Acts 9:6, commentary and pictures

Trembling and astonished on the road to Damascus, the persecuting Saul submitted to Jesus as Lord and asked what he should do, and was answered to arise, go into the city, and wait to be told what he must do. In identifying Himself as the One being persecuted, Jesus showed that attack on His followers is attack on Himself, exposing zealous opposition done in ignorance as service of error rather than of God. Though Christ Himself convicts and subdues the sinner, He sends even such a chosen vessel to learn duty from the very church he had despised, thus giving authority to His organized church as His appointed channel of light and salvation. That surrendered inquiry is the continual morning prayer of every believer, laying self in helplessness at the cross to receive orders with prompt obedience whatever the sacrifice. The answer always brings a special appointed work that no one else can do, to be carried out in cooperation with Christ in winning souls and diffusing light.

Damascus Road Encounter

Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest men and women believers and punish them with imprisonment and death, entering houses to seize them as a zealous persecutor who had consented to the stoning of Stephen. He acted with the training and authority of one taught by Gamaliel, a rabbi, statesman and member of the Sanhedrin, zealous to suppress Christianity and exterminate the doctrine that Jesus was the Prince of Life. A light from heaven above the brightness and glory of the midday sun shone round about him, the glory felled him to the earth, he was struck blind, and he arose blind and was led by the hand into Damascus. The brightness arrested his mad yet honest career in order to make this most unpromising instrument a chosen vessel to bear the gospel to the Gentiles, and being converted he was called Paul and joined the disciples as one of the chief apostles. Jesus whom Saul most hated and despised revealed Himself to arrest him in his conscientious yet persevering persecution of the church, and Saul in trembling astonishment yielded and asked for direction and was commanded to arise and go into the city where it would be told him what he must do.

Jesus identified Himself as the One whom Saul was persecuting, showing that Saul's attack on Christ's followers was an attack on Christ Himself in the person of His saints and on his Master. Although Saul thought he was serving God, the encounter exposed his ignorance and error and that he was doing Satan's work. His companions heard but could not understand what was happening, while Saul understood Christ's words and saw the Son of God. With great zeal he had persecuted the saints while following the dictates of his own conscience, causing them to be cast into prison and put to death, and the revelation of Christ changed his character and conscience and gave him a terrible view of his wicked course against Christ. He then joined the people he had despised and hated, becoming one of the despised sect he had opposed and enduring the same cruel treatment he had once helped inflict and cooperated with others in giving.

With conscientious zeal Saul had believed that faith in Jesus repudiated the law of God, the religious service in sacrificial offerings and the rite of circumcision, that Jesus Himself had disregarded the law and taught His disciples it was now of no effect and made of none effect, and that it was his duty to strive with utmost power to exterminate the alarming doctrine that Jesus was the Prince of Life. The miraculous revelation brought light into the darkened chambers of his mind, showing that Jesus of Nazareth whom he was arrayed against is indeed the Redeemer of the world, and overcome by guilt he perceived his mistaken zeal. By the revelation and by instruction from the very disciples he had bitterly persecuted, he learned that Jesus whom in blindness he considered an impostor is indeed the Author and Finisher and foundation of the faith and of all the religion of God's chosen people from Adam's day, the vindicator of the truth and fulfiller of all prophecies. He learned that Christ was the originator and foundation of the entire Jewish system of sacrifices, that in the death of Christ type met antitype at the crucifixion, and that Christ came for the express purpose of vindicating His Father's law and fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of Israel's Redeemer. The revelation made plain the mission of the Saviour and gave full comprehension of the difference between a living faith and a dead formalism, so that Paul still claimed to be one of the children of Abraham and kept the Ten Commandments in letter and in spirit as faithfully as before, while knowing the typical ceremonies must soon altogether cease because what they shadowed had come to pass and the gospel shed new glory and significance upon the ancient rites.

Stephen's martyrdom had left a lasting testimony in Saul's memory and helped bring about his conversion and his turning to ask what he should do. Stephen's faith, steadfastness and constancy, godly appearance, glorified and radiant face and expression, and words remained in the witnesses' memories and testified to the truth he had proclaimed. His faithfulness and death left a deep and lasting impression on Saul, and Jesus chose Saul to preach His name, strengthen the disciples, and take Stephen's place in the work.

Saul entered Damascus in a state opposite to what he had expected, instead of honored and in control with plans to seize believers, blind and helpless and dependent on his companions to lead him. His plans had collapsed, and remorseful and fearful he was uncertain what the Lord would do with him.

