EGW
We have before us a great work, and it is essential that we depart from every evil way, and serve God in the beauty of holiness, as though living in his presence. Let us put away all cheap talk, all suspicions and jealousies, all evil-surmising, and work according to our several abilities. Let us cherish no thought as to who shall be accounted greatest. He who keeps his heart open to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness will ever be prepared to diffuse light. Let us walk in the light of Christ's righteousness, and pursue such a course as will make us faithful shepherds of the flock. The Spirit and grace of Christ must vitalize our daily experience, and cause us to assimilate the divine image, cleansing, refining, uplifting, supporting, and ennobling us until we shall have the mind of Christ, and learn meekness and lowliness of heart from the greatest Teacher that the world ever knew. By revealing a high and holy character we may make manifest to the world the fact that God loves us even as he loves his only begotten Son. RH June 4, 1895, par. 1
Let every one of us seek to be Christlike. The world is in great need of representatives of Christ. They need lives like the divine life, in order that they may have some tangible proof of the power of Christianity to uplift humanity in this world of sin and corruption. As laborers together with God, we should make our plans daily with an eye single to the glory of God. We should appreciate the condescension and love of Jesus in giving us finite beings the great privilege of bearing the yoke of Christ. We are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and work in his spirit, manifesting his grace, his love, his gentleness. We are to fear to indulge the spirit of self-sufficiency or to cherish the desire to be thought the greatest. The Lord knows every heart. He looks beneath the surface. He sees into the true inwardness of the soul-temple, and he will manifest himself to every one who will use the gift of his grace to bless others, and not for the purpose of exalting himself. Every ability, every power, is received from God. The human agent can originate nothing. If we are meek and lowly of heart, we may link ourselves with the forces of heaven, and be strong because Christ is strong, be great because Christ is great. We may hang our helpless souls upon Jesus, and be complete in him. The resolutions that are formed when the heart is deeply moved by the love of Christ will be high and holy, and will lead to the formation of wise plans of action. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and walk in his counsels. Superficial piety will lead to self-sufficiency. RH June 4, 1895, par. 2
There are some people who are crippled in mind, who struggle with morbid peculiarity, who have had a wrong education, which colors all their labors. Every path of duty which they tread is tinged with their own defects. Unless they control these difficulties, humbly relying upon Christ as their only sufficiency, they will walk in continual uncertainty. They will resist the Holy Spirit in its influence upon their minds, and will not yield to its power. To him that hath shall be given. Those who receive the divine light will be molded in spirit and character by its holy influence; but those who choose their own way, and follow their own inclinations, will extinguish the light. Jesus said, “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.” RH June 4, 1895, par. 3
O that all would look to Jesus and find in him all that precious love and affection which they fail to find in any human being! There are souls all around us starving for love, yearning for kindly, tender, appreciative words. But in Christ discontent will be healed by immeasurable love. The soul can find satisfaction in Christ. Jesus says, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Again he says: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Losing sight of ourselves, and looking unto Jesus, we obtain brighter and more glowing views of God. Our hearts are melted by contemplating his great love in giving us Jesus, his priceless gift. We receive Jesus, as we appreciate the love of God. RH June 4, 1895, par. 4
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!” We see in him the perfection of wisdom, might, truth, and righteousness. With grateful wonder we repeat the words: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Each individual may say, “He so loved me, that he gave me Jesus. I receive him as my personal Saviour. He is the God of forgiveness, the God of compassion and love. I receive his precious gift, he is mine and I am his.” The more we behold the character of Christ, the more lovable it appears; then why is there so much silence everywhere? Why are not the praises of God heard from every voice? When we contemplate the love of Christ, when we behold him and become changed into his image, gratitude and thanksgiving spring up. We exclaim, “Who shall not praise thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?” RH June 4, 1895, par. 5
The law of God, which so many cannot bear to hear, is the proclamation of his pure and holy character. It was because God loved mankind that he gave men his holy precepts. They are a testimony of his character, and are holy, just, and good. They bring a good report of God to the world, by presenting his holy character to mankind. “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.” Shall we not be able to persuade the silent lips and voices to sing his praises? The time will come when all will praise him. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests.... Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” O let us begin to sing the songs of heaven here, and then we can join the heavenly company above. RH June 4, 1895, par. 6
Righteousness within is testified to by righteousness without. He who is righteous within is not hard-hearted and unsympathetic, but day by day he grows into the image of Christ, going on from strength to strength. He who is being sanctified by the truth will be self-controlled, and will follow in the footsteps of Christ until grace is lost in glory. The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven. RH June 4, 1895, par. 7
We need missionaries, but we fear to call men to the missionary field, who, though they appear to have ability, are not fitted for the work, because they are not devoted, humble, pious men. They may go forth to far countries; but because of their lack of consecration to God, they are not self denying, and therefore they make a failure of the work. How long will it be before men will learn to be wise, before they will have the mind of Christ? Missionaries should be shepherds to seek and save that which was lost. There are men who have been chosen as counselors in our churches whom God has not chosen for such positions. They are hard-hearted and unfeeling; but when God places men as caretakers of his flock to work in the interests of his kingdom, he chooses men who have hearts of flesh, who have not an education that will spoil them for dealing with human minds. The love of Christ pervades the soul and creates a kindly atmosphere. They watch for souls as those who must give account. They do not follow inclinations and give up to selfish indulgence. They have a living zeal for the work of Christ; they do their work with fidelity, and their influence leavens those with whom they associate. As soon as they hear of a field, whether it be nigh at hand or afar off, they feel like saying, “Here am I; send me.” RH June 4, 1895, par. 8