Encouragement Through Christian Fellowship
By J. S. Chaffee
BRO. SMITH : This morning while reading the letters in the Review, my heart was cheered, and I was made to feel that it is a duty and also a great privilege we have of speaking to each other in this way, while we are scattered here, and trying to make heaven our home at last. How cheering it is to hear from those who are striving to do God's will, who are hungering after holiness of heart and life, and are determined to keep themselves unspotted from the world. It is good to feel that we are in a state of entire submission to God, and have no will of our own, but simply desire that in all things the will of our heavenly Father be done. Then we are ready to do every duty in the love and in the fear of God, and that fear is a fear to offend. We want to live in that way that we can feel from day to day that our prayers are heard and answered; then we can have strong confidence, and know by experience that the promises of God are all sure and steadfast, that God is a rewarder of all those who diligently seek him. Brethren and sisters, we often pray that God would stand by us. He has said, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end.” He will not leave the honest hearted, unless they leave him first, and neglect to pay their vows. When we have once started in the cause of Christ, we want to keep marching on, and not turning back or halting now and then. The prize is at the end of the race. He says, Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life. O I would say, Glory to God for the way of life and salvation, and that it is so plain that we can run and not get weary, walk and not faint. I often hear brethren and sisters talking about trials, and I think if I should try I too might talk about them. Every heart knows its own sorrow, but amidst all our trials the grace of God is sufficient to buoy us up. If our trust is in God we shall be like Mt. Zion that cannot be moved, but abideth forever. I believe in growth in grace, and that unless we are going forward we are falling backward, because there is no standing-still place on the highway of holiness. O I love to be among the little flock who are striving to do God's holy will. Although we have to hear many things from those that have a name to live and are dead, our peace may yet be like a river, and our righteousness like the waves of the sea. And although we are brought into very trying places, remember the promise, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life,” and always think that it is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance. How thankful I am when I see the goodness of God to the children of men! I mean to be an overcomer. Yours striving for immortality and eternal life through Christ.
J. S. CHAFFEE.
Ordino, Wis.