《每月传道读物》
1908年5月9日
1、对布道区的呼吁
我呼吁我们各处的弟兄们要醒起，把自己奉献给上帝，从祂那里寻求智慧。我呼吁我们各区会的职员们，要在我们众教会中做出认真的努力，要唤醒他们奉献财力供养国外的布道工作。外国布道委员会需要在这方面继续承担责任。你们的心若不因看到海外园地的情况而受到感动，就必限制把这最后怜悯的信息传给世界的工作，上帝希望要完成的工作也必无法完成。{MMR May 9, 1908, par. 1}
宽容时期最后的年月正在迅速结束。主的大日临近。我们现在当尽一切努力来唤醒我们的人。{MMR May 9, 1908, par. 2}
上帝需要人们对于正在沉睡、死在罪孽过犯中的世界发出警告的信息。祂需要那些心在圣工、有救灵的负担，愿人不至灭亡，反得永生之人献上乐意捐。撒但在拿人命当儿戏。他在寻求获得财力，使之被捆扎起来，不能用于推进传道事业。我们岂可对他的诡计一无所知吗?我们岂可让他麻痹我们的意识，以致看不出时代的需要吗? {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 3}
现在就是我们要听从上帝圣言的教训的时候。祂一切的命令都是为我们的益处赐下的，以便使人转离罪恶的生活而归向公义的生活。每个归服真理的人都应在当纳的十分之一和当献的供物上受教导，明白主的要求。当教会被建立起来时，就要果断地持守住这项工作。人们所享受的一切，是从主的大公司中领受的，而且祂喜悦自己的选民享受祂的财物;但所有站在以马内利大君之血染旌旗下的人，都签订了一份特别的合同，承认自己对上帝的依赖，以及自己有义务把一定份额的钱财当作祂的东西归还给祂的府库。这是要投入到布道工作中的，好完成上帝的儿子在离开之前所交付给祂门徒的使命：“天上地下的所有权柄都赐给我了。所以你们要去，使万民作我的门徒。” “你们往普天下去，传福音给凡受造的听。”“奉父子圣灵的名给他们施洗，凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了”(太28:18,19;可16:15;太28:20)。{MMR May 9, 1908, par. 4}
那些真心归主的人都已经蒙召，要从事一项需要金钱和献身的工作。我们记名在教会的名册上，就使我们负有责任，要竭尽自己所能的为上帝工作。祂要我们专心一意的服务，将心、灵、智、能完全奉献。基督之所以把我们引进教会，就是要使我们一切的才能可以全然贯注，专用在救灵的服务上。任何不及于此的就是反对圣工了。我们在宇宙中只有两处地方可以储存财宝——或在上帝的府库，或在撒但的府库。而且凡没有奉献为基督服务的，便都算是在撒但那一边的，去加强他的事业了。{MMR May 9, 1908, par. 5}
上帝已动了慈心。灵魂在祂眼中是极宝贵的。基督痛苦流泪是为这个世界;祂被钉十字架也是为这个世界。上帝赐下祂的独生子来拯救罪人，祂也切望我们去爱别人，像祂爱了我们一样。祂切望那些已经拥有大光的人将那光照在他们同胞的道路上。{MMR May 9, 1908, par. 6}
在天庭看来，一个灵魂是比全世界的财产、房屋、土地、金钱更宝贵。如果牺牲对于一个灵魂的得救是必要的，那么地上的居民就有责任卖掉他们的财产以便那个灵魂得到永生。为使一个人悔改归主，我们都应竭尽自己的一切资源。领一个人来归向基督，天庭的光辉就可在他的四周照耀，穿透道德的幽暗，并拯救许多别的人。这样，两千、五千、一万银子才会积累加倍。这并不夸张。既然基督撇下了九十九只羊，去寻找拯救那迷失的一只，我们若不如此尽力，怎能逃罪呢? {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 7}
如果有一个时候应当作出牺牲的话，现在就是了。凡是有钱的人，应该明了现在正是为上帝用钱的时候。不要将款项专用在为工作已经建妥的地方增添设备;不要在工作集中之处大兴土木，增加建筑;而要利用这些款项在新的地区设立多数的工作中枢。试为我们的国外布道区设想，他们有的甚至于还在为要获得一个立足之点而奋斗;甚至连最低的设备都没有。不要再在那百无一缺的地方增加设备了，而要在这些缺乏的地区将工作建立起来。主已一再地论到这事;凡藐视祂训诲的百姓，祂的福分必定轮不到他们身上。{MMR May 9, 1908, par. 8}
上帝呼吁祂的子民意识到他们的责任。上帝的道正发出灿烂的光辉，这对于那已经忽略的义务，应该引起一番觉悟来。何时人人都在十分之一和乐意捐上将属上帝之物归还给祂，履行了义务，门路就必敞开，叫世人听见主所计划要叫他们听见的信息。如果上帝子民的心全都充满了对基督的爱，如果每位信徒彻底浸染了自我牺牲的精神，如果大家都显出充分的热忱，则国内国外各布道区的经费，就不致感到缺乏。同时我们的资源就必增加;有成千的效用之门也必敞开，邀请我们进入。上帝的子民若在将怜悯的信息传与世人的事上，遵行了祂的旨意，则基督早就来到世上，圣徒们也必早被迎接进入上帝的城了。{MMR May 9, 1908, par. 9}
MONTHLY MISSIONARY READING
9-May-08
An Appeal for Missions
I appeal to our brethren everywhere to awake, to consecrate themselves to God, and to seek wisdom from him. I appeal to the officers of our conferences to make earnest efforts in our churches to arouse them to give of their means for sustaining foreign missions. The Foreign Mission Board needs to carry a continual responsibility in this line. Unless your hearts are touched as you see the situation in foreign fields, the last message of mercy to be given to the world will be restricted, and the work which God would have done will be left undone. {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 1}
The last days of probation are passing into eternity. The great day of the Lord is soon to open upon us. We should now use every ability we possess to arouse our people. {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 2}
God calls for men to give the message of warning to the world that is asleep, dead in trespasses and sins. He calls for free-will offerings from those whose hearts are in the work, who have a burden for souls, that they shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Satan is playing the game of life for the souls of men. He is seeking to secure means, that he may bind it up, so that it shall not be used to advance the missionary enterprises. Shall we be ignorant of his devices? Shall we allow him to stupefy our senses, so that we shall not discern the needs of this time? {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 3}
It is time for us to give heed to the teaching of the word of God. All his injunctions are given to do us good, to convert the soul from a life of sin to a life of righteousness. Every one who is converted to the truth should be instructed in regard to the Lord’s requirements for tithes and offerings. As churches are raised up, this work must be taken hold of decidedly. All that men enjoy they receive from the Lord’s great firm, and he is pleased to have his heritage enjoy his goods: but with all who stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel he has made a special contract that they show their dependence upon God and their accountability to him by returning to the treasury a certain portion of his own. This is to be invested in supporting the missionary work which must be done to fulfill the commission given by the Son of God just before he left his disciples: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.” “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 4}