The encounter proves there is an observer in heaven of all that people do, who works to preserve His people and to open the way before His disciples and before those who put their trust in Him. Saul's change was a case of genuine conversion by which the Lord led him to become a mighty apostle, and Christ who revealed Himself to Saul when Saul was foremost in persecuting believers still lives and is the same today in power as when He worked with the apostles.

Trembling Surrendered Question

Trembling and astonished, Saul recognized the One speaking to him as Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah, the Consolation and Redeemer of Israel, the Son of God, and in surrender he submitted himself to the Lord's direction asking what he should do. The Lord answered by directing him to arise and go into the city, to enter Damascus and wait there until it should be told him what he must do, and his change began with obedience to that direction. His persecution was stopped at that encounter and his conversion was marked by that submissive inquiry.

The revelation broke upon his soul as clear but terrible light, showing Christ as having come to earth in fulfillment of His mission, rejected, abused, condemned and crucified by those He came to save, and as risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. The same light convicted him that Stephen had been sacrificed by his consent and that many worthy saints had met death through his cruel persecution. The vision first filled him with terror in his stubborn unbelief, and then became a source of consolation and comfort as he saw the glory of the Jesus he had hated and whose followers he had persecuted. From that hour he was turned from persecutor into a sincere penitent and fervent believer, a new man called to proclaim the risen Saviour to Jews and Gentiles.

It is impossible for any man to stay the onward progress of Christ's truth, which will march on to triumph and victory. Every effort to stop it is as kicking against the pricks and only injures the opposer, so that the persecutor in the end suffers far more, even a thousandfold more, than those he persecuted, and his own heart condemns him for having kicked against the pricks.

Humbled like Isaiah by seeing the Lord, Saul saw his own unworthiness and sinfulness and no longer saw himself righteous. His thoughts, words and actions stood condemned by the far-reaching claims of the law to the thoughts and emotions of the heart, his supposed goodness was swept away, and he was filled with abhorrence of himself and his work and with bitter remorse for his zeal in persecuting God's people. Hopeless and helpless he cast himself on Jesus alone as the only One who could pardon him and clothe him with righteousness, giving up confidence in good works and seeking pardon and acceptance through the merits of the crucified and risen Christ. He received full and free forgiveness and assurance, arose a changed man having glimpsed the beauty of the divine character and divine love, made physically blind by that glory that he might receive spiritual sight, and beholding that love transformed him and awakened in him desire to free others from sin's burden and penalty and to make faithfulness to Christ and the exaltation of the cross the steady purpose of his life.

Command to Enter City

Trembling and astonished, Saul submitted to the Lord's direction and asked what he should do, and the answer was to arise and go into the city, to enter Damascus and wait there for further instruction about what he must do. He recognized the speaker as Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah, Consolation and Redeemer of Israel, and his surrender was followed by this command to rise, go and wait to be told his duty. His conversion began with obedience to that direction, and the encounter that stopped his persecution marked his change of course. The duty then appointed was to be taught through Christ's disciples, for Christ had revealed the truth and the church was appointed to guide the repentant sinner in the way of life.

Though Christ could easily have done all directly, He deliberately did not then tell Saul his assigned work, forgive his sins, heal his blindness from heaven, or teach him all lessons of truth personally. He sent him into the city to Damascus to learn the Christian faith understandingly from the very disciples he had bitterly persecuted and purposed to destroy. Christ Himself did the work no man could do in revealing truth, convicting, astonishing, confounding and wholly subduing, but left the remaining work of further knowledge of duty for His servants and agencies in His church. By answering Arise and go into the city, He pointed to His representatives on earth, placed Saul in connection with His appointed teachers, and thus gave authority and sanction to His organized church through which His power and mercies were to flow, so that conversion would not be an experience independent of the church recently organized.

Divine light and direction do not replace willing cooperation, for Saul was given definite work to carry out in obedience to God. He was to receive instruction and move understandingly, to be tested in fasting and prayer, to make confession to those whose destruction he had premeditated, to take the steps necessary in conversion, and to unite himself to the people he had despised. In uncertainty and humility he fasted and prayed for three days in Damascus, then received instruction through Ananias, and was made a learner of the disciples. Greater light would be useless if he refused to yield his will, for unless the human agent inclines the heart, arouses the will and cooperates by choosing to follow and acting on the direction given, even a thousandfold more light accomplishes nothing.

