“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” – Ezekiel 3:17
God calls His ministers to lift the standard of truth, to proclaim the last message of warning, not merely to a few select friends, but in regions where the truth has never entered. There are portions of the Lord’s vineyard which have been left to run waste, places where many should be at work. There are large communities in peril, because they are making void the law of God. But these are praying for light, and Christ is drawing them to Himself. If Christ’s followers would take up this work, and carry it on faithfully, they would understand that they are yoked up with Christ to plow the ground, to sow the seed, and to gather a precious harvest. And they would see results that would inspire them with hope and courage. (1)
We who are living in this age have greater light and privileges than were given to Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and other ancient worthies, and we are under correspondingly greater obligation to let our light shine to the world. God has made us the depositaries of his law. We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, and we are to follow in his footsteps, to represent him before the world. But are we faithful depositaries of the truth, correctly representing it amid the spiritual declension and moral corruption that now exist? Are we doing all that we might and should do to diffuse the precious light of truth? Brethren, you see the truth, you understand the claims of God’s law; you know that no willful transgressor will enter into life, and yet you see that law made void in the world. What is your duty? You are not to ask, “What is convenient for me? what is agreeable?” but, “What can I do to save souls?” (2)
There is a great work before us. The world is to be warned. This work calls for the exercise of all the talents that God has entrusted to our keeping. He has given us abilities that enable us to exert an influence on other minds. We have talents in the pen, the press, the voice, the purse, and the sanctified affections of the soul. All these talents are the Lord’s. He has lent them to us, and he holds us responsible for the use we make of them,—for the faithful discharge of our duty to the world. We may come very near to Jesus; we may commune with him, and having found rest and peace to our own souls, we may show forth to others the beauties of true holiness. (3)
Charge for the Day: Meditate upon the following, “What is your duty? You are not to ask, ‘What is convenient for me? what is agreeable?’ but, ‘What can I do to save souls?’”
1. Manuscript 64, 1894
2. Gospel Workers, p. 434