Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)

Lt 205, 1903

Brn-Srs. in Australia

“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California

September 14, 1903

Portions of this letter are published in UL 271.

My dear brethren and sisters in Australia,—

I read with the deepest interest the letters that come to me from you. My prayers often ascend to God in your behalf. I pray that you may be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” [1 Corinthians 15:58.] We are living amidst the closing scenes of this world’s history, and to us comes the warning, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” [1 Corinthians 16:13.] 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 1

I greatly desire that the Sanitarium shall be a means of much good. Those connected with that institution should be men and women of faith, men and women who feel that they are under obligation to heed and obey the words of the prayer that Christ offered for His disciples just before His crucifixion. They are not to give place to the devices that the enemy seeks to bring in to destroy the peace of the soul. We can be just what Christ prayed that we should be—one in Him. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 2

Read and re-read the prayer of Christ, until you know it by heart. This prayer was offered for you. Do not disregard it. Accept the gracious privilege of oneness that Jesus holds out to you. His prayer declares that we may have perfect wholeness. In Him we are complete; apart from Him we are deficient. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 3

We are to answer Christ’s prayer by being one with Him in God. This is so plainly specified that there is no need for us to misunderstand. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 4

“Sanctify them through Thy truth;” Christ prayed, “Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.” [John 17:17-20.] This takes in all who hear the Word and receive it into good and honest hearts. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 5

What is Christ’s request?—“That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” [Verse 21.] 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 6

By our unity we are to bear strong, indisputable evidence that Christ came to this world to save sinners. Satan works with all his ingenuity to prevent human beings from bearing this evidence. He wants them to develop an unsanctified individuality so that they shall not love one another. Too often professing Christians yield to him, and then the merest trifle causes a difference to spring up amongst them. Men and women professing godliness build walls of separation between them and their fellow workers, because not all think in exactly the same way or follow exactly the same methods. Those who stand apart, refusing to harmonize, dishonor God before the world. Christ prayed for unity. It is His will that His followers shall labor together in Christian fellowship. Shall it be thus, or shall we grieve Him by disunion and lack of harmony? 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 7

Let us respond to Christ’s invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy leaden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] To respond to this invitation, we must let go all self-importance, all feeling of superiority, and bow in submission to the will of God. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 8

“And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one; I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” [John 17:22, 23.] 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 9

What a wonderful change would be seen in our world if all would obey Christ’s words. He has united His interests with those of humanity, that men and women may receive from Him power to do His will. Those who through His grace become partakers of the divine nature receive the rich blessings that in the councils of heaven it was declared should be bestowed on those who believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 10

“Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee; but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” [Verses 24-26.] 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 11

“If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” [John 15:6.] 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 12

Why do not these words make men afraid to sin against God? There are many today who, though professing Christians, are not one with Christ. They are drifting hither and thither. May God pity them. Unless help from above reaches them, they will be lost, eternally lost. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 13

The members of our churches need to be converted, that they may understand what the love of Jesus means—the love that He revealed in His life of meekness and lowliness. Profession without practice is of no value in God’s sight. Position cannot gain for us salvation. Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of the greatest of earth’s kingdoms, but his greatness did not give him acceptance with God. In a moment his power was taken from him. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 14

“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” [Verses 7, 8.] Fruit-bearing, then, is the condition of discipleship. What is the fruit that is to be borne?—purity of character, unselfish deeds, Christlike words. Those who do not bear this fruit, those whose lives do not reveal the tenderness of Christ, are not accepted as representatives of God. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 15

In order for us to bear the fruit that glorifies God, our hearts must be filled with the love of Christ. We must learn of Him His meekness and lowliness. Then we shall not strive for self-exaltation. Those who retain their own unchristlike peculiarities are not sanctified through oneness with the Saviour. Self is so prominent that Christ is not seen. When men see more clearly the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice and condescension, they will better understand what is comprehended by oneness with Him. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 16

“As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love.” [Verse 9.] These words show that man has a part to act. He is to continue in Christ’s love, wearing His yoke, learning His meekness and lowliness. We are bidden to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, fearing lest we make a failure, and grieve the Spirit of God. But we are not left to work alone. The apostle adds, “It is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” [Philippians 2:13.] Divine and human effort are to be combined. If the human agent realizes that he is a laborer together with God, if he relies on the Lord to do that which he cannot do, the work will go forward successfully. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 17

“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” [John 15:10-12.] As Christ has loved us—this is the measurement of the love that we are to have for one another. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 18

A Christian is one whose heart is controlled by the Holy Spirit. The love of God pervades his soul. He desires to live, not to get glory for himself, not to serve himself, but to serve and glorify the One who gave His life for him. He may have business to attend to, but it is not unlawful business. And his business life is not separate from his religious life. His business is a part of his service to God. He worships God as verily when attending to this business as when offering prayer. Daniel and his fellows had important duties to perform in connection with the government of Babylon, but they were none the less in the service of God. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 19

Not all have the same office. God’s workers are given different duties to perform. Some are entrusted with the spiritual interests of His cause. Others are given lowlier duties. But all are in the service of the Lord, and His blessing rests upon every one who puts forth faithful effort. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 20

My dear fellow workers, whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might. Make your work pleasant with songs of praise. If you would have a clean record in the books of heaven, never fret or scold. Let your daily prayer be, “Lord, help me to do my best. Teach me how to do better work. Give me energy and cheerfulness. Help me to bring into my service the loving ministry of the Saviour.” 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 21

Look upon every duty, however humble, as sacred because it is part of God’s service. Do not allow anything to make you forgetful of God. Bring Christ into all that you do. Then your lives will be filled with brightness and thanksgiving. We need a deeper faith. To each one of us God has assigned a certain task. Let us do our best, moving forward cheerfully in the service of the Lord, with our hearts filled with His joy. 18LtMs, Lt 205, 1903, par. 22