呼吁团结
1、在恩典里成长的重要性
当我们从洛杉矶过来的时候，我想到了很多应该在这次会议上考虑的事情;但我没想到会是第一个发言的人。然而，我要说的是，我感谢主，我们有了这个美丽的地方。昨晚我在考虑这个：我们必须始终谨记，我们是在为时代和永恒而工作。{PH014 3.1}
在我们的洛杉矶会上，各理事会意见一致，给了我很大的鼓励;我们在洛马林达这里，我们必须努力去了解，不是我们彼此之间有多大的不同，而是我们能多接近上帝的道所劝告我们的完全统一。{PH014 3.2}
每当我看到洛马林达这里的建筑、田野和果园时，我都很感激我们有这个美丽的地方，感激我们控制的每一片土地。即使你们现在不明白，不久以后你们也会看到，得到那块地是必要的。你们现在可能觉得我们没有必要得到这么大的一片土地，但我蒙指示，我们在这里的工作必须广泛地、坚定团结地进行下去。为了使上帝的旨意能在这个地方实现，我们必须处于这样一种境地，能够理解上帝对我们的言行的喜悦，可以总是在帮助推进这项最重要的工作。(注：这是怀爱伦夫人1912年3月28日在洛马林达小礼拜堂向出席医疗福音传道学院年会的人讲的话。) 在夜间，我心中再次留下深刻印象，我们那时是藉着上帝天意的安排才得到了这个地方。此外，我们所做的扩张和拓展，以及今天工作的发展，都是上帝要我们做的。{PH014 3.3}
我们这班人不能停滞不前。工作必须随着我们的前进而增长。我们现在已经到了这样一个时刻，一些人会有激烈的行动，我们现在还不了解他们的行动。那么，在这样一个机遇不期而至，困难不断增加的时代，我们该如何开展工作呢?我们必须天天本着信心把自己的道路交给上帝，并且不断学习基督耶稣的样式。祂不会让我们在黑暗中行走，而会给我们圣灵的启迪。{PH014 4.1}
那些在我们的各机构和各部门圣工中负责的人，需要不断在基督门下学习。我们必须明白并且知道耶和华是工作的元首;尽管我们并不总是看出祂统治的权能。我们始终有特权知道祂在那里，并且确信，我们若是愿意与祂同工，祂就必与我们同工。然而要是一个人计划一件事，另一个人计划另一件事，每一个人都努力去领导，我们就会把事情弄得一团糟。我们若是愿意，就能避免这样的事。我们可以本着热爱和敬畏上帝的心，聪明地进行这项工作。我们若是愿意下定决心这么做，不计任何牺牲，我们若是耐心地操劳，就不会失败。{PH014 4.2}
今天早上雾气消散之后，我向窗外望去，看到机构前面的田地和果园，就为我们现在所拥有的这一切的土地而心存感激。我们不要把部分土地匆忙地卖给这个人和那个人;而要好好考虑我们可以卖给谁。要让每一个决定都在祷告和忠心地研究之后做出。我们需要培养祈祷的精神，以便我们所有的计划都本着敬畏上帝的心明智地得到制定。{PH014 5.1}
将要在洛马林达这里开展的工作是一项伟大的工作。为了成功地推进它，我们每一个人都必须与上帝处在正确的关系中，人人都努力在基督的门下学习。我们不应站在寻找某种机会使彼此不同之人的立场上。我们不应怀有意见分歧并将之摆在最前面;而要追求一心、一意、一灵，因为有一位是元首，祂的品格才是我们应当在我们的工作和彼此交往中表现出来的。{PH014 5.2}
我上次在这里的时候，得以在异象中看到我们这班人应该成为什么样子的。我们应该完全和谐一致地作工，不应设法与我们的同工尽量不同，也不要在某件小事上确保领导地位;而要努力学习如何团结一致。工人们已经从许多不同的机构来到这里，有不同的计划和工作方法，但谁也不应努力引进新奇的东西、其他人都没有想过或不赞同的东西。让我们宁愿努力达成和谐一致吧，以便上帝的福气可以停留在我们身上。我们应该知道和明白主耶稣是我们的统治者，我们若是竭力追求认识耶和华，就必知道祂出现确如晨光。上帝的义和平安必赐给凡愿意竭力追求认识耶和华的人。{PH014 5.3}
我的弟兄姐妹们，要和谐，要和谐。要使你们的意念与上帝有正确的关系，你们的意念成圣时，就会得到精练。只能这样，因为上帝之灵的精练影响在你们身上。我们应该明白和感激上帝已为我们行了大事。祂已对我们表现出如此强烈的关心，如此奇妙地为我们行了事，以致我们不可能完全理解祂的良善和祂的恩典。祂“爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生”(约3:16)。{PH014 6.1}
有时，我看到弟兄们似乎没有仔细权衡他们的言行对周围之人的影响时，就非常担心他们会失手。我们必须谦卑地与上帝交谈。我们必须学会藉着对永生上帝的信心来克服困难。“使我们胜了世界的，就是我们的信心”(约壹5:4)。{PH014 6.2}
我们在这里，一大群工人，献身侍奉上帝。而当我听说这个人想要离开，因为某件事不适合他，另一个人也计划要走，因为他认为某件事出了问题时，我就想，可怜的人哪;是你必须改变。是你必须来跪在上帝面前，求祂圣灵的洗。我们大家所需要的就是一种会在测试和考验的日子站立得住的献身和信心。我们必须有理智和信心仰望上帝并且说：我们信赖祢，我们的救主;我们不会为了令仇者快而被迫离开工作岗位。我们需要的是对上帝的正确把握;我们若是有了这个，就会取得胜利。让我们请求祂把我们团结在一起，统一思想，理解祂的指导吧;于是祂就能奇妙地为我们行事了。于是我们就会看见上帝的救恩。{PH014 7.1}
我很欣慰今天在这里见到这么多我的弟兄们，——是我已经很久没有看见的弟兄们。耶和华必在这地方向祂的百姓显明自己，以便他们将宝贵的真理传达给世界各地。但愿我们谨记，信心导致品格的完全。我想处在那个位置，在那里我能听到我的救主对我说的话。让我们各人都尽力保持我们的意念停留在上帝身上，并且试试主会不会在每一步都赐给我们智慧吧。{PH014 7.2}
我要对聚集在这里的传道人说，让每个福音传道人都毫无保留地把自己奉献给上帝的工作，聪明地、耐心地、用不倦地精力操劳吧。要持定真理，如同持定隐藏的珍宝，并且不断前进。你前进的时候，就会发现你并不孤单。你有主的同在，祂说过：“我就与你们同在，直到世界的末了”(太28:20)。{PH014 8.1}
PH014 - Appeals for Unity
【Growth in Grace Essential】
As we were coming from Los Angeles, I thought of many things that should be considered at this meeting; but I did not expect to be the one to speak first. This I say, however, I thank the Lord that we have this beautiful place. Last night I was considering this: We must always keep in mind that we are doing a work for time and for eternity.?{PH014 3.1}[1]
In our Los Angeles meeting there was a unity of sentiment in the councils that gives me great encouragement; and here at Loma Linda, we must strive to see, not how much we can differ from one another, but how closely we can come into the perfect unity of which the Word of God advises us.?{PH014 3.2}[2]
