Pattern of Goodness, August 13

So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?”—Matthew 19:17JNN 239.1

The great controversy between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness has not abated one jot or tittle of its fierceness as time has gone on. The stern conflict between light and darkness, between error and truth, is deepening in its intensity. The synagogue of Satan is intensely active, and the deceiving power of the enemy is working in the most subtle way in this age. Every human mind that is not surrendered to God and is not under the control of the Spirit of God will be perverted through satanic agencies.JNN 239.2

The enemy is working continually to supplant Jesus Christ in the human heart, and to place his attributes in the human character in the place of the attributes of God. He brings his strong delusions to bear upon the human mind in order that he may have a controlling power and obliterate the truth and abolish the true Pattern of goodness and righteousness, in order that the professed Christian world shall be swept to perdition through separation from God. He is working in order that selfishness shall become worldwide, and thus make of no effect the mission and work of Christ.JNN 239.3

Christ came to the world in order to bring back the character of God to man, and to retrace on the human soul the divine image. Through His entire life Christ sought by continuous, laborious efforts to call the world’s attention to God and to His holy requirements, in order that men might be imbued with the Spirit of God, might be actuated by love, and might reveal in life and character the divine attributes. Christ came to be the light and life of the world, and His life was one of continual self-denial and self-sacrifice. The Lord Jesus valued every human being, and could not endure the thought that one soul should perish. His great heart of love embraced the whole world and led Him to provide complete salvation to all who would believe in Him.JNN 239.4

In the character of Christ majesty and humility were blended. Temperance and self-denial were seen in every act of His life. But there was no taint of bigotry, no cold austerity manifested in His manner to lessen His influence over those with whom He came in contact. The world’s Redeemer had a greater-than-angelic nature, yet united with His divine majesty was meekness and humility that attracted all to Himself.—Manuscript 39, 1894.JNN 239.5

Further Reflection: How should I respond to the fact that Jesus values me and cannot bear the thought that I might be lost?JNN 239.6