[Christ's] grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness. SC 18
We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience than we can be pardoned without Christ. SC 26
Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one that can implant in the heart enmity against sin. Every desire for truth and purity, every conviction of our own sinfulness, is an evidence that His Spirit is moving upon our hearts. SC 26
The spotless Son of God has been given as our example, and those who complain of the wrong course of professed Christians are the ones who should show better lives and nobler examples. SC 32
When Satan comes to tell you that you are a great sinner, look up to your Redeemer and talk of His merits. SC 35-36
The confession that is the outpouring of the inmost soul finds its way to the God of infinite pity. SC 37
True repentance will lead a man to bear his guilt himself and acknowledge it without deception or hypocrisy. SC 40
The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness. SC 43
God does not force the will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently given. SC 43
Those who feel the constraining love of God, do not ask how little may be given to meet the requirements of God; they do not ask for the lowest standard, but aim at perfect conformity to the will of their Redeemer. SC 44
Whatever shall draw away the heart from God must be given up. SC 44
But what do we give up, when we give all? A sin-polluted heart, for Jesus to purify, to cleanse by His own blood, and to save by His matchless love. SC 46
Would that all who have not chosen Christ might realize that He has something vastly better to offer them than they are seeking for themselves. SC 46
[Christ] requires us to perform only those duties that will lead our steps to heights of bliss to which the disobedient can never attain. SC 46
You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. SC 47
If you believe the promise,—believe that you are forgiven and cleansed,—God supplies the fact... SC 51
God's promises... are for every repentant transgressor. None are so sinful that they cannot find strength, purity, and righteousness in Jesus, who died for them. SC 52
As you draw near to [God] with confession and repentance, He