Whenever I look at the buildings, the fields, and the orchards here at Loma Linda, I am thankful that we have this beautiful place, thankful for every foot of land that we control. By and by you will see, if you do not understand it now, that the securing of the land was essential. It may not appear to you now that it was necessary for us to secure so large a tract, but I am instructed that our work here must be carried forward on broad lines and in solid unity. That the will of the Lord may be done in this place, we must be in a position where we can understand His pleasure in regard to?Note. Remarks by Mrs. E. G. White to those assembled at the annual meeting of the college of Medical Evangelists, Loma Linda Chapel, March 28, 1912.?our words and actions, where we may be always helping forward that work which is most essential. During the night it was again impressed upon my mind that it was through the providence of God we obtained this place when we did. Also that the branching out and enlarging that we have done, and the development of the work as it stands today, is what the Lord would have us do.?{PH014 3.3}[3]
As a people we can not stand still. The work must grow as we move forward. We have now come to a time when there will be intensity of action on the part of some whose movements we do not now understand. How then shall we carry the work at such a time, when opportunities for advancement come unexpectedly and difficulties are constantly increasing? We must daily commit our ways to God in faith, and be learning continually of Christ Jesus. He will not leave us to walk in darkness, but will give us the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.?{PH014 4.1}[4]
Those who are bearing responsibilities in our institutions and in various branches of the Lord’s work, need to be constant learners in the school of Christ. We must understand and know that the Lord is at the head of the work, although we do not always discern His overruling power. At all times it is our privilege to know that He is there, and to have the assurance that He will work with us if we will work with Him. But if one plans one thing, and another plans another thing, and each endeavors to lead, we shall get things into?confusion. We may avoid this if we will. We may carry the work intelligently, in the love and fear of God. If we will make up our minds to do this at any sacrifice, if we labor patiently, we shall not fail.?{PH014 4.2}[5]
As I looked out of the window this morning after the fog had lifted, and saw the fields and the orchards in front of the institution, I felt thankful for all the land that is now in our possession. We are not to sell portions hastily to this one and to that one; but we are to consider well who it is that we may sell to. Let every decision be made after prayer and faithful study. We need to cultivate the spirit of prayer, that all our plans may be laid wisely and in the fear of God.?{PH014 5.1}[6]
The work to be carried on here at Loma Linda is a great work. To carry it forward successfully every one of us must stand in right relation to God, all striving to be learners in the school of Christ. We are not to stand in the position of persons looking for some opportunity to differ from one another. We are not to cherish differences of opinion and keep them to the front; but we are to seek to be of one mind, one heart, one spirit; because there is One who stands at our head, and it is His character that we are to represent, in our labors and associations together.?{PH014 5.2}[7]
