Called To Be Cheerful
Mrs. Ellen G. White
Matthew 9:2 (NKJV) 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
Lt 179, 1902
Bollman, C. P.
Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California
November 19, 1902
Dear Brother Bollman,—
I have a deep interest in you. I recognize the fact that you have capabilities which, if sanctified, would enable you to be a laborer together with God. But at the present time you are not this kind of a laborer. {Lt179-1902.1}
You need to realize that you cannot be a complete whole. There are responsibilities that others must carry. There are others whose qualifications are fully as essential as your own to the progress of the work. Every worker needs to guard himself against thinking that he is a complete whole. My brother, you should learn that wherever you are in God’s service, other minds besides yours should be brought into connection with the work. You will desire to do things that in your judgment should be done. But your will is not always to be followed. On some lines other minds may be more capable of giving wise counsel than is yours; therefore you need to counsel with your brethren. In your board meetings let the other members fully express their minds. Do not regard your own judgment as fully sufficient to decide matters without any other voice. {Lt179-1902.2}
There is one talent in which you are greatly deficient—the talent of soul-saving. Of all sciences, the highest and the most essential is the science of soul-saving. It embraces very much. In your position of trust you need to learn more, concerning this science; for you need to exert a molding influence over every one with whom you have anything to do. But in order to do justice to this work, you must first learn of Christ. {Lt179-1902.3}
My dear brother, I have a message to bear to you. Less of self and more of Christ would make you much more useful. You need not keep yourself within yourself, as an entity distinct from your brethren. Their various talents are not yours; but the talent that is of greatest value with God is the talent of soul-saving, and this all need to obtain.{Lt179-1902.4}
The Lord would have you become a much more humble man, that He may converse with you. Unless in some respects you change, there will alway be difficulty. To every man God has given a work, and He requires him to do this work in the best way. My brother, your case has been opened before me, and I have been instructed to say that you need the milk of human kindness and the tender Spirit of Christ. You need to be converted through and through, else you will daily meet with great loss. {Lt179-1902.5}
The resurrection of Christ is the life of the church. When we see a man or a woman whose heart the Saviour cannot make tender and sympathetic, we all need to cherish the love of Christ in the soul, in order that through our lives He may reveal His unutterable tenderness, gentleness, and sympathy. The Lord Jesus is ever prepared to irradiate with the glory of His presence every heart that will open to let Him in. {Lt179-1902.6}
I speak to all who have any part to act in the work of the Nashville publishing house: Be converted. When you are converted, your tongue and your lips will be used to the glory of God. The value of the talent of speech will be fully recognized. Those in Nashville who desire to sit in heavenly places with Christ must be soundly converted in their ministry. Brethren and sisters, sweeten up. Be bright and shining lights, whatever your position. I bear this message to all the workers in the office. Christ’s presence must be manifested in your spirit, your words, your deportment. {Lt179-1902.7}
Where there is a heart in which the light of heaven does not radiate, there is a solitude in which Christ cannot abide. By the side of every soul is an angel-presence. I have been instructed that with Christ there was given to our world all the treasures of heaven. Nothing was reserved. If man does not open the door of his heart to Christ Jesus and commune with Him, satanic agencies will commune with him. {Lt179-1902.8}
It is to the glory of God that cheerfulness abound. If the softening, subduing influence of the grace of Christ be present, pleasant words will always be spoken. If one makes mistakes, go to the erring one alone. Speak not words of counsel with a vim, but modulate your voice. He who occupies an influential position as God’s steward should take special care not to irritate by word or act. He should speak pleasantly to every worker, and reveal no irritability or sourness of disposition. {Lt179-1902.9}
Let all the workers in the office remember that they are to represent Christ in word and act. There is to be no sharp speaking, no fretful scolding; for angels of God are walking up and down in every room. Christ loves to commend every faithful worker, and He will do it. Every good act is registered in the book. Little mistakes may be made, but words of censure arouse feelings of retaliation, and God is dishonored. {Lt179-1902.10}
Let every one placed in a position of trust be as much more careful how he speaks and acts, as his position is greater in responsibility than the position of his fellow workers; for those connected with the work of God can please the Master by speaking kindly only. Any word spoken thoughtlessly or inadvisedly should be retracted on the spot. If the speaker forgets to do this, or if he does not regret his thoughtlessness, some one should in the spirit of Christ remind him of his duty to apologize; for we are to remember that as Christians professing to work in unity, we must not act like sinners, whose sinful words and works, unless repented of, will condemn them. {Lt179-1902.11}
