The Signs of the Times
March 10, 1898
True Service
A life of idleness and self-pleasing is not the life of a Christian, nor has it ever been. Christ was a worker, and He gives to all His followers a law of service, that they may promote the temporal and spiritual interests of their fellow-men. He presents to the world a higher conception of life than they have ever thought of. The true recognition of God's work is service. A life of obedience and service is not only the true life for man, it is the most distinguished and the noblest. By it man brings himself in connection with the light and life of the world, and in connection with his fellow-men. This makes the law of service the connecting link which binds men to God and to their fellow-men, and constitutes them laborers together with God, living to be good and to do good. ST March 10, 1898, par. 1
Christ was a successful worker with the common people. This was the class that always heard Him gladly. His heart was yearning to make souls happy. “Come unto Me,” He said, “all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, 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.” We have the record that on one occasion, after a day of ceaseless toil, our Redeemer lay fast asleep in a fisherman's boat. His exhausted human nature cried for rest and sleep. ST March 10, 1898, par. 2
What a lesson is this for the human beings who do nothing to bless others. Behold the Saviour! How pressing were the necessities that sought Him for relief! Teaching in the temple, healing the sick, explaining the Scriptures in the streets, by the wayside, in His retired walks,—the subjects so urgent left Him no time for repose; His sympathies were drawn out for the oppressed; He comforted the mourner; He brought hope to the hopeless; He healed the scars and bruises that sin had made. He “went about doing good.” ST March 10, 1898, par. 3
It is the prerogative of God to command; it is the duty of man to obey. Yet nothing is forced upon any soul. The honor of duty is conferred upon him as a son of God, an heir of heaven. He is to labor for God in disinterested, true-hearted, honorable service. And in obedience to all His commandments, a spirit of love for God is revealed. It was in this atmosphere that Christ lived and worked. ST March 10, 1898, par. 4
When those who profess Christ learn that they must put on Christ in words, in spirit, and actions, they will not be led to feebleness and inactivity, to self-love and self-pleasing. It becomes us as Christians to recognize clearly our duty toward God by taking up the responsibilities that bind us to our fellow-men by the strong links that the law of God has defined. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves, all our service merging itself into the life of Jesus Christ. The noble life which Christ has made it possible for us to live,—one of obedience and service,—will make us partakers of the divine nature. When we possess the inner strength of piety, which animated Jesus Christ, the experience of the great apostle will be ours. Then we can say, “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” That life will reveal that it is a part of Christ's life. Its possessor will wear Christ's yoke and lift His burdens. The transformation of the human character makes the yoke of Christ easy, and His burden light. ST March 10, 1898, par. 5
Every one may find something to do in saving souls and advancing the truth of God. It is because men are not more than half converted that the church is so lifeless. There are many who are, and have been all their lives, only half Christians. Their names are in the book of life, and if they will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, if they will respect the voice that says to them, “Seek ye My face,” and reply, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek,” they will see God with a clear, elevated, spiritual sense. The religious sentiment awakened in the heart will be recognized as the voice of God, and will be obeyed. ST March 10, 1898, par. 6
The fact that our names are registered in the church books will never make us Christians; it is in doing the Word that we become sons and daughters of God. Judas was chosen as one of Christ's disciples. Christ did not reject him because he was not perfect. He had power to heal the sick. But, notwithstanding the lessons of Christ, he failed to be converted daily, and to be an instrument sanctified and polished for the Master's use. He was subject to temptation. Satan found that the hereditary and natural tendencies of Judas could be used to dishonor the Master and imperil his own soul. ST March 10, 1898, par. 7
These things are not understood as they should be, and the result will be as it was in the case of Judas. Some will depart from the faith. Having a knowledge of the truth, while not sanctified by it, they will constantly work out wrong characters. And these really do more harm because of the knowledge of the truth which they have. They confederate with apostates, and betray sacred trusts. ST March 10, 1898, par. 8
God calls for the undivided interests of the men whom He has chosen. Only the pure in heart shall see God. This seeing God in a clear spiritual light is salvation to the soul of the believer. As soon as a soul decides to die to self, the new light begins, and grows stronger and stronger until he is able to endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. And as man sees God, he becomes fashioned in character after the divine similitude. His words, his spirit, his attitude, his actions in everything, testify to the clearness of his judgment. In proportion to his views of God will be his spiritual force of character; and the consecration to God of his life, his time, his powers, is the result. ST March 10, 1898, par. 9
All our powers belong to God. They are His by creation and by redemption. God has given to every one his measure of power, and He expects each to put it forth on the side of truth. The Christian is to stand with undivided interest on the Lord's side. Our every word and action should be a work for God. Then we shall manifest our faith in God and our confidence in man. ST March 10, 1898, par. 10
Mrs. E. G. White