When I was here last, representations were given to me showing what we as a people ought to be. We are to labor in perfect harmony, not trying to be as different as possible from our?fellow-laborers, or to secure the leadership in some little matter, but striving to learn how to unify. The workers have come here from many different institutions, having different plans and methods of working, but no one is to put himself to the strain to bring in that which is new and odd, or something that nobody else has thought of or approves. Let us rather endeavor to come into harmony, that the blessing of God may rest upon us. We should know and understand that the Lord Jesus is our ruler. If we follow on to know the Lord, we shall know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. The righteousness and the peace of God will be given to all who will follow on to know the Lord.?{PH014 5.3}[8]
My brethren and sisters, harmonize, harmonize. Bring your minds into the right relation to God, and as your minds are sanctified, they will be refined. It cannot be otherwise, because the refining influence of the Spirit of God is upon you. It is for us to understand and appreciate that God has done great things for us. He has manifested such an intense interest in us, and worked so wonderfully in our behalf, that it is impossible for us to fully comprehend His goodness and His grace. He “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”?{PH014 6.1}[9]
Sometimes when I have seen brethren who do not appear to weigh carefully the influence of their words and actions upon those around them, I have?felt an intense fear that they would miss the mark. We must walk humbly with God. We must learn to overcome difficulties through faith in the living God. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”?{PH014 6.2}[10]
We are here, a large company of workers, consecrated to the service of God. And when I have heard that this one wants to leave because something does not suit him, and another plans to go because he thinks something is going wrong, I have thought, Poor souls; it is you who must change. It is you who must come upon your knees to God, asking for the baptism of His Spirit. What we all need is a consecration and a faith that will stand the day of test and trial. We must have intelligence, and confidence to look to God and say, ‘We trust Thee, Our Saviour; and we will not be driven from our post of duty in order to gratify the enemy of the work.’ What we need is a right hold on God; and if we have this, we shall come off victorious. Let us ask Him to bind us together in unity of mind, in an understanding of His guidance; and then He can work for us wonderfully. Then we shall see of the salvation of God.?{PH014 7.1}[11]
I am thankful to see so many of my brethren here today,—brethren whom I have not seen for a long time. The Lord will surely reveal Himself to His people in this place, that they may communicate the precious truth to all parts of the world. Let us bear in mind that it is faith that leads to perfection of character. I want to be in?that position where I can hear the words of my Saviour to me. Let us each endeavor to keep our minds stayed upon God, and prove the Lord whether He will not give us wisdom and guidance at every step.?{PH014 7.2}[12]
To the ministers assembled here I will say, Let every minister of the gospel give himself unreservedly to the work of God, laboring intelligently, patiently, and with unflagging energy. Hold fast to the truth as to hidden treasure, and advance constantly. As you advance you will find that you ‘are not alone. You have the companionship of Him who said, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”?{PH014 8.1}[13]
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