May 10, 1892

Confessing Christ

EGW

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” How is it? Are we confessing Christ in our daily life? Do we confess him in our dress, adorning ourselves with plain and modest apparel? Is our adorning that of the meek and quiet spirit which is of so great price in the sight of God? Are we seeking to advance the cause of the Master? Is the line of demarkation between you and the world distinct, or are you seeking to follow the fashions of this degenerate age? Is there no difference between you and the worldling? Does the same spirit work in you that works in the children of disobedience? If we are Christians, we shall follow Christ, even though the path in which we are to walk cuts right across our natural inclinations. There is no use in telling you that you must not wear this or that, for if the love of these vain things is in your heart, your laying off your adornments will only be like cutting the foliage off a tree. The inclinations of the natural heart would again assert themselves. You must have a conscience of your own.RH May 10, 1892, par. 1

O did we remember that Christ became poor, that we through his poverty might become rich, would we not seek to honor his name, and advance his cause? We are to abide in him as the branch abides in the vine. Jesus says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.... Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” If we fulfilled this command of our Lord, there would be a different state of affairs in our churches, and we should know what it is to have the deep movings of the Spirit of God. What we want is to have the ax laid at the root of the tree. We want to be dead to the world, dead to self, and alive unto God. Our life must be hid with Christ in God, that when he shall appear, we also may appear with him in glory. We need to come close to Christ, that men may know that we have been with Christ and learned of him.RH May 10, 1892, par. 2

I invite you to look to the Man of Calvary. Look to him whose head was crowned with the crown of thorns, who bore the cross of shame, who went step by step down the path of humiliation. Look to him who was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, who was despised and rejected of men. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Look to Calvary until your heart melts at the amazing love of the Son of God. He left nothing undone that fallen man might be elevated and purified. And shall we not confess him? Will the religion of Christ degrade its receiver?—No; it will be no degradation to follow in the footsteps of the Man of Calvary. Day by day let us sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn of him, that in our conversation, our conduct, our dress, and in all our affairs, we may reveal the fact that Jesus is ruling and reigning over us. God calls upon us to walk in a path that has been cast up for the ransomed of the Lord; we are not to walk in the world. We are to surrender all to God, and confess Christ before men.RH May 10, 1892, par. 3

“Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” What right have we to profess to be Christians, and yet deny our Lord in life and deed? “He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Day by day we are to deny self, to lift the cross and follow in the footsteps of the Master. O that the baptism of the Holy Spirit might come upon you, that you might be imbued with the Spirit of God! Then day by day you will become more and more conformed to the image of Christ, and in every action of your life, the question would be, “Will it glorify my Master?” By patient continuance in well-doing you would seek for glory and honor, and would receive the gift of immortality.RH May 10, 1892, par. 4

I am glad that the day of probation is not closed. Let us in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth fall on the Rock and be broken. By meekness, by love, by a holy conversation, by a compassionate spirit, confess Christ to others. O that we might come into a position where he might reveal his glory as it was revealed in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the people. I believe that we shall see of the salvation of God, that we shall yet see the church free in the Lord. I lay hold of this by faith.RH May 10, 1892, par. 5

Keep your eye fixed upon Christ. With humility of mind seek for a nearness to God. In words, in conduct, in life, confess Christ. Examine yourselves whether you are in the faith, and when God sends you a message, do not begin to criticise it, and see if it is suitable to put into print, but inquire, Does this message lay bare my condition? Where am I in the Christian life? Is my soul in the love of God? Does Christ heal my backslidings? Have I confessed my sins, and can I claim his promise? Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation. Now is the time to prepare for the crisis, that when put to the test, you may stand, and having done all, stand.RH May 10, 1892, par. 6