Christ and Organized Church

Christ Himself does the work no human can do, revealing truth, convicting of sin and guilt, astonishing and confounding, and wholly subduing the sinner with marvelous heavenly light unto penitence, while He leaves the remaining work of teaching duty and guiding the repentant sinner in the way of life to His organized and acknowledged church as His representative on earth, His appointed channel of light, communication and salvation. When the convicted sinner asks what he should do, Christ does not then tell him his assigned work directly even though He easily could, nor does He at once heal the blindness caused by the heavenly illumination, forgive sins from heaven, or personally impart all lessons of truth. Instead He answers with direction to arise and go into the city, to enter Damascus and wait there to be told what must be done, sending the penitent to learn the Christian faith understandingly from the very disciples he had bitterly persecuted and purposed to destroy, to be tested in fasting and prayer, to take the steps necessary in conversion, and to move not independently but in connection with His representatives.

Even though Saul was a learned teacher in Israel brought directly into Christ's presence as a chosen vessel for a most important work, with Christ standing directly before him in all power in heaven and on earth, Christ deliberately withheld full duty, arrested his course, convicted him, and placed him in connection with the church for direction rather than teaching him everything directly. By this answer Christ sanctions and gives authority to His organized church, respects His ordained means and ordinances and the agencies He has ordained, and makes the church an appointed channel of light and instruction through which His power and mercies flow. Christ is the foundation and source of truth while the church is the channel through which He communicates it, so religious experience and light are not sanctioned as independent of His recognized followers on earth, sinners are not responsible to Christ alone for light and experience, and those who boast of personal independence must come into closer relation to Christ through closer communion with His church.

Ananias, one of the people Saul had persecuted, acted in Christ's stead, in His name and by His authority, representing Christ and representing Christ's ministers appointed to act in His stead. In touching Saul's eyes that they might receive sight, in laying hands on him, and in praying in Christ's name that he might receive sight and the Holy Ghost, he showed the church to be the channel of communication for enlightenment and salvation which Christ respects though He is the Friend of sinners touched by their woe. Saul received instruction through Ananias after three days in uncertainty and humility spent in fasting and prayer at Damascus, being thus connected by Christ with His representatives.

The learned Saul had to become a learner of the disciples, to make confession to the men whose destruction he had premeditated, to join the people he had despised and persecuted, and to unite himself to the church recently organized on earth, so that his conversion would not be an experience independent of the church but dependent on union with and learning from those God ordained to teach. His duty was to be taught through Christ's disciples, with the very disciples he purposed to destroy becoming his instructors in the religion he had despised and persecuted. In this Christ placed the repentant sinner in connection with His representatives on earth for further knowledge of duty.

Without the converting power of God coming to the soul, unconverted men will use all their power against God's people as Saul did when unconverted and used by Satan in hunting up souls to be persecuted, and history is to be repeated. Yet even while still a persecutor before conversion, with bitter prejudice no greater than is still met in labor for souls, the heart can remain susceptible to divine impressions and can be reached, for God can work mightily to break down strong iron walls of prejudice. Therefore those who hate and persecute are to be met with doing good and prayer, which avoids much evil and accomplishes immeasurable good, while the worker is not to get in the way or hedge up his own way, is not to be too easily discouraged at difficulties or fiercest opposition, but is to be humble and teachable and molded by the Spirit, hidden in God, clinging to Christ, filled with melting love and pity and tenderness, ready to be counseled by more experienced brethren, going forth not in his own name but in the might and power of Israel's God, enduring hardness as a good soldier of the cross, asking what the Lord will have done and then carrying out the whole will of God exactly as specified and leaving results with God.

Conversion and Apostolic Commission

Paul was conscientiously serving according to his best light while in error, doing his work against Christians and sending men and women to prison and to death until the heavenly revelation arrested his mad yet honest career. He had with deep and strong conviction felt it his duty to exterminate the everywhere prevailing doctrine that Jesus was the Prince of Life, verily believing that faith in Jesus made of none effect the law of God, the religious service in sacrificial offerings, and the rite of circumcision which had in all past ages received the full sanction of God. His being strictly conscientious while persecuting the saints with great zeal according to the dictates of his own conscience does not make him guiltless once his cruel work is impressed upon him, for conscience must be enlightened before one can correctly discern spiritual things and it is not safe to always follow its dictates. A man's conscience is after the order of his faith, and his conscience did not condemn him until the revelation opened his eyes to behold his terrible mistake and to see that while he thought he was doing God's work he was persecuting Christ in the person of His saints and doing work against Christ. Belief of falsehood is destructive and man's destiny both in this life and the life to come depends on the character of his faith, so sincerity in false belief is dangerous and those in error need light flashed into the soul through human instrumentalities that they may be humbled, converted, and guided by the Spirit of truth to the best and highest good. Christians in every church who do not know the truth but live up to the best light they have, even while living in error worshipping an idol sabbath, are as conscientiously serving as Paul was, and they are to be won by devised methods and not by piling up condemnation against them.

