Christian Service

Profession vs. Expression

Every important truth received into the heart must find expression in the life. It is in proportion to the reception of the love of Christ that men desire to proclaim its power to others; and the very act of proclaiming it, deepens and intensifies its value to their own souls.—The Review and Herald, February 19, 1889. ChS 94.4

Our faith should be prolific of good works; for faith without works is dead.—Testimonies for the Church 4:145. ChS 95.1

All who receive the gospel message into the heart will long to proclaim it. The heaven-born love of Christ must find expression.—Christ's Object Lessons, 125. ChS 95.2

We are to praise God by tangible service, by doing all in our power to advance the glory of His name.—Christ's Object Lessons, 300. ChS 95.3

Our faith at this time must not stop with an assent to, or belief in, the theory of the third angel's message. We must have the oil of the grace of Christ that will feed the lamp, and cause the light of life to shine forth, showing the way to those who are in darkness.—Testimonies for the Church 9:155. ChS 95.4

Your spiritual strength and blessing will be proportionate to the labor of love and the good works which you perform.—Testimonies for the Church 3:526. ChS 95.5

Very much more might be done for Christ if all who have the light of truth would practice the truth.—Testimonies for the Church 9:40. ChS 95.6

I was shown that as a people we are deficient. Our works are not in accordance with our faith. Our faith testifies that we are living under the proclamation of the most solemn and important message that was ever given to mortals. Yet in full view of this fact, our efforts, our zeal, our spirit of self-sacrifice, do not compare with the character of the work. We should awake from the dead, and Christ will give us life.—Testimonies for the Church 2:114. ChS 95.7

Go forth in faith, and proclaim the truth as if you believed it. Let those for whom you labor see that to you it is indeed a living reality.—Testimonies for the Church 9:42. ChS 95.8

A Christlike life is the most powerful argument that can be advanced in favor of Christianity.—Testimonies for the Church 9:21. ChS 95.9

There are many who profess the name of Christ whose hearts are not engaged in His service. They have simply arrayed themselves in a profession of godliness, and by this very act they have made greater their condemnation, and have become more deceptive and more successful agents of Satan in the ruin of souls.—The Review and Herald, March 27, 1888. ChS 95.10

Those who are watching for the Lord, are purifying their souls by obedience to the truth. With vigilant watching they combine earnest working. Because they know that the Lord is at the door, their zeal is quickened to co-operate with the divine intelligences in working for the salvation of souls. These are the faithful and wise servants who give to the Lord's household “their portion of meat in due season.” They are declaring the truth that is now specially applicable. As Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses each declared the truth for his time, so will Christ's servants now give the special warning for their generation.—The Desire of Ages, 634. ChS 96.1

Our standing before God depends, not upon the amount of light we have received, but upon the use we make of what we have. Thus even the heathen who choose the right as far as they can distinguish it, are in a more favorable condition than are those who have had great light, and profess to serve God, but who disregard the light, and by their daily life contradict their profession.—The Desire of Ages, 239. ChS 96.2

It is the privilege of every Christian, not only to look for, but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.—Christ's Object Lessons, 69. ChS 96.3

Christians should arouse themselves, and take up their neglected duties; for the salvation of their own souls depends upon their individual efforts.—The Review and Herald, August 23, 1881. ChS 96.4

True worship consists in working together with Christ. Prayers, exhortation, and talk are cheap fruits, which are frequently tied on; but fruits that are manifested in good works, in caring for the needy, the fatherless, and widows, are genuine fruits, and grow naturally upon a good tree.—The Review and Herald, August 16, 1881. ChS 96.5

Let the individual members of the church take up their appointed work of diffusing as well as receiving light. Not one is excusable in being an idler in the Lord's vineyard.—The Review and Herald, February 19, 1889. ChS 96.6

The doing principle is the fruit that Christ requires us to bear; doing deeds of benevolence, speaking kind words, and manifesting tender regard for the poor, the needy, the afflicted.—The Review and Herald, August 16, 1881. ChS 97.1

The Samaritan woman who talked with Jesus at Jacob's well had no sooner found the Saviour than she brought others to Him. She proved herself a more effective missionary than His own disciples. The disciples saw nothing in Samaria to indicate that it was an encouraging field. Their thoughts were fixed upon a great work to be done in the future. They did not see that right around them was a harvest to be gathered. But through the woman whom they despised a whole city full were brought to hear Jesus. She carried the light at once to her countrymen. This woman represents the working of a practical faith in Christ.—The Ministry of Healing, 102. ChS 97.2

Seventh-day Adventists are making progress, doubling their numbers, establishing missions, and unfurling the banner of truth in the dark places of the earth; and yet the work moves far more slowly than God would have it. [Why?] The members of the church are not individually aroused to put forth the earnest effort they are capable of making, and every branch of the work is crippled by the lack of fervent piety, and devoted, humble, God-fearing laborers. Where are the soldiers of the cross of Christ? Let the God-fearing, the honest, the single-hearted, who look steadfastly to the glory of God, prepare themselves for the battle against error. There are too many faint, cowardly hearts in this hour of spiritual conflict. O that out of weakness they may be made strong, and wax valiant in fight, and put to flight the armies of the aliens!—Historical Sketches, 290. ChS 97.3

It is a universal principle that whenever one refuses to use his God-given powers, these powers decay and perish. Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue.—The Acts of the Apostles, 206. ChS 97.4

Nothing will give bone and sinew to your piety like working to advance the cause you profess to love, instead of binding it.—Testimonies for the Church 4:236. ChS 98.1

Those who endeavor to maintain Christian life by passively accepting the blessings that come through the means of grace, and doing nothing for Christ, are simply trying to live by eating without working. And in the spiritual as in the natural world, this always results in degeneration and decay.—Steps to Christ, 80, 81. ChS 98.2