Waiting and Working for Christ quotes

"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries

WAITING AND WORKING FOR CHRIST quotes

Is Christ soon to come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory? Is the end of all things at hand? If so, those who claim to be followers of Christ must work in proportion to their faith. Our part is not to wait in idle expectancy, but to act in accordance with our faith in the word of God. Vigilant waiting is to be combined with earnest watching. In view of the solemn events soon to take place, every soul who has been privileged to hear the truth is to work earnestly.

No one who is in Christ's service can rest content with doing nothing. The Christian life is not alone a life of waiting and meditation, not alone a life of prayer, but a life also of work. We are to wait, and watch, and work for Christ. Thus only can we attain to the full stature of men and women in Christ.

"We are laborers together with God," is the inspired declaration. While we search the Scriptures to learn God's plan, we are to strive to carry out that plan, praying for strength to do the work that God has given us. Not only are we to seek for strength from God, in order to know his will, but to do that will. As his earthly agents, we are to cooperate with divine intelligences in carrying out God's plan for the salvation of those for whom Christ has died. As we work under the Captain of our salvation, faithfully obeying his orders, our characters are developed. Through his merits we are enabled to work in harmony with God's great plan.

While we are to guard against all hurry and bustle that would lead us to neglect to form characters after the divine Pattern, we are also to heed the admonition, "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." We are to guard against the devices which lead to spiritual declension, that the day of the Lord may not come upon us as a thief. Those who merely profess to be Christians,--the subjective part of religion,--who do not do faithful service for Christ, will fail of obtaining that experience that will make them of value in God's sight. But those who realize the necessity of working for the Master, communicating to others the light and knowledge that he has given them, will be growing Christians. Waiting, praying, watching, and working, they are prepared to witness to the truth.

Heart-work reveals itself in actions. Those who appreciate truth and righteousness will show their zeal by their efforts to give the light to others. Those who are chosen vessels must reflect the character of Christ. Through these the grace of Christ from the river of the water of life flows in rich, pure streams, enabling them to bless all with whom they come in contact....

There is a work for all to do for the Master. Every human being who has a vital connection with Christ will earnestly strive to carry forward the work committed to him. But no selfishness can enter God's work. The most splendid service, if it originates with self, is useless. Unless the root is holy, no fruit can be borne to God's glory.

God calls upon every true worker to be an ambassador of love. The Lord is at the door, and all the manhood and womanhood of our spiritual being is to be called into activity. We are to be justified by faith and judged by works. God's law claims obedience from all, and condemns disobedience. All are tested and proved, to see if they will keep the law of the heavenly courts. At this time, when universal contempt is shown by the professed Christian world to the royal law of Jehovah, God's witnesses are to arise and show their loyalty by keeping his law. Their prayer will be, "It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law."...

All who stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel, working out his commands as loyal subjects, can claim the words: "Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. . . . Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning." Here it is definitely stated that it is the law given in Eden to which John refers, and that this law has binding claims upon all mankind.

We are not in a dreamland of inaction. We are soldiers of Christ, enlisted in the work of showing our loyalty to him who has redeemed us. What we are in the heavenly home, when saved, eternally saved, will be the reflection of what we now are in character and holy service. Shall we not show our loyalty by keeping God's commandments here, in this our place of probation? Shall we not raise the standard of loyalty to the God of heaven, irrespective of consequences, unheeding the reviling and hatred of the churches that have apostatized from the service of their Creator?

The Lord has a people on the earth, who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. He has his thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Such will stand with him on Mount Zion. But they must stand on this earth, girded with the whole armor, ready to engage in the work of saving those who are ready to perish. Heavenly angels conduct this search, and spiritual activity is demanded of all who believe present truth, that they may join the angels in their work.

We need not wait till we are translated to follow Christ. God's people may do this here below. We shall follow the Lamb of God in the courts above only if we follow him here. Following him in heaven depends on our keeping his commandments now. We are not to follow Christ fitfully or capriciously, only when it is for our advantage. We must choose to follow him. In daily life we must follow his example, as a flock trustfully follows its shepherd. We are to follow him by suffering for his sake, saying, at every step, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." His life practise must be our life practise. And as we thus seek to be like him, and to bring our wills into conformity to his will, we shall reveal him.

Are we following Christ with unswerving loyalty, keeping his life of perfect obedience, of purity and self-sacrifice, ever before us, that, by beholding, we may become changed into his image? Do we strive to imitate his fidelity? If we educate ourselves to say, Be thou my Pattern; if by the eye of faith we see him as a living Saviour, we shall be strengthened to follow him. Then with the undefiled we shall follow him in the future life. As eye and heart witnesses, we can bear testimony to his majesty; for by faith we have been with him in the holy mount. By Mrs. E.G. White. Review and Herald, April 12, 1898.