In the light of the law he saw himself a sinner where he thought he had kept it zealously, no longer saw himself righteous but sinful, with his thoughts, words, and actions condemned by the law and his supposed goodness swept away. He died to sin, repented of his sins, forsook his former opposition to Christ, trusted Jesus Christ as his Saviour, cast himself hopeless and helpless on Jesus alone to pardon him and clothe him with righteousness, was baptized, and preached Jesus as earnestly and zealously as he once condemned Him. It was a hard struggle to give up his supposed righteousness as a proud Pharisee who thought himself justified by good works, but he yielded to the convictions of the Spirit as the far-reaching claims of the law took hold of his life to the thoughts and emotions of his heart, sought pardon and acceptance through the merits of the crucified and risen Christ rather than confidence in good works, and was changed to a humble suppliant whose tongue, once ready to blaspheme, became eloquent in praise. He exchanged Pharisaism for the gospel at the cost of popularity and honor, professed faith in Jesus, and expected his former friends would also recognize their error and believe. The same experience is required of those who despise the messages sent for salvation and use their capabilities to make the work of none effect; they must repent, confess with humility, and be forgiven, for unless they do they cannot be saved.

Forgiveness was open even to the worst opposers, for even those who taunted Christ upon the cross and abused Him in the judgment hall would have been forgiven if they had repented as Saul did. Even beneath hatred and contempt grace can rescue a soul, so that Saul though a determined enemy of the gospel became a devoted minister and may shine in the Redeemer's crown. Those who now stand in midnight darkness resisting and working against the truth in ignorance, not having rejected light and evidence, are precious in God's sight and can be won to Christ just as Saul was, and the very last work in the controversy may be the enlightening of such minds. Therefore every soul in darkness needs aid, every man is to be treated as honest, and no word is to be spoken and no deed is to be done that will confirm opposers in unbelief.

The persecutor became a disciple and the teacher a learner, turned from fierce opposition to submission, from opponent to defender, herald and witness that Jesus is the Son of God. His miraculous conversion by the miraculous power of God and by overwhelming evidence, not by impulse or fanaticism, convinced many that Jesus was the Son of God. When confronted he trembled and asked what was wanted of him, his mistaken persecution was arrested, his mind was opened to recognize Jesus as Messiah and Redeemer, and he became willing to obey as a chosen messenger. That conversion shaped all his after life and encouraged him in ministry, with assurance given at its start that he never forgot, giving him personal experience and personal knowledge so he could speak intelligently, a living abiding faith cultivated by a sense of Christ's presence in all his works, and strength received in prayer. As a faithful soldier he ever looked to his Captain for orders, and no piled-up obstacles could make him call the work impossible, because all things are possible to those who believe.

The heavenly voice commissioned him to proclaim the gospel of the risen Saviour whom he had seen and with whom he had spoken face to face, and he obeyed by bearing witness across Judea and beyond, calling people to repent and turn to God, strengthening the disciples, and taking Stephen's place in the work. The revelation made plain to his mind the mission of the Saviour and his own work in turning Jews and Gentiles from darkness and Satan's power to God for forgiveness after Israel's rejection, and the circumstances of his conversion prepared him to accept direction to preach to the Gentiles. From that hour he became a new man and was called to be an apostle by God's will, sent to proclaim the gospel to Jews and Gentiles and to bear testimony before kings and governors. Afterward he spent a period in solitude at Damascus and in Arabia studying the Scriptures with Christ as teacher and learning from God, laying aside prejudices and traditions to receive instruction from the Source of truth, seeking in study and prayer for assurance, pardon, and sustaining grace. Because God had so met him, Peter and James, then the only apostles in Jerusalem, could no longer hesitate or withstand God but gave the once fierce persecutor the right hand of fellowship, and he became as much beloved and respected as he had formerly been feared and avoided. He still claimed to be one of the children of Abraham and kept the Ten Commandments in letter and in spirit as faithfully as before, while knowing the typical ceremonies must soon altogether cease because what they shadowed had come to pass, and he bore lasting marks in his eyes and labored with his hands as a tentmaker proving labor not degrading.

