1892年1月5日写于北菲茨罗伊
工人中间的团结与谦卑
上帝的管家们没有尽他们的本分。要是他们尽到了本分，工作就会远比今日进步。但我们工作的困难远比世界的救赎主不得不遭遇的小得多。我们应当感到自己是祂恩典的管家，受托管理我们主的货财。我们若是尽力而为，运用所委托给我们的能力，目的单单是为了从事我们主的工作和促进祂的荣耀，那么最小的才干，最卑微的服务，也可成为一种神圣的礼物，因祂自己功劳的馨香而得蒙悦纳。{PC 141.1}
我们有重大威猛的真理，而在介绍这些真理时，连最高的才能也有用武之地。但耶和华必藐视你不情愿的事奉。真理是重大的、永恒的，因为它出自主的口，祂就是真理和公义。而祂必不接受你们中间任何一个人半心半意、不情愿的事奉。你们如果不爱耶稣，你们若不将圣经真理接到自己心里，并以基督为你个人的救主，祂就必不接纳你毫无价值的牺牲或服务。{PC 141.2}
当那些从事主的工作的人显然在某些事情上犯了错误时，撒但是欢欣鼓舞的;他用他引诱人们去犯的罪嘲讽耶稣和上帝的天使。他提出这些错误所有令人沮丧的特征，给犯错的人穿上污秽的衣服。他作为控告弟兄者，以最恶劣的眼光提出这些错误和恶行，并将之摆列在那些会帮助他工作的人面前。于是爱抱怨的人和那些远离上帝的人就认为他们有理由固执已见，闷闷不乐了。他们没有看到地狱在夸胜，也没有看到他们若是意识到自己的责任，就会像忠心的精兵，力求挽回失败的耻辱，不是藉着离开队伍，而是藉着靠近队伍，向仇敌冲锋，免得上帝蒙羞，使祂的圣工变得衰弱。{PC 141.3}
工作最艰难的时候，正是考验每一位工人属灵力量和智慧的时候。当圣工的任何部门出现困难时——这是不可避免的事，因为战斗中的教会并不是胜利的教会——全天庭便关注那些被委以圣职的人会采取什么行动。{PC 141.4}
那些住在基督里的人会像他们的主一样，不灰心，也不丧胆。 “祂不灰心，也不丧胆，直到祂在地上设立公理;海岛都等候祂的训诲。创造诸天，铺张穹苍，将地和地所出的一并铺开，赐气息给地上的众人，又赐灵性给行在其上之人的上帝耶和华，祂如此说：我耶和华凭公义召你，必搀扶你的手，保守你，使你作众民的中保(中保：原文作约)，作外邦人的光”(赛42:4-6)。{PC 141.5}
主要求我们对祂有专心的情感。人如果不全心全意，他们在考验、审查和试炼的日子就会失败。当仇敌列阵攻击他们，战事似乎不利，需要聚精会神，全力以赴击退敌人时，那些半心半意的人会掉转武器攻击自己的战友，使坚强作战的手发软。上帝正在考验所有认识真理的人，看看他们在与执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的，以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战时是否可靠，在为上帝而作战。危险的时辰正摆在我们眼前;我们唯一的保障就是天天拥有上帝改变人心的能力，完全顺服祂，遵行祂的旨意并在祂的容颜之光中行走(见彼前2:9)。{PC 141.6}
如今我们正站在应许之地的边界。我们不要重蹈不忠心探子的覆辙。他们承认所侦察的地方是一块美地，但他们说那里的居民十分强壮，都是巨人，相比之下，他们在自己和那些人眼中犹如蝗虫般渺小。所有的困难都被渲染为不可克服的障碍。按照他们的说法，攻占那地是想法是愚蠢和冒昧的。他们就这样让全体会众都感染了他们的不信。百姓爆发出哀鸣，大声呼喊。但迦勒在摩西面前安抚百姓并说： “我们立刻上去得那地吧!我们足能得胜”(民13:30)!{PC 142.1}
这是信心的语言;但那些说灰心话的探子一意孤行，阻止以色列人按照上帝的话而行动。他们试图压低迦勒的声音，说：“我们不能上去攻击那民，因为他们比我们强壮”(民13:31)。他们夸大困难，直到全体会众因失望和恐惧而疯狂。百姓整夜哭泣，低声抱怨那些他们本应该信任的人。于是他们就在恼怒中责难上帝，希望自己早死在埃及或旷野;他们计划叛乱，提出要把上帝指定给他们他们的领袖推开。他们说：“我们不如立一个首领回埃及去吧!”那些不献身的、顽梗的、反叛的人能带给心在工作上的人何等大的忧伤啊!迦勒和约书亚对处在哀号和悲伤情绪中的会众说：“我们所窥探、经过之地是极美之地。”但百姓宁愿相信最坏的话;虽然迦勒的声音在喧嚷之中清晰可闻，他们却手中拿起石头，要打死带来真实见证的人。“忽然，耶和华的荣光在会幕中向以色列众人显现”(民14:10)。(见 民14:1-12){PC 142.2}
百姓心怀疑惑，相信不忠心探子的话时，以色列人绝好的机会就失去了。当地的居民奋起抵抗。由于以色列人可恶的不信和背叛，上帝预备为他们所作、以彰显祂伟大和悦纳祂子民的工作不能完成。{PC 142.3}
在这末后的日子里，当我们就要进入天上的迦南时，上帝的子民会不会放纵古代以色列人所表现的精神呢?那些充满怀疑、批评、埋怨的人，会撒下不信不忠的种子，获得丰富的收成。以色列人的历史，是为警戒我们生活在末世的人而写的(见 来3:7-14;来4:1,2)。{PC 142.4}
我们惟一的保障在于殷勤查考圣经。我们若是浪费了熟悉上帝圣言的宝贵机会，就在各个方面都是失败者。“圣经都是上帝所默示的，于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的，叫属上帝的人得以完全，预备行各样的善事”(提后3:16,17)。{PC 143.1}
怀爱伦(签名)
January 5, 1892North Fitzroy,
Unity and Humility Among the Workers
The stewards of God have not done their duty. If they had, the work would be far in advance of what it is today. But we labor under far less difficulty than the world’s Redeemer had to encounter. We should feel that we are stewards of His grace, trusted with our Masters goods. If we do our best, exercise our entrusted capabilities with the sole purpose of doing our Master’s work and promoting His glory, the smallest talent, the humblest service, may become a consecrated gift, made acceptable by the fragrance of His own merit.?{PC 141.1}
We have grant and mighty truths, and in presenting these truths to the world there is a field for the exercise of the highest capabilities. But the Lord will scorn your unwilling service. The truth is grand, eternal, because it proceeds from Him who is truth, and righteousness. And He will not accept the half-hearted, reluctant service of one of you. Unless you have a love for Jesus, unless you receive in your heart the Bible truth, and Christ as your personal Saviour, He will not accept your worthless sacrifice or your service.?{PC 141.2}
When it is evident that those who are engaged in the Lord’s work have made mistakes in some things, Satan is jubilant; he taunts Jesus and the angels of God with the sins he tempts men to commit. He presents these mistakes in all their discouraging features, clothing the erring ones with filthy garments. As the accuser of the brethren he presents these errors and wrong-doings in the worst light possible, and parades them before those who will help him in his work. Then the murmurers and those who are far from God think they have an excuse to be stubborn and sullen. They do not see that hell is triumphing, and that if they had a sense of their responsibility they would like faithful soldiers seek to retrieve the disgrace of defeat, not by leaving the ranks, but by closing up the ranks and pressing to the charge against the enemy, that God might not be dishonored and His cause languish.?{PC 141.3}
