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The Individual

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 18, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 24.

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The Individual

By C. L. Taylor

By C. L. Taylor
It is a beautiful truth that God thinks of us individually. He knows us by name. Ex. 33:12. He knows each one who belongs to Him. 2 Tim. 2:19. His eyes scan the great field of earth, that He may find and help those whose hearts are perfect toward Him. 2 Chron. 16:9. His great heart reaches out in sympathy and succor to all mankind, but He saves only individual men. He takes "one of a city, and two of a family," and brings them to Zion. Jer. 3:14. He is "no respecter of persons." He loves all, and desires to save all; but only one here and one there respond. So it is verily true that "in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him." Acts 10:34, 35.

Let It Be God's Way Still

And when Jesus has found a willing heart, and the mighty work of grace has been begun, no one should attempt to modify or limit that work. To the poor, despondent, discouraged cripple, the word of faith, of love, of healing, of command, had come. His whole being had responded, and joyfully he bore his cot away from the scene of his suffering. And when the jealous, unbelieving teachers of Israel forbade him, saying, "It is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed," he could only reply, "He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk." John 5:10, 11. O, blessed individual help, healing, hope, obedience! Could the delivered have done less or more than obey his Deliverer? It was his divine right and divine duty to obey, whether or not his action met the approval of fellow churchmen or kin.
Like the healing in the wilderness, so with the healing of God's word. Each serpent-bitten man was obliged to look for himself. By his own will and choice, independent of and regardless of others, he directed his eye to the uplifted serpent, and directly to him, in response to his own faith, came the individual gift of life and joy and peace.