His change illustrates the thorough conversion needed by ministers and all in order to be fitted for God's work. Truly converted and sanctified souls prove the reality of their convictions by prompt and perfect obedience, taking advanced steps as truth comes in clear distinct forms. They put no obstacles in their own way through hereditary or cultivated tendencies, keep nothing between themselves and the voice of God, stand alone depending on no man's judgment or woman's opinions, push aside all that would retard spiritual progress, and do not allow child, wife, friend, or dearest relative to stand between them and the blessings they seek. Men who with all their powers war against the law of God have carnal minds at enmity with God, not subject to His law, neither indeed can be, unless like Paul they are thoroughly converted.

Daily Prayer for Guidance

Saul's question is the daily, morning and continual prayer of surrender that every believer, worker and consecrated person must offer, asking for light, orders and duty with eyes off self. It lays self and all one has and is at the cross in helpless nothingness, confessing that nothing worth living for can be achieved alone while divine resources are at the command of all who so seek. It brings controversies and troubles to Christ in confidence to be shaped according to His will, entering into His will and purposes and coming into close and familiar acquaintance with Him. While God is working and all heaven is engaged in drawing men to Christ and repentance, human agents become channels of light cooperating with divine agencies by so asking, practicing self-denial, being stirred to earnest prayer, receiving grace and the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and then using personal ability and means to save perishing souls. It is the opposite of grieving the Holy Spirit with lukewarm religion that is neither cold nor hot, and it makes true Christians with devoted hearts constrained by love to make Christ known before an idolatrous worldly people and to honor Him by showing the marked contrast between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. It expresses humble willingness to receive direction attentively and reverently rather than acting carelessly, a choice to serve Christ with willingness to be cleansed of pride and selfishness and to receive and share His love and grace, and a readiness to follow His calling especially in medical missionary work.

True faith so asks ready to obey the path marked out whatever hardship or sacrifice follows. Receiving Christ as Captain means complete giving up of the human will to the divine will, leading to prompt and cheerful obedience to His commands without questioning, even when the command is stern and startling as the command to offer Isaac. It brings all activities and business arrangements into perfect accord with the Lord's commands and the laws of His kingdom, with zeal for the advancement of His kingdom marking faithful subjects of the cross whom God can trust as His representatives because they obey implicitly. It means continuing surrender when self battles for supremacy, being ready to understand the message when God calls to leave ordinary work as Elisha left his oxen at Elijah's call, and laboring to be approved unto God with the eye single to His glory, going forward from victory to victory under the working of the Holy Spirit. It is spoken while sitting at the feet of Jesus, eagerly drinking in His words and learning of Him instead of leaning on human understanding or conforming to worldly maxims and choosing work according to natural inclination or personal preference. So asking exchanges natural independence, self-confidence and strong self-will for a childlike submissive teachable spirit, blends Christ with all thoughts, feelings and affections and shows Him in the smallest details of daily service, puts the person in right relation to God recognizing Christ's authority to direct and His claim to unquestioning obedience, and in this way improves and beautifies disposition and character.

So asked, it means earnest self-examination and taking heed to self, studying earnestly to know duty and examining fitness for the work in humble dependence because what lies ahead is unknown, instead of handling sacred things in self-sufficient management of one's own case. It asks whether any precept is slighted, any command disobeyed, any untruthfulness, wrong habit, unlike spirit or secret excuse cherished, dealing honestly with one's own soul and with Him who bought us with a price, refusing to move without God, and continuing in prayer and supplication until the soul is fitted for the work and helped to do it. Inclination is no evidence of duty and must be severely tested, so everything must be taken to God in prayer with willingness to be led and guided, shown by close self-examination, counsel with experienced followers of God, and earnest prayer to know duty. It refuses choosing work according to personal preference or refusing work others believe should be undertaken, refuses striving to be placed in position while being careful about accepting a position of trust and unhasty in selecting men for important places, humbles self, studies His will instead of ease and inclination, and knows that making mistakes does not exclude from God's work. It calls all enlightened in the Scriptures to active and unreserved devotion to Christ's service, because Jesus bought them with a price and they are to live no longer to themselves but to Him who died for them, every human being receiving his appointed work from God and staying in the work He has appointed while He sustains in it.