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Sermon Quotes WAITING AND WORKING FOR CHRIST quotes Is Christ soon to come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory? Is the end of all things at hand? If so, those who claim to be followers of Christ must work in proportion to their faith. Our part is not to wait in idle expectancy, but to act in accordance with our faith in the word of God. Vigilant waiting is to be combined with earnest watching. In view of the solemn events soon to take place, every soul who has been privileged to hear the truth is to work earnestly. No one who is in Christ's service can rest content with doing nothing. The Christian life is not alone a life of waiting and meditation, not alone a life of prayer, but a life also of work. We are to wait, and watch, and work for Christ. Thus only can we attain to the full stature of men and women in Christ. "We are laborers together with God," is the inspired declaration. While we search the Scriptures to learn God's plan, we are to strive to carry out that plan, praying for strength to do the work that God has given us. Not only are we to seek for strength from God, in order to know his will, but to do that will. As his earthly agents, we are to cooperate with divine intelligences in carrying out God's plan for the salvation of those for whom Christ has died. As we work under the Captain of our salvation, faithfully obeying his orders, our characters are developed. Through his merits we are enabled to work in harmony with God's great plan. While we are to guard against all hurry and bustle that would lead us to neglect to form characters after the divine Pattern, we are also to heed the admonition, "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." We are to guard against the devices which lead to spiritual declension, that the day of the Lord may not come upon us as a thief. Those who merely profess to be Christians,--the subjective part of religion,--who do not do faithful service for Christ, will fail of obtaining that experience that will make them of value in God's sight. But those who realize the necessity of working for the Master, communicating to others the light and knowledge that he has given them, will be growing Christians. Waiting, praying, watching, and working, they are prepared to witness to the truth. Heart-work reveals itself in actions. Those who appreciate truth and righteousness will show their zeal by their efforts to give the light to others. Those who are chosen vessels must reflect the character of Christ. Through these the grace of Christ from the river of the water of life flows in rich, pure streams, enabling them to bless all with whom they come in contact.... There is a work for all to do for the Master. Every human being who has a vital connection with Christ will earnestly strive to carry forward the work committed to him. But no selfishness can enter God's work. The most splendid service, if it originates with self, is useless. Unless the root is holy, no fruit can be borne to God's glory. God calls upon every true worker to be an ambassador of love. The Lord is at the door, and all the manhood and womanhood of our spiritual being is to be called into activity. We are to be justified by faith and judged by works. God's law claims obedience from all, and condemns disobedience. All are tested and proved, to see if they will keep the law of the heavenly courts. At this time, when universal contempt is shown by the professed Christian world to the royal law of Jehovah, God's witnesses are to arise and show their loyalty by keeping his law. Their prayer will be, "It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law."... All who stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel, working out his commands as loyal subjects, can claim the words: "Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. . . . Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning." Here it is definitely stated that it is the law given in Eden to which John refers, and that this law has binding claims upon all mankind. We are not in a dreamland of inaction. We are soldiers of Christ, enlisted in the work of showing our loyalty to him who has redeemed us. What we are in the heavenly home, when saved, eternally saved, will be the reflection of what we now are in character and holy service. Shall we not show our loyalty by keeping God's commandments here, in this our place of probation? Shall we not raise the standard of loyalty to the God of heaven, irrespective of consequences, unheeding the reviling and hatred of the churches that have apostatized from the service of their Creator? The Lord has a people on the earth, who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. He has his thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Such will stand with him on Mount Zion. But they must stand on this earth, girded with the whole armor, ready to engage in the work of saving those who are ready to perish. Heavenly angels conduct this search, and spiritual activity is demanded of all who believe present truth, that they may join the angels in their work. We need not wait till we are translated to follow Christ. God's people may do this here below. We shall follow the Lamb of God in the courts above only if we follow him here. Following him in heaven depends on our keeping his commandments now. We are not to follow Christ fitfully or capriciously, only when it is for our advantage. We must choose to follow him. In daily life we must follow his example, as a flock trustfully follows its shepherd. We are to follow him by suffering for his sake, saying, at every step, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." His life practise must be our life practise. And as we thus seek to be like him, and to bring our wills into conformity to his will, we shall reveal him. Are we following Christ with unswerving loyalty, keeping his life of perfect obedience, of purity and self-sacrifice, ever before us, that, by beholding, we may become changed into his image? Do we strive to imitate his fidelity? If we educate ourselves to say, Be thou my Pattern; if by the eye of faith we see him as a living Saviour, we shall be strengthened to follow him. Then with the undefiled we shall follow him in the future life. As eye and heart witnesses, we can bear testimony to his majesty; for by faith we have been with him in the holy mount. By Mrs. E.G. White. Review and Herald, April 12, 1898.