God has done His part of the work for the salvation of men, and now He calls for the co-operation of the church. There are the blood of Christ, the word of truth, the Holy Spirit, on one hand, and there are the perishing souls on the other. Every follower of Christ has a part to act to bring men to accept the blessings heaven has provided. Let us closely examine ourselves and see if we have done this work. Let us question our motives and every action of our lives. Are there not many unpleasant pictures hanging in memory’s halls? Often have you needed the forgiveness of Jesus. You have been constantly dependent upon His compassion and love. Yet have you not failed to manifest toward others the spirit which Christ has exercised toward you? Have you felt a burden for the one whom you saw venturing into forbidden paths? Have you kindly admonished him? Have you wept for him and prayed with him and for him? Have you shown by words of tenderness and kindly acts that you love him and desire to save him? As you have associated with those who were faltering and staggering under the load of their own infirmities of disposition and faulty habits, have you left them to fight the battles alone when you might have given them help? Have you not passed these sorely tempted ones by on the other side while the world has stood ready to give them sympathy and to allure them into Satan’s nets? Have you not, like Cain, been ready to say: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” How must the great Head of the church regard the work of your life? How does He to whom every soul is precious, as the purchase of His blood, look upon your indifference to those who stray from the right path? Are you not afraid that He will leave you just as you leave them? Be sure that He who is the true Watchman of the Lord’s house has marked every neglect. {5T 610.2}

Hvad er vel mere værdigt til at optage sindet end genløsningens plan? Den er et emne, som er uudtømmeligt. Jesu kærlighed, den frelse, der ved hans uendelige kærlighed tilbydes det faldne menneske, hjertets hellighed, den dyrebare, frelsende sandhed for disse sidste dage, Kristi nåde - dette er emner, der kan oplive sjælen og få de rene af hjertet til at føle den glæde, som disciplene følte, da Jesus kom og vandrede sammen med dem, medens de gik til Emmaus. Den, som elsker Kristus, vil finde behag i denne hellige omgang og samle guddommelig styrke ved sådant samkvem; men den, som ingen smag har for den slags samtale og som synes bedst om sentimentalt pjank, er vandret langt bort fra Gud og er i færd med at blive ligesom død over for hellig og ædel tragten. Sådanne anser det sanselige, det jordiske, for at være himmelsk. Når samtalen er præget af det intetsigende og smager af en utilfreds higen efter menneskelig sympati og påskønnelse, har den sit udspring i en elskovssyg sentimentalisme og hverken ungdommen eller de gråhårede (601) mænd kan være trygge. Når Guds sandhed er et iboende princip i hjertet, vil den være som et levende kildevæld. Der kan blive gjort forsøg på at hæmme strømmen, men den vil vælde frem på et andet sted; den er der og kan ikke holdes tilbage. Sandheden i hjertet er et livsens kildespring, Den vederkvæger den trætte og betvinger slette tanker og ytringer.