The Penn's Grove record., 1911-05-19

" SO
part. God does not expect those with
one talent to do what those with five
talents will accomplish. We are all
here for a purpose and If We will an
swer the purpose of our creation we
must give God our heart and make
a full and complete surrender to him.
for tout of the heart are the issues OF
life"
If we would have success in doing
personal work we must ourselves be
thoroughly converted. Jesus said to
Peter, when thou are converted,
strengthen thy brethren"
In doing personal work it is neces-
sary that we lay aside all sin and
worldliness and let God lead our way.
If we will not let him have his own
way, our power will be crippled n
men will be lost that we might have
been instrumental in saving.
We must have a working knowl-
edge of the Bible. For the word of
God is quick, and powerful, n
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit, and of the joints
and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the hear"
(Heb. 4:12). In Jer. 1929 we read.
"Is not my word like as a fire? saith
the Lord; and like a hammer that
breaketh the rock in pieces" 1t is
able to melt and break hearts. Oh,
Christian friends, how very essential
it Is to know the word of God. 1t is
the instrument upon which we must
rely in doing personal work.
We will be prayerful. We may be
free from sin and we may have the
Bible knowledge but, unless we are
closely connected with the power
house of God, all our efforts will be
vain.
Look to God for Guidance.
We must pray to God to lead us to
the right person to do personal work.
1t would not be wise to speak to
every one we meet. We must pray
to God to show us just what to say
to those to whom he leads us. Study
to show myself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth non be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth" (I Tim. 2:15). After all
when we have studied the blessed
word, we need Gods guiding hand at
all times.
We must pray God to gite power
to that which he has given us to do.
We need not only a message from God
but power from him to send the mes
sage home. Sometimes in doing per-
sonal work we reason and plead with
men and even give them the word Of
God, but they will not be moved.
Why? Soon we will see that we are
trying to save them in our strength
and as soon as we see the wrong and
look to God with a sincere and prayer
full heart asking him to take all self
away like the song" the work will be-
come light and we can expect good
results.
Last but not least, love is another
important part in doing personal
work. We may be a praying people,
and we may know the Bible, but IN
less we have a love for lost souls, our
work will not profit us anything.
"And though l bestow all my goods
to feed the poor, and give my body to
be burned, and have not charity. 1t
profteth me nothing. Charity suffer
eth long, and is kind; charity envieth
not; charity vaunteth not itself, Is
not pulled up.".Q Cor. 1873, ~. Paul's
desire was to help the. lost. There
was great heaviness and. increasing
pain in. his heart for them. If we
have a love for souls who we know
are on the downward road to ruin,
we will find opportunities to help
them. When we are constrained by
love we will not wait for some one
else to do 1t.
Opportunity Ever Present.
Perhaps a word or two will brighten
someone's life. 1t may take the clouds
alvey. 1t may bring an Indifferent one
to the Sabbath school. 1t may turn a
sinner to a saint. DO you love
Jesus? ?" are the words that fell from
the lips of a woman at the wash tub.
and it was the means of saving a soul
We may not feel the Importance of
personal work. Look at the vast
number of travelling statesmen in the
employ of business houses. Where
would their work be if it were not for
the personal effort they put forth.
And how much more necessary it is
to be a personal worker for the great
master who is all in all!-Gospel
| Herald.