​October 28

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me … to comfort all that mourn … to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning — Isa. 61:1-3.
 
Our commission is to seek out the meek and the mourning ones, who have appreciated their own shortcomings and weaknesses, and who are looking for refuge and deliverance. It is part of our commission to point them to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, to point them to the beauty of the resurrection for the ashes of death, and the glories which the Lord has promised by and by to take the place of the spirit of heaviness and disappointment and sorrow and trouble of this present time. It is our commission to tell such that "Joy cometh in the morning," and to assist them to arise and at once put on the garments of praise, and to begin to walk in newness of life, with a "new song in their mouths—even the loving-kindness of our God"—Z '04, 295 (R 3434).
 
God's holy heart and mind is upon His consecrated people. It is their qualification for service. By this spirit are their minds given the capacities to perceive, remember, reason on and express spiritual things, as by it their hearts are given the capacities necessary for the faith, hope, love and obedience to perform acceptably the sacrifices connected with their service. Truly this spirit enables them to comfort Zion's dear mourners and bring them out of the ashes of sorrow into the beauty of holiness and joy in the Lord—P '26, 156.
 
Parallel passages: Matt. 3:16, 17; Acts 10:38; 4:1-4; 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 1 John 2:20, 27; Psa. 119:50, 52, 54, 92, 143; 147:3; Isa. 40:1, 2; 51:3, 12; John 16:33; 2 Cor. 1:2-7; Ezek. 9:3, 4; 1 Thes. 4:18.

Hymns: 25, 38, 57, 93, 108, 228, 278.
Poems of Dawn, 198: Consolation.
Tower Reading: Z '14, 277 (R 5536).

Questions: Have I this week comforted and gladdened others? How? Why? Under what circumstances?

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CONSOLATION

WHEN thy pathway straitened lies, beloved,
Call on Me;
Ever fix on Me thine eyes, beloved,
Follow me;
I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,
Lean on Me!

When with trials sore beset, beloved,
Come to Me;
Calvary's hour do not forget, beloved,
Think on Me;
I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,
Trust in Me!

When the dark night darker grows, beloved,
Cry to Me;
When the cold stream colder flows, beloved,
Cling to Me;
I will never leave thee, but will take thee
Home with Me!