All the workers in the office are under the supervision of God, and are expected to speak respectfully because they are in His presence <just as verily as if they could see Him.> They are to show love and respect, cheerfulness and courtesy, to one another, remembering that in this life they are in a school where they can learn lessons that will prepare them for promotion to the school above. It costs nothing to speak kindly, and kindness fulfils the law of Christ. By the constant practice of this virtue, habits are formed that will make beautiful characters—characters fit for entrance into the courts above. Thus men and women may become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. My brethren and sisters, will you not set a watch upon your lips, that you may speak no unpleasant words? {Lt179-1902.12}
Professing Christians who act like little children, speaking pettishly and showing hastiness of temper, offend God. He has paid a great price to redeem them from Satan’s power, that they might become sons and daughters of God. When they act like sinners, they are counted as sinners, and must repent and do their first works of love. Christians are to love one another as Christ has loved them. Upon the manifestation of this love hinges the world’s recognition of the truth of the gospel. It was for this that Christ prayed in the last prayer He offered. Christians must not act like unruly children. Before the world, those who claim to be God’s children must give evidence that they have left behind them the childish ways of their unconverted life. {Lt179-1902.13}
Every human agency connected with the Lord’s work needs to appreciate the work in which he is acting a part. The work in God’s institutions is to be carried on without friction, without hasty speech, without dictatorial words. The workers are to be pure, clean, and holy in thought, in word, in act. They are to be Christ’s witnesses, testifying that they are born again. {Lt179-1902.14}
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” [1 Peter 2:1-3.] We should study this instruction. It is our privilege to grow “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” [Ephesians 4:13.] We are not to be thoughtless or careless in speech, hurting one another by unkind words. {Lt179-1902.15}
“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” [1 Peter 2:6-8.] {Lt179-1902.16}
How keenly Satan is watching to see how he can gain access to the human soul! We need to inspire, as a certain lawyer inquired of Jesus while He was surrounded by a great multitude, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Christ required the answer from the questioner himself. “What is written in the law?” He said; “how readest thou?” This was an unexpected turn to the lawyer, yet he knew very well what answer to give. He said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Jesus said, “Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live.” [Luke 10:25-28.] {Lt179-1902.17}
In the answer of the lawyer the whole duty of man is presented in a few words. On these two principles, love to God and love to man, hang all the law and the prophets. The first four of the ten commandments are summed up in the one great precept, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.” The last six are included in the other, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” [Mark 12:30, 31.] {Lt179-1902.18}
We are to walk by faith, not by sight. Through faith and obedience we obtain every advantage. Through faith “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” [2 Corinthians 3:18.] I can testify that the righteousness of Christ entitles us to the blessings of the covenant of grace. In this life there is nothing of greater importance than preparation of character, that we may at last enter with joy into the saints’ abode on high. Why do we not improve our privilege of being saints here below? {Lt179-1902.19}
Those who today believe in Christ, need more than Pentecostal power, inasmuch as He has given them a large, open field in which to work. It is while living here below that we serve the Lord Jesus Christ and show His grace in our words and actions. As the representatives of His kingdom, we are to reveal His character, giving to the world an illustration of what heaven will be. We are to engage in no strife for supremacy, no bitter wrangling. We are not to manifest a selfish or contentious spirit. Our work is to reveal to the world that God’s children love one another. {Lt179-1902.20}
Let us consider the promises assuring us that we may become sons and daughters of God. Let us study Paul’s prayer for his Colossian brethren. “For this cause we also,” he wrote, “since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” [Colossians 1:9-11.] {Lt179-1902.21}
How complete this prayer is! There is no limit to the blessings that it is our privilege to receive. We may be “filled with the knowledge of His will.” [Verse 9.] The Holy Ghost would never have inspired Paul to offer this prayer in behalf of his brethren, if it had not been possible for them to receive an answer from God in accordance with the request. Since this is so, we know that God’s will is manifested to His people as they need a clearer understanding of His will. {Lt179-1902.22}
... [This is only a portion of the letter written.]