Need of a Practical Experience

12. You are greatly in need of a practical experience in the Christian life. You need to train the mind for the work of God. The character of your religious experience is made manifest largely by the character of the books that you choose to read in your leisure moments. The Bible is the Book of books, and if you love the Scriptures, searching them when you have opportunity, that you may come in possession of the rich treasures of the Word of God, and be thoroughly furnished unto all good works, then you may be assured that Jesus is drawing you to himself. But to read the Scriptures in merely a casual way, without seeking to comprehend the lessons of Christ, that you may comply with his requirements, is not enough. There are rich treasures in the Word of God that can be discovered only by sinking the shaft deep into the mine of truth. The Scriptures are given for our benefit that we may have instruction in righteousness. Precious rays of light have been obscured by the clouds of error, but Christ is ready to sweep away the mists of error and superstition, and reveal to us the brightness of the Father's glory, so that we shall say as did the disciples, “Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way?” The psalmist prayed, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law,” and the Lord regarded his sincere prayer, for the Sacred Record records his satisfaction in the truth revealed to him. He says: “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” How rare is this experience!PH152 32.2

13. The carnal mind rejects the truth; but the soul that is converted undergoes a marvelous change. The Book that was unattractive, because it reveals truths which testify against the sinner, to the converted heart becomes the food of the soul, consolation and joy of the life. The eyes anointed with spiritual discernment behold new beauties in the Word of God, and see that the inspired words of the Scriptures are especially adapted to the needs of the soul. The Sun of Righteousness shines upon the Word, and there is the flashing of divinity through humanity. The Spirit of God speaks to the soul, and the heart of the true believer becomes like a watered garden. To those who love Christ, the Bible is as the garden of God, whose promises are as grateful to the heart as the fragrance of flowers to the senses. Then take up your Bibles, and, with fresh interest, begin to study the sacred records of the Old and New Testaments. Work the field of precious truth, until you have a deeper comprehension of the mercy and love of God, who gave his only-begotten Son to the world, that through him we might have life.PH152 33.1