The Review and Herald
May 31, 1906
A Call for Greater Consecration
All day yesterday a very heavy burden rested upon me, and last night I could not sleep after one o'clock. We seemed to be assembled in council meeting, where many things were being considered. The Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and I spoke very earnestly to those present. I will now endeavor to write out some of the things that have been burdening my mind. The Lord has preserved my life for some wise purpose, and has given me instruction upon many points regarding the past, present, and future history of Seventh-day Adventists. RH May 31, 1906, par. 1
We are now passing through a crisis. This is not an ordinary period in our history. We need now to understand the leadings of providence. None of us should take ourselves under our own supervision, to follow our own desires. In this important time, we are to seek diligently to know the way of the Lord, and be sure that we are following our divine Leader. God is our counselor, and we are to follow the light that he gives in his Word. RH May 31, 1906, par. 2
We see the conflict going on in Battle Creek, and we are to meet the situation in the right way. Every man and woman connected with the work of God is now, while manifold voices are heard, to ask for grace to discern the right way and to understand the Voice among voices. Christ says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Have we responded to his knock? Have we opened the door, and said, “Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without?” Are we desirous of the presence of the heavenly guest? Are we willing to be instructed as workers together with God, willing to be educated, trained, and disciplined in his way for his service? Are we willing to lay aside our individual preferences, in order to follow the Lord's way and do the Lord's will? Are we seated at his feet, as learners in his school? Do our lives express the desire, “Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” RH May 31, 1906, par. 3
I am instructed to speak to all our ministering brethren, saying, Have you in faith asked God for that consecration that will lead to self-denial and self-sacrifice? Many do not move in the confidence of a living assurance that Christ is pleading before the Father as our Intercessor. Christ has identified himself with our necessities, and is able to supply every peculiar need of our weakness. During his life on this earth, he took the attitude of a suppliant, an earnest petitioner, seeking at the hand of the Father a fresh supply of strength, that he might be invigorated and refreshed, and come forth with words of encouragement and lessons of consolation to impart to human beings. His words are to brace every soul for duty and strengthen every soul for trial. As Christ, in his humanity, sought strength from his Father, that he might be enabled to endure trial and temptation, so are we to do. We are to follow the example of the sinless Son of God. Daily we need help and grace and power from the Source of all power. We are to cast our helpless souls upon the One who is ready to help us in every time of need. Too often we forget the Lord. Self gives way to impulse, and we lose the victories that we should gain. RH May 31, 1906, par. 4
If we are overcome, let us not delay to repent, and to accept the pardon that will place us on vantage-ground. If we repent and believe, the cleansing power from God will be ours. His saving grace is freely offered. His pardon is given to all who will receive it. But the pride of unbelief often rises in the heart, and the sinner turns from the light, and loses the strength that God is so willing to bestow. If he continues in this course, his mind becomes full of criticism of others who do appreciate the light the Lord has given them. But will his criticism of others lessen the mistakes and errors that he in his self-sufficiency has committed? He is dissatisfied with himself, and every word that appears like a reflection on his course he resents. RH May 31, 1906, par. 5
God will always accept confession, if the evil that has been done is repented of. Our Heavenly Father makes the declaration, “As I live, ... I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked should turn from his way and live.” Over every sinner that repents, the angels of God rejoice with songs of joy. Not one sinner need be lost. Full and free is the gift of saving grace. Every one may have the salvation that the Lord Jesus will bestow abundantly on all who bring his love into their life-work. RH May 31, 1906, par. 6
“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” We are living in the day of preparation. We must obtain a full supply of grace from the divine storehouse. The Lord has made provision for every day's demand. RH May 31, 1906, par. 7
Ministers and physicians, in your work you are bearing weighty responsibilities. Let not your thoughts become cheap or common or selfish, for want of the grace of Christ. Our preparation for the home above must be wrought out in this life. The grace of Christ must be woven into every phase of the character. RH May 31, 1906, par. 8
I am to say to all who claim to be converted, Are your hearts truly changed, and are you watching unto prayer, preserving a thoughtful, consistent course of action, that you may have, not a semblance of religion, but the precious, genuine article? Ministers and physicians, when you accepted Christ, did you experience a deep sense of spiritual need? How much it means to you who are to be ministers of righteousness, to accept the heavenly gift of light and love and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. You are to be imbued with such love for Christ that you will yield to him your whole affections, surrendering your life to him who gave his life for you. Imbued with the love of Christ, you are to be constrained to perform acts of unselfish service until such acts become your life practise. Daily growth into the life of Christ creates in the soul a haven of peace; in such a life there is continual fruit-bearing. RH May 31, 1906, par. 9
Brethren and sisters, we need the reformation that all who are redeemed must have, through the cleansing of mind and heart from every taint of sin. In the lives of those who are ransomed by the blood of Christ self-sacrifice will constantly appear. Goodness and righteousness will be seen. The quiet, inward experience will make the life full of godliness, faith, meekness, patience. This is to be our daily experience. We are to form characters free from sin—characters made righteous in and by the grace of Christ. Thus we shall reveal pure and undefiled religion to a world that has not now in the midst of it a Saviour in human form, constantly manifesting his power to heal others’ woes. Much depends upon our individual course of action. We should each live in the world the life of a true Christian, that our words and acts may be such as to win souls to Christ. Our hearts are to be cleansed from all impurity in the blood shed to take away sin. RH May 31, 1906, par. 10
When ministers adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour, and when physicians reveal in words and works, and in their influence the healing grace of Christ, when the Saviour is revealed as the One altogether lovely, a great work will be done in behalf of other souls. God calls for truth in the inner sanctuary of the soul, that the whole being may be a representation of the life of Christ. RH May 31, 1906, par. 11
This matter has been thus presented to me over and over again, and I am instructed to write the same. It is now daylight, and I must take up other matters that have been presented to me in connection with that which I have written. I entreat my brethren and sisters who are ministers or physicians, to work out in their lives the precious principles of truth, that others may take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of him who is pure and holy and undefiled, without rebuke in a sinful and corrupt generation. Then many will be turned to the Lord through the earnest efforts made in their behalf by those who know the truth. RH May 31, 1906, par. 12
Loma Linda,
May 1, 1906.