General Conference Bulletin, vol. 6

DEVOTIONAL MEETING

W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, I. H. Evans, C. M. Snow, T. E. Bowen

May 18, 6 A. M.

The early morning meeting was led by Elder G. B. Starr, of Australia, who spoke on the topic, “The Missionary Impulse.” GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.1

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3. GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.2

The darkness covering this earth is the darkness of misapprehension of God. Into this darkness is to be shed abroad the light of God’s glory—his goodness, mercy, and love. And this is to be done through human instrumentalities in whose lives “his glory shall be seen.” GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.3

In the sixty-first of Isaiah we find that “the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” “As the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth,” so God will cause his people to be in all the earth, everywhere, reflecting the image of the divine. GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.4

Too often we think of this reflection of God’s image as a new-earth condition, rather than as something to be seen today. Paul, in the eighth of Romans, points out the fact that the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon his people; and he further declares: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be among the firstborn among many brethren.” GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.5

There is indeed a family resemblance among God’s children. During the recent past, it has been my privilege to see many evidences confirming my belief that God is putting his family mark on the faces of his children in all parts of the world. After an absence of seventeen years and more from this country, I can see Jesus in the countenances of my brethren. GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.6

The knowledge that God loves us, is back of all the missionary effort in this world. Love for man impelled God to give his Son in our behalf; love for souls impels the missionary seeking to save that which is lost. GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.7

We say much regarding the Spirit of God, and this is well; but in all our study of the office-work of the Holy Spirit, let us remember that it is this agency that sheds abroad in the human heart love for God and for our fellow men, and impels us to advance into those regions where men have not been made acquainted with this wonderful love. GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.8

It is love that sends missionaries abroad to the ends of the earth; it is love that holds them there. GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.9

The speaker related many incidents illustrating the power of love in breaking down prejudice and in winning hearts. Especially touching was his reference to the favor shown one of our teachers in the islands, Miss Ella Boyd, because of her love for the people whom she desired to help. Isolated, as she was, in a lonely island in the Tongan group, where for a year she saw only once the face of a white person from the hour of her arrival to the close of her work, her love for souls proved a most powerful means of winning hearts to Jesus, as well as a sure personal protection in a strange land. GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.10

In closing, the speaker read three extracts. The first is taken from Dr. A. McLean’s recent work. “Where the Book Speaks.” GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.11

“The missionary enterprise has done far more for the church than the most enlightened know or even imagine. It has contributed to her vitality and energy and enterprise and devotion. It has filled her with the instinct of victory. As she has thought of her sons and daughters, her heroes and heroines, on the far-flung battle line; as she has read of or listened to their experiences, her own heart has been strangely warmed and strangely stirred. She has tightened her grip on the great truths of the gospel. She has attempted to live a more Christ-like life; she has summoned all her powers to do exploits in the name of the Lord. GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.12

“The missionary enterprise has created a new atmosphere in the church,—an atmosphere in which a higher and finer type of manhood and womanhood has been developed. It has saved the church from worldliness, from provincialism, from sectarianism, from selfishness, and many other evils. It has brought the membership into closer fellowship with Jesus Christ and into more cordial cooperation with him in all his efforts to save the whole world. Back of the missionary cause is the Old Testament and the New Testament; back of the Old Testament and the New Testament is the eternal purpose of God; and back of the eternal purpose of God, is the infinite love of God for every soul that bears his image. Because this cause is rooted in the love of God, it must succeed. “Heaven and earth may pass away, but his sure word of promise can not fail.” GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.13

An extract from the writings of Mrs. E. G. White, which as yet I have been unable to verify, reads thus:— GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.14

“The church will yet rise to the level of her Master’s teaching. She will rise to the height of sympathy with his incomparable love. Filled with the inspiration of plans that embrace the world, she will bow her head to the task, until, transfigured by the Spirit of the Lord, she will become again what she was at first—what she was always meant to be—mission and church in one.” GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.15

Well has one of the poets written:—“Make channels for thy streams of love, GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.16

Where broadly they may run; And love has overflowing streams GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.17

To fill them, every one. “For we must share, if we would keep GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.18

That good gift from above; Ceasing to share, we cease to have— GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.19

Such is the law of love.” GCB May 19, 1909, page 59.20