| |
| What we most need is an experimental knowledge of God as He is revealed in His word. Such knowledge would enable us to see our imperfection of character and our ignorance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. . . . {MM 95.1} |
| |
| If the self-righteous priests and Pharisees had been willing to look into God's great moral mirror, and had caught but one glimpse of their own imperfection of character, they would have said with Daniel, "My comeliness was turned in me into corruption." They would then have regarded it as the greatest possible blessing to learn the lesson of the great Teacher, which would have made them wise unto salvation. If they had learned from him who was meek and lowly of heart, the scribes and Pharisees would have shared with the disciples on the day of Pentecost, and would have been filled with the Holy Spirit. They would have had Christ's mold upon them. The cold, stubborn heart would have been kindled into love by his grace, and they would have been conformed to the image of Christ. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." {RH, June 2, 1896 par. 8} |
| |
| We should seek earnestly to be in a position where we can appreciate the value of souls, and realize that we are required to do the will of our Heavenly Father. I am not to look to see what somebody else is doing, but I am to see that I am doing my part faithfully. There is a blessed work for each one of us to do, but we cannot do it as we should unless we are in right relation to God. In our imperfection of character, in our great need and helplessness, we must come to the foot of the cross, and as the light shines into our hearts from Calvary, we shall be able to reveal to others the great plan of redemption. The love of God is without a parallel. It is marvelous. And if we are rightly related to God, we shall be the recipients of this love, and we shall let it flow out to others around us. {RH, January 28, 1890 par. 3} |
| |
| We cannot enter heaven with any deformity or imperfection of character, and we must be fitted for heaven now in this probationary life. We want the deep movings of the Spirit of God, that we may have an individual experience, and be complete in Him who is the fullness of the Godhead. Through the power of the righteousness of Christ, we are to depart from all iniquity. There must be a living connection of the soul with its Redeemer. The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God, that the soul may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. But how many do not pray. They feel under condemnation for sin, and they think they must not come to God until they have done something to merit his favor or until God has forgotten about their transgressions. They say, "I cannot hold up holy hands before God without wrath or doubting, and therefore I cannot come." So they remain away from Christ, and commit sin all the time in so doing, for without him we can do nothing but evil. Just as soon as you commit sin, you should flee right to the throne of grace, and tell Jesus all about it. You should be filled with sorrow for sin, because through sin you have weakened your own spirituality, grieved the heavenly angels, and wounded and bruised the loving heart of your Redeemer. When you have asked Jesus, in contrition of soul, for his forgiveness, believe that he has forgiven you. Do not doubt his divine mercy, or refuse the comfort of his infinite love. {ST, February 15, 1892 par. 5} |
| |
| You cannot enter heaven with any deformity or imperfection of character, and you must be fitted for heaven now in this probationary life. If you would enter the abode of the righteous when Christ shall come, you must have the deep movings of the Spirit of God, that you may have an individual experience, and be complete in Him who is the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Through the power of the righteousness of Christ, we are to depart from all iniquity. There must be a living connection of the soul with its Redeemer. The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God, that the soul may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. But how many do not pray. They feel under condemnation for sin, and they think they must not come to God until they have done something to merit his favor, or until God has forgotten about their transgressions. They say, "I cannot hold up holy hands before God without wrath or doubting, and therefore I cannot come." So they remain away from Christ, and are committing sin all the time in so doing, for without him you can do nothing but evil. Just as soon as you commit sin, you should flee to the throne of grace, and tell Jesus all about it. You should be filled with sorrow for sin, because through sin you have weakened your own spirituality, grieved the heavenly angels, and wounded and bruised the loving heart of your Redeemer. When you have asked Jesus in contrition of soul for his forgiveness, believe that he has forgiven you. Do not doubt his divine mercy, or refuse the comfort of his infinite love. {BEcho, February 1, 1892 par. 4} |
| |
