is committed to our hands. The last warning message is given us to proclaim. Its light must enlighten the earth. God has said it; and not a jot or tittle of his word can fail. If we do not help to do this work, others will be raised up, and they will take our crowns. Oh! those crowns of glory, with all the bliss and joy of an immortal life, beyond all care and pain, evermore to reign with our Saviour in his glory, and to see the precious souls our efforts have helped to save. How can we bear the thought of losing all this?

This work is the most solemn and important ever committed to mortal hands. It is our privilege to live in this most interesting and thrilling period of human history. The great truths of the closing message are committed to our hands. Shall we fail in our duty? May God forbid.

In such a work as this, so extensive and important, there is something for every one to do. All can be laborers, to do something to save others, besides working for their own individual salvation. G. I. BUTLER.