AUDIO

[October 15]
Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. I Peter 3:15
FOLLOWING this course—of preaching the Gospel of hope—we are following the Master and the apostles. They had so much of this spirit of hope, trust, confidence, love, joy, and peace that they could rejoice in tribulation; and they did so. The apostles even sang praises to God that they were accounted worthy to share in the sufferings of Christ, that they might also share in his coming glories. Let us, then, dear brethren, realize that the world has tears and sorrows enough, and fears aplenty. Let us more and more use our time, strength, talents, joys, etc., in relieving the poor world of its mental distress. Hearken to the words of Jesus: "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." As it will be God's great work in the future, through Christ and the church, to wipe away earth's tears, let us chase away some of those tears at the present time. Thus we shall help to prepare the way for the world to come back into fellowship with God by and by, for the faithful of the present time to walk more carefully in the footsteps of Jesus and to encourage one another in the good way. Z'13-107 R5214:4 (Hymn 280)