Jesus will not force open the door. You must open it yourselves and show that you desire His presence by giving Him a sincere welcome. If all had made thorough work in clearing away the world’s rubbish and preparing a place for Jesus, He would have entered and abode with you, and would have done a great work through you for the salvation of others. But notwithstanding you were unprepared for the work, it commenced among you in mighty power. Backsliders were reclaimed, sinners were converted, and the sound went out into the region round about. The community was stirred. Had the church come up to the help of the Lord, and had the way been fully opened for further labor, a work would have been accomplished in ----- and ----- and the region round about, such as you have never witnessed. But the minds of the brethren were not aroused, and they were in a great degree indifferent to the matter. Some who had ever been seeking their own interest could not think of having their minds drawn away from themselves on this occasion, even though the salvation of souls might be at stake. {2T 217.1}

Jesus vil ikke tvinge døren op. I må selv åbne den og vise at I ønsker hans nærværelse med en oprigtig velkomst. Hvis alle har gjort et gennemgribende arbejde med at rense verdens smuds væk og berede en plads for Jesus, ville han være kommet ind og blevet hos jer og ville have gjort et stort arbejde, gennem jer, for andres frelse. Men upåagtet dette var I ikke rede til arbejdet, det begyndte blandt jer med mægtig kraft. Frafaldne blev genvundet, syndere blev omvendte og det genlød i områderne omkring. Fællesskabet kom i bevægelse. Var menigheden kommet frem for at hjælpe Herren, var vejen åbnet helt op for det videre arbejde, ville et værk være udrettet i ___ og ___ og i områderne rundt omkring, som I aldrig har været vidne til. Men brødrenes sind blev ikke vækket op og de var i høj grad ligegyldige over for sagen. Nogle har altid forsøgt at tilgodese sig selv og har ikke kunne tænke sig at have deres tanker draget andre steder end sig selv, selvom sjæles frelse kunne være på spil.