“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” – Romans 12:2
These words [of Isaiah 58:12] outline our work. We are to repair the breach that has been made in the law of God, to exalt the downtrodden fourth commandment. We are to point out the right path, which has been lost sight of. A false sabbath has been exalted in the place of the Sabbath of Jehovah, and many have lost their bearings. By vigilance and faithfulness in following the true path, we are to direct them aright.
“If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.” [Isaiah 58:13,14.]
“Not finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.” [Isaiah 58:13.] Then whose words will you speak? The very words that Christ has given to comfort, to encourage, to bless, to lift up those that are bowed down. God has given you a mind, that you may speak words to help others. Do not feed it with trash. Do not injure it by the use of tobacco or alcohol. None of us have any too much mind, and we should do our utmost to improve that which we have. We cannot afford to allow the mind to be dominated by evil for one moment; for thus we might lose an opportunity to speak a word in season to some soul ready to perish. The responsibility of winning souls to Christ rests upon us, and we must work for their salvation. We are not to speak our own words, working for our own personal benefit; we are to study how best to relieve the suffering and the oppressed, how best to help the needy and distressed.
“Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.” [Verse 14.] He is your power, your health, your life, and your salvation. Trust in Him every moment. Pray to Him, and ask Him to keep you in your going out and your coming in. Ask Him to preserve your soul that it shall not be beguiled by the enemy. (1)
Charge for the Day: Consider these words from above, “God has given you a mind, that you may speak words to help others. Do not feed it with trash. Do not injure it by the use of tobacco or alcohol. None of us have any too much mind, and we should do our utmost to improve that which we have.” Take a big step this week in letting go of anything that may be standing in the way of what Christ is calling you to do and who He is calling you to be.
1. Manuscript 27, 1906