Vol. 38, No. 18
Registered at the General Post
Sydney ? Monday, April 30 ’ 1 93 4 Office, Sydney, for transmission
by Post az a Newspaper:
What Sacrifice Means
UR God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall
O devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous
round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from
above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather
My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant
with Me by sacrifice.” Ps. 50:3-5.
‘Christ came to the earth to suffer and die, that,
through the exercise of faith in Him, and the appro-
priation of His merits, we might become labourers
together with God. It was the Saviour’s purpose that
after He ascended to heaven fo become man’s inter-
cessor, His followers should carry on the work that He
had begun. Shall the human agent show no special
interest in giving the light of the gospel message to those
who sit in darkness ? There are some who are willing
to go to the ends of the earth in order to carry the light
of truth to men, but God demands that every soul who
knows the truth shall seek to win others to the love of
the truth. If we are not willing to make special sacri-
fices in order to save souls that are ready to perish, how
can we be counted worthy to enter into the city of
God ?"— * Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 9, p. 103.
* We must be partakers of Christ's sufferings here, if
we would share in His glory hereafter. If we seek our
own interes, how we can best please ourselves, instead
of seeking to please God and advance His precious,
suffering cause, we shall dishonour God and the holy
cause we profess to love. We have but a little space of
time left in which to work for God. Nothing should be
too dear to sacrifice for the salvation of «the scattered
and torn flock of Jesus. Those who make a covenant with
God by sacrifice ow, will soon be gathered home to share
a rich reward, and possess the new kingdom forever and
ever,” — “Barly Writings,” p. 47.
These quotations from the Bible and the Spirit of
Prophecy surely set forth the privilege and duty of the
people of God at this time to do their utmost in giving to
God of their means. There is, however, a word of in-
struction of which we should be reminded in this con-
nection. It is found in * Early Writings,” pp: 266, 267,
and 1 is as follows:
“I saw that Satan bade his angels lay their snares
especially for those who were looking for Christ's second
appearing, and keeping all the commandments of God.
Satan told his angels, . ‘The sect of Sabbath-
keepers we hate; they are continually working against
us, and taking from us our subjects, to keep the hated
law of God. Go, make the possessors of lands and
money drunk with cares. If you can make them place
their affections upon these things, we shall have them
yet. They may profess what they please, only make
them care more for money than for the success of Christ's
kingdom or the spread of the truths we hate. Present
the world before them in the most attractive light, that
they may love and idolise it. We must keep in our
ranks all the means of which we can gain control. The
more meang the followers of Christ devote to His service,
the more will they injure our kingdom by geting our
subjects. . . . Present every plausible excuse to those
who have means, lest they hand it out. Control the
money matters if you can. . Make covetousness
and love of earthly treasures the ruling traits of theix
character. As long as these traits rule, salvation and
grace stand back. Crowd every attraction around them,
and they will be surely ours. And not only are we sure
of them, but their hateful influence will not be exercised
to lead others to heaven. When any shall attempt to
give, put within them a grudging disposition, that ib
may be sparingly.’’
This extract needs no explanation. If is perfectly
clear that the enemy is making every endeavour to cause
us to withhold our means. He knows full well thab God
is greatly blessing the money His people are giving.
Thousands of souls are being saved asa result of our
giving. How the enemy would gloat over His victory if
he could persuade us to give sparingly at a time when
real sacrifice is called for in order to almost double our
Week of Prayer offering for missions.
The Sacred Record is full of the spirit and record of
sacrifice. Abraham sacrificed his home, his kindred, and
his country. Later he withheld not his only son.
Moses ‘refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s
daughter ; choosing rather to suffer affliction . . . than
to enjoy the pleasures of sin; . . . esteeming the reproach
of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.”