The upbuilding of the kingdom of God is retarded or urged forward according to the unfaithfulness or fidelity of human agencies. Unfaithfulness to the cause of Christ makes manifest that love is lacking in the human agent. It was the love of Christ that constrained him to come and seek and save that which was lost. But the love of Christ does not seem to constrain those who profess his name; for a deathlike slumber is upon the human agents, and the work is hindered by failure of the human to cooperate with the divine. Men may pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," but fail in acting upon this prayer in their lives. The living Christian is one who has not left his first love, and his candlestick is not removed out of its place. But those who do not maintain their consecration to God are blind, and cannot see afar off, and have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins. But though you may be weak, erring, frail, sinful, and imperfect, the Lord holds out to you the offer of partnership with himself, inviting you to come under divine instruction. Uniting with Christ, you may work the works of God. "Without me," said Christ, "ye can do nothing."

Opbyggelsen af Guds rige forhales eller fremskønnes efter menneskeagenternes upålidelig eller flid. Upålidelighed mod Kristi sag gør det tydeligt at der mangler kærlighed hos menneskeagenten. Det er Kristi kærlighed som tvang ham til at komme og søge og frelse det fortabte. Men Kristi kærlighed virker ikke til at betvinge dem som bekender hans navn; for en dødslignende slummer er over menneskeagenterne, og værket forhindres af svigtende mennesker der ikke samarbejder med det guddommelige. Mennesker kan bede: ”Komme dit rige. Din vilje ske på jorden, som den sker i himlen,” men handler ikke på denne bøn i deres liv. Den levende kristen er en som har forladt sin første kærlighed, og hans lysestage fjernes ikke fra dens sted. Men dem som ikke fastholder deres helligelse til Gud, er blinde, og kan ikke så langt væk, og har glemt at de var renset for deres gamle synder. Men selvom du er svag, fejlende, skrøbelig, syndig og ufuldkommen, rækker Herren partnerskabets hånd frem til dig, indbyder dig til at komme under guddommelig belæring. Forenet med Kristus, må du gøre Guds gerninger. ”Uden mig,” sagde Kristus, ”kan i ingenting gøre.”