(Concluded.)
EGW
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” The eternal Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. This theme will quench unbelief; and yet, sad to say, Jesus has been dropped out of many discourses that have been preached by Seventh-day Adventist ministers. And why?—Because the ministers had not Jesus abiding in the heart by faith; they were not clothed with Christ's righteousness. Jesus could not lead them by the side of still waters, and into the green pastures of his matchless love, because they would not be led. They had not the love of Jesus in their hearts, and it is the love of Jesus that, as a golden chain, binds our hearts in tenderest sympathy with humanity, and brings us into complete unity with every soul who believes. The Spirit of Jesus in my heart will recognize Jesus in the hearts of my brethren and sisters. Our prayers and hopes are one. ST October 17, 1892, par. 1
Christ said to his disciples, “Love one another, as I have loved you.” Is this commandment obeyed? Do we love one another with that unselfish love which Jesus has manifested for our souls? If we are Christ's, we shall be one, even as he is one with the Father. His grace will unite the hearts of his disciples. Jesus took the nature of humanity in order to reveal to man a pure, unselfish love, to teach us how to love one another. ST October 17, 1892, par. 2
The power of an ever-abiding Saviour is greater now than ever before, because the emergencies are greater; and yet we are weak in spiritual life and experience. Oh, how much we have lost as a people by our lack of faith! We have suffered loss to our own souls, and have failed to reveal to others, by our words and in our character, what Christ is and will be to everyone who comes to him believing. He is “made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” To give glory to God is to reveal his character in our own, and thus make him known. And in whatever way we make known the Father or the Son, we glorify God. ST October 17, 1892, par. 3
False views of God, and hence of Christ, are largely entertained today. Well may we offer the prayer of Moses, “Show me thy glory.” What did the Lord answer?—“I will make all my goodness pass before thee.” God might have answered Moses: “Why do you ask this question? Have I not revealed to you my glory in the deliverance of my people from Egyptian bondage? Did I not deliver you by the right arm of my power, and lead you dry shod through the midst of the Red Sea? Did I not reveal my glory in giving you bread from heaven? Did I not bring you water out of the flinty rock? Have you not looked upon my glory in the pillar of fire by night, and the cloud by day?” Moses might have answered that all this only kindled his desire for greater manifestations of God's power. The Lord granted the prayer of Moses, and he desires to answer us in the same way. We need to have our perceptions quickened, our hearts enlarged, that we may comprehend his glory—his goodness, his forgiveness, his forbearance, his inexpressible love. ST October 17, 1892, par. 4
“And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful”—precious ray of light from the Sun of Righteousness—“and gracious”—another bright beam from the Light of the world—“long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth”—oh, what flashes of his glory!—“keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Bring all these precious rays together, and talk of them, shed their light upon the path of him who walketh in darkness. Look to Christ, behold the attractive loveliness of his character, and by beholding you will become changed to his likeness. The mist that intervenes between Christ and the soul will be rolled back, as we by faith look past the hellish shadow of Satan, and see God's glory in his law, and the righteousness of Christ. ST October 17, 1892, par. 5
Satan is seeking to veil Jesus from our sight, to eclipse his light, for when we get even a glimpse of his glory we are attracted to him. Sin hides from our view the matchless charms of Jesus; prejudice, selfishness, self-righteousness, and passion blind our eyes, so that we do not discern the Saviour. Oh, if we would by faith draw nigh to God, he would reveal to us his glory, which is his character, and the praise of God would flow forth from human hearts, and be sounded by human voices. Then we would forever cease to give glory to Satan by sinning against God and talking doubt and unbelief. We would no longer stumble along grumbling, and mourning, and covering the altar of God with our tears. If we would behold Jesus, believing his words, we would reflect the image of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light, and what a wave of glory would flow back from earth to heaven! ST October 17, 1892, par. 6
The word of God must be exalted with pen and voice; neglect it not; it is the highest folly to keep out of sight the manna for which the world is starving. It is not God's plan that his word should be given a secondary place in our system of education. We want the word of God as our guide. It is our light; without its divine rays we grope in darkness. Its study affords discipline that strengthens and elevates and enriches the soul. It furnishes us unto all good works, and guides into safe and high enterprises. It is the wisdom of God. ST October 17, 1892, par. 7
The Holy Spirit is given to all who will heed its voice; it is a purifier, a sanctifier. Not a soul is safe without it, for all are struggling with natural defects of character, with sinful tendencies. Who will be so foolish as to think they can struggle single-handed with enemies that have overmatched them again and again? The heart needs to be constantly softened and subdued by the Spirit of Christ. In contact with the world, or even with that which has to do with the advancement of God's cause, the heart grows hard and selfish, unless constantly brought in contact with the heart of Infinite Love. The conscience grows callous and feeble when we neglect to receive the rays of the Sun of Righteousness. Those who flatter themselves that they can safely occupy their time in business, having no special seasons of prayer either in public or private, drawing no spiritual strength from the Source of all light and power, are under a delusion of the enemy. ST October 17, 1892, par. 8
All should fear to accept and hold responsible positions, without daily and hourly consecration to Christ, an entire surrender of the will to God. They should fear to encounter temptations unless their souls are under the transforming grace of Christ and they are determined to inquire at every step, “Is this the way of the Lord?” to ask, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” ST October 17, 1892, par. 9