Where Christ abides in the church and in the heart, each member will earnestly and constantly ask what work the Lord wants done, expressing individual responsibility under His presence, willingness to follow Him, to advance, and to accept new plans of action as the Holy Spirit moves. Where this is honestly asked, all quarrels, dissensions, discourteous words and selfish actions are repudiated, and believers yoke with the Saviour in meekness and lowliness to work in unity and love for the saving of sinners. Those who so love God supremely and neighbor as self and show love to God by pure love to fellow men are brought under motives that ennoble and elevate character far above mere impulse, are made more fit candidates for immortality and everlasting life, find it meat and drink to have every thought and action right, live for the good of others answering creation's purpose, and glorify God. So yielding needs power beyond self, watchfulness in prayer and God's protection against the enemy, and as servant submits to master the surrendered use abilities for God's glory, give up own plans to follow where Christ leads, yield understanding for Him to cleanse and refine and purify, enter His purpose and carry out His will in wholehearted obedience to every commandment, and are renewed into Christ's image, enlightened, strengthened, made holy, admitted to intimate acquaintance with Christ, promoted to trust, kept from entering temptation, and made channels of light to the world.

Failure to so ask after the most solemn Conference message left the experience unchanged, showing unimpressibility and destroying spiritual eyesight. Sincere asking would have made the experience of the past year very different, making the track clean behind, confessing mistakes, ceasing to go over the same ground and follow the same wrong course of action, and keeping spiritual eyesight. Failing to seek His direction and confess mistakes leaves people repeating wrong courses and spiritually blind.

It is the earnest question every follower of Christ should ask about what the Lord wants done, seeking His direction humbly and urgently through fasting, prayer, and careful meditation on His word, especially the scenes of judgment. The answer requires guidance from the Spirit of truth with humbling of self before God.

Active Service for Christ

The question is the language every heart should hold toward the Lord in asking what He wants done, and after Saul recognizes the Lord's authority he is given a definite task to rise, go into the city, and receive further instructions there, showing that God gives people work to do and calls them to obey the light received, since more light would be useless if they refused to act. Every person has a work to do for the Master no matter position or how limited capacities, with a special work marked out for each that none besides themselves can do, whether of the lowliest kind or calling forth the loftiest powers, received from God in present and eternal interest as a link in responsibility. Graces are developed and matured by exercise in that work, and with the truth burning in the soul no one can be idle, but should ask and then act wholeheartedly, taking up missionary work including giving some time to serve as the way opens after the first step. Done with single eye to the Redeemer's glory, illumined every moment from on high to glorify God in each action without letting thought of self dim life's radiance, this self-denying effort brings happiness even in this life that compensates for every effort, a joy so pure and deep that language cannot express it and only those who have experienced it can speak of it understandingly. Doing God's will means staying in the work He has appointed and letting Him sustain in it, seeking the Spirit's influence and relying on God for strength, with faithful performance of humble daily duties preparing for further service.

Those blessed with the treasures of truth must refuse indolence and become missionaries who cooperate with Christ at the head of the heavenly forces, yoking with Him and lifting His burden to carry truth where it is not known. Since Jesus bought the human race with His blood, no one may refuse the work God gives, but men, women, and children are all to use their influence in His service with a cheerful, willing heart, using temporal and spiritual blessings given for present and eternal good to become servants of God's love, imparting to others the grace received and acting as His helping hand. It forbids narrow, indolent, selfish, self-centered religion and requires loving the souls for whom Christ gave His life and revealing that love daily, arousing as earnest, energetic, persevering workers who take part in the great work of heaven's love in thankfulness for God's unspeakable gift, sharing the light, educating others, and exerting a Christlike influence, including going to missionary fields such as Australia. Every soul who diffuses the light to others will be brightened by increasing light, and God will have His witnesses even if professed Christians refuse; those who refuse harden their hearts, fall from first love, and fail to repent quickly will sustain loss, miss a precious experience, have their candlestick removed out of its place, see their light go out, and grow hard and selfish in contact with the world.