The time when the work goes the hardest is the very time to test the spiritual strength and wisdom of every worker. When difficulties arise in any branch of the cause, as they will, for the church militant is not the church triumphant, all heaven is watching to see what will be the course of those who are entrusted with sacred responsibilities.?{PC 141.4}
Like their Master, those who are abiding in Christ will not fail nor be discouraged. (See?Isaiah 42:4-6)?{PC 141.5}
The Lord requires our undivided affection. If men are not whole hearted, they will fail in the day of trial. When the enemy shall put his forces in array against them, and the battle seems to go hard, at the very time when all the strength of intellect, all the tact of wise-generalship, is needed to repulse the enemy, those who are half-hearted will turn their weapons against their own soldiers; they weaken the hands that should be strong for warfare. God is testing all?who have a knowledge of the truth to see if they can be depended on to fight the battles of the Lord when hard pressed by principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of the world and wicked spirits in high places. Perilous times are before us, and our only safety is in having the converting power of God every day, yielding ourselves fully to Him to do His will, and walk in the light of His countenance. (See?1 Peter 2:9)?{PC 141.6}
Now when we are just on the borders of the promised land, let none repeat the sin of the unfaithful spies. They acknowledged that the land they went up to see was a good land, but they declared that the inhabitants were strong, the giants were there, and they themselves were in comparison as grasshoppers in the sight of the people and in their own sight. All the difficulties were magnified into insurmountable obstacles. They made it appear as folly and presumption to think of going up to possess the land. Thus they leavened the whole congregation with their unbelief. The people broke forth into lamentations and loud outcries. But Caleb stilled them before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”?{PC 142.1}
This was the language of faith; but the men who had spoken discouragingly were not to be baffled in their attempts to prevent the people from going forward in doing the word of the Lord. They tried to cry down the voice of Caleb, saying, “We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” And they exaggerated the difficulties until all the congregation were crazed with discouragement and fear. The people wept all night, and murmured against the very men in whom they should have had confidence. Then in their exasperation they cast reflections upon God, wishing that they had died in Egypt or in the wilderness; they planned rebellion, proposing to thrust aside their God-appointed leaders. “Let us make a captain,” they said, “and let us return into Egypt.” What sorrow can be brought upon the ones whose hearts are in the work, by those who are unconsecrated, stubborn, and rebellious. Amid all the lamentations and bitterness of feeling, Caleb and Joshua spoke to the congregation, “The land which we passed through to search it is an exceeding good land.” (See?Numbers 14:8-10) but the people wished to believe the worst, and while the ringing voice of Caleb was heard above the tumult they stood with stones in their hands to batter down the men who bore the right testimony. Then “the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before the children of Israel. (See Nos. 14:1, 12)?{PC 142.2}
While the people were cherishing doubts, and believing the unfaithful spies, the golden opportunity for Israel passed by. The inhabitants of the land were aroused to make a determined resistance, and the work which the Lord had prepared to do, for them to manifest His greatness and His favor to His people could not be done because of their wicked unbelief and rebellion.?{PC 142.3}
Shall it be thus in these last days, just before we enter into the heavenly Canaan, that God’s people shall indulge the spirit that was revealed by ancient Israel? Men full of doubts?and criticisms and complaints can sow seeds of unbelief and distrust that will yield an abundant harvest. The history of Israel was written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (See?Hebrews 3:7-14) (Hebrews 4:1, 2)?{PC 142.4}
Our only safety is in a diligent searching of the Scriptures. If we waste our precious opportunities to become familiar with the word of God, we are losers in every respect. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”?{PC 143.1}
Ellen G. White -
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