Those who are truly converted are called to do a work which requires money and consecration. The obligation which binds us to place our names on the church roll holds us responsible to work to the utmost of our ability for God. He calls for undivided service, for the entire devotion of heart, soul, mind, and strength. Christ has brought us into church captivity, that he may engage and engross all our capabilities in devoted service for the salvation of others. Anything short of this is opposition to the work. There are only two places in the universe where we can deposit our treasures—in God’s storehouse or in Satan’s; and all that is not devoted to God’s service is counted on Satan’s side, and goes to strengthen his cause. {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 5}
The heart of God is moved. Souls are very precious in his sight. It was for this world that Christ wept in agony: for this world he was crucified. God gave his only begotten Son to save sinners, and he desires us to love others as he has loved us. He desires to see those who have had great light, flashing that light upon the pathway of their fellow-men. {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 6}
One soul is of more value to heaven than a world of property, houses, lands, money. If the sacrifice were essential for the salvation of one soul, it would be the duty of the inhabitants of the earth to sell their possessions in order to secure that soul for eternity. For the conversion of one soul we should tax our resources to the utmost. One soul won to Christ will flash heaven’s light all around him, penetrating the moral darkness, and saving other souls. Thus two, five, ten talents will accumulate and double. This is not exaggeration. If Christ left the ninety and nine, that he might seek and save the one lost sheep, shall we be justified in doing less? {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 7}
If there was ever a time when sacrifices should be made, it is now. Those who have means should understand that now is the time to use it for God. Let not means be absorbed in multiplying facilities where the work has already been established. Do not add building to building where many interests are now centered. Use the means to establish centers in new fields. Think of our missions in foreign countries! Some of them are struggling to gain even a foothold; they are destitute of even the most meager facilities. Instead of adding to facilities already abundant, build up the work in these destitute fields. Again and again the Lord has spoken regarding this. His blessing cannot attend his people in disregarding his instruction. {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 8}
God calls upon his people to awake to their responsibilities. A flood of light is shining from the word of God, and there must be an awakening to neglected obligations. When these are met, by giving back to God his own in tithes and offerings, the way will be opened for the world to hear the message the Lord designs it shall hear. If God’s people had the love of Christ in their heart, if every church member were thoroughly imbued with the spirit of self-sacrifice, if all manifested thorough earnestness, there would be no lack of funds for home and foreign missions; our resources would be multiplied; a thousand doors of usefulness would be opened, and we should be invited to enter. Had the purpose of God been carried out by his people in giving the message of mercy to the world, Christ would have come to the earth, and the saints would ere this have received their welcome into the city of God. {MMR May 9, 1908, par. 9}
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