“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” — Matthew 24:45
The Lord has waited long for the missionary spirit to pervade the church, so that every one would work as in the sight of the hosts of heaven. “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” [Acts 1:8.] Determined effort to oppose the spread of the message will be aroused, but we are to remember that Jesus, who is our Example, did not fail, and was not discouraged. His method of labor must be our method of labor. He did not hesitate or sermonize, but He instructed men with authority, as a teacher sent from God. (1)
Because we do not know the exact hour of Christ’s coming, we are commanded to watch. “Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching.” Those who watch for the Lord’s return do not wait in idle expectancy. They purify their hearts by obedience to the truth. With vigilant watching they unite earnest working. Because they know that the Lord is at the door, their zeal is quickened to cooperate with divine intelligences in working for the salvation of souls. These are the faithful and wise servants, who give to the Lord’s household their portion of meat in due season. They are declaring the truth that is now specially applicable. As Enoch, Abraham, and Moses each declared the truth for his time, so will Christ’s servants now give the special warning for their generation. (2)
All that Christ has given me belongs to Him, and I will give it to His service. He has given me in trust all the qualifications I possess. I will improve them to His glory. Let us be earnest and persevering in our work for Christ, for the precious reward that Daniel saw in vision is to be given to those who are Christ’s. Why not take hold of this work understandingly? Cut loose from the things of earth, and let the attention be directed heavenward. Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price, even with the precious blood of the Son of God. And what are many of us doing for God? He calls you as servants to enlist in His army to work for Him, to fight manfully the battles of the Lord. You want to put all the ability and tact you possess into whatever department of this work you are engaged. (3)
Charge for the Day: Think and pray about the qualifications you possess. What can you do to improve them for God’s glory? How can you use them to be persevering in your work for Him?
1. Manuscript 51, 1894
2. The Review and Herald, November 13, 1913
3. Manuscript 79, 1886