The same inquiry governs Sabbath school teachers, ministers, canvassers, workers, colporteurs, young people, and missionary workers to seek assignment with consecration. The Sabbath teacher must take heed to self, study earnestly to know duty and examine fitness for the work, in active and unreserved devotion because Jesus bought them with a price and they are to live no longer to themselves but to Him who died for them. Every minister is to ask Christ who suffered reproach, insult, and mockery for them for His assignment with consecration and fidelity, with willingness to be strong and quit like men, to be fervent in spirit, to endure hardness, opposition, reproach, and even death for Christ's sake, rejecting sloth, self-indulgence, carelessness, and half-heartedness, and so to make full proof of the ministry. The canvasser is to carry the prayer on his lips as he goes forth, walking with God and seeking heavenly wisdom to do only good, with an eye single to God's glory and desire to be approved by Him in all things, while laboring as in the light of God and in the presence of heavenly angels, keeping the claims of God ever before the mind and remembering account must be given for deeds done in the body, watching for souls with a true sense of the value of the soul, praying for wisdom to speak a word in season to those in need, continually elevating and purifying the soul through obedience to the truth, making the most of every opportunity to make known the riches of Christ's grace, staying alert to help seeking souls so work will not be fruitless. Every worker must humble the heart before God, carefully consider every plan, and wait not in a careless attitude but in an attentive, reverent attitude to hear and do duty, drawing nigh to God every day and every hour and keeping the spirit clean and fragrant, in the most critical period of earth's history when workers are greatly needed yet the work must not be cumbered with unfit helpers. The young are to honor and glorify God by helping those around them learn the plan of salvation and be won to Christ, preparing diligently, for no education is too high to become Christ's humble disciple.

It is the call for workers to serve in large cities through medical missionary and educational work, and the surrendered inquiry many should now make to learn appointed work from God and then do what He directs. It means volunteering as earnest, devoted, intelligent, capable workers to carry forward medical missionary and educational work with a representation of true medical missionary work in every large city. The divine answer is the Lord's purpose that His method of healing without drugs be brought into prominence in every large city through medical institutions. Those who respond by going forth in God's power to heal the sick are invested with holy dignity, are attended by divine power as true-hearted workers though Satan makes the work as difficult as possible, and are guided by the heavenly Father's hand to carry light farther into every place entrance can be gained and to improve every opportunity to extend God's work.

Standing in view of the cross of Calvary and realizing the matchless love and wonderful grace of the Son of the infinite God crucified, the price of redemption paid by His suffering in bearing sins in His body and by being delivered for offenses and raised for justification, every person should present self to God as His servant and all possessed back to God as His own, holding nothing selfishly, because every part of being is redeemed and everything owned is already His and owed to Him, to be used for His name's glory and for salvation of men, women, and children rather than for other purposes. It shows appreciation for God's sacrifice and great donation by consecration of being and possessions and by sending gifts and offerings with praise and thanksgiving for the salvation of souls. The Lord's answer already told is to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, making known the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ by personal service and by gifts, a life that reflects Christ's vigilance and example and speaks sincere words to help people living in darkness and sin, whose fruit is souls saved in the kingdom of God through gifts and service, bringing rejoicing for the privilege of doing it, with those who obey going forth preaching everywhere with the Lord working with them.

Asked with the eye single heavenward, it means drawing power from the Lord Jesus Christ, working for God and not for man, seeking His will with a heart melted by His love, with constantly increasing devotion, laying hold of His promises without complaint, and leaving the measurement of the work with Him, especially in winning souls who do not know the truth. It changes the heart's purpose, fixes thoughts on eternity, makes earthly things insignificant, weaves Bible religion into daily life, and governs whether in business, in choosing fields of labor, in waiting for a call, or in giving up business that endangers faith. When perplexed by opposition and tempted to stay back from duty to escape criticism, repeating the question in prayer brings an answer to trust the heavenly Father and wait patiently to know His will. Yielding with the simple trust of a little child rests on the promise that those who follow Christ shall not walk in darkness, and obeying the duty that then presses on the heart brings full assurance that all will be well, with prayer bringing the peace only Christ can give, joy in the love of the Saviour, and even loss of physical strength under His presence. Like Paul turned from fierce opposition to submission to Christ's direction, so Farel turned from hostility and religious traditions to faith in Jesus Christ. It becomes the burden of every prayer expressing entire consecration to Christ in response to His sacrifice and the heaven He has prepared, a daily prayer of gratitude and obedience arising from love for Christ and desire to glorify God, in which the Christian regards Christ's service as freedom and strives to live by God's commands rather than lowering their standard to fit personal shortcomings.