Let Us Take Time by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 15, 1914

Let Us Take Time

By F. M. W.

In this age of busy activity we seem to lack time for many little things which, after all, make up the sum total of Christian experience. In missing them we miss the sweetness of life here, and shall fail of the life of eternity beyond. Let us take time during the year 1914 for some of these smaller ministries.

Let us take time for Bible study. It is an excellent thing to read the Bible through by course beginning with each year. Three chapters every day and five chapters on the Sabbath will accomplish this in the course of twelve months. In addition, opportunity may be found for topical study, book study, and word study.

Let us take time for the reading of other books. With how much profit might every Seventh-day Adventist read anew "Early Writings," "Great Controversy," "Patriarchs and Prophets," "Desire of Ages," and many other excellent books to be found on every hand. Let us take time for a little systematic reading of history, science, etc., to broaden and freshen our general education.

Let us take time for family prayer. In some Seventh-day Adventist homes the family altar has been forsaken. Let us gather our family circle every day, and if possible, both morning and evening, hold a little Bible study, affording all opportunity to take part in the family devotions.

Let us take time for secret prayer. We may attend the family worship, but this is not enough. We should seek a private audience daily with our blessed Saviour. Here we may open to him our whole heart. We may tell him our every need. We may reveal to him our secret sins. In this communion we may find overcoming grace, new power for Christian living, and strength and courage and confidence for all life's experiences.

Let us take time to become acquainted with our families. Let us take time to live with our children, with our parents, with our brothers and sisters, with our life companion,—living and becoming acquainted with them in that blessed communion and Christian fellowship which should exist in every Christian home. There are many families in the world today, living under the same roof, associating together daily, whose members are strangers to one another. We may know each member by name, we may know the program of each life, but this is not enough. We need to bear one another's burdens. We need to come into helpful Christian touch and association with one another.

Let us take time to call on our friends. We need to cultivate the bond of sympathy and love between ourselves and our brethren and sisters. We need association with them, and they in turn need the personal touch which we can give.

Let us take time to become acquainted with our neighbors. We must not become self-centered. There is a great world outside our family circle, outside the loving fellowship with friends which we enjoy. On every side are those in need, hungry hearts longing for sympathy. Let us reach out and seek to bring to them the blessing which God has given to us.

Let us take time to speak kind words and manifest the little courtesies of life. These things require but little time. They do not tax our energies, and the consciousness that we have brought cheer to others' lives will bring to us joy and peace, which will prove an inspiration for difficult tasks. Dispensing good cheer and sunshine is the highest kind of missionary work for the Master. No joy is so great as that which comes from the knowledge that we have helped some poor soul in life's struggles, that we have brought comfort and encouragement to those who were depressed or discouraged.

Let us take time to give the good-by kiss to our loved ones. Manifestations of affection are sadly lacking in many homes today. Love may be there, but it is oftentimes covered up by a cold exterior, which even affection's eyes cannot pierce. The kiss and a kind word of appreciation for the aged mother or father, for the faithful, tired wife, for the perplexed husband as he goes out to the day's toil, for the careless, indifferent boy or girl, cost little, but they reveal much. In this uncertain life we know not what parting may prove final. Let us never leave home with unkind words or with any shadow of misunderstanding between us and others.

Above all, let us take time to become acquainted with our Saviour. He is our best and truest friend. He is ever near, inviting our thoughts, our love, our devotion. At work, on the street, while surrounded by a multitude, in the stillness of the night watches, on every occasion and under all conditions, we may talk to him and hear his messages to our souls. The closer our acquaintance with him, and the more we possess his blessed Spirit, the more fully shall we be able to exemplify his character in every one of life's relationships.

If we make our lives fruitful in these simple ministries, the year will mark development in us and blessing to those around us. It is in the homely duties of life, in the wear and tear of everyday experience, in the perplexities and trials and little difficulties which arise in the home, where the real test of personal Christianity comes. Let us take time to be Christians in fact as well as in theory during the year 1914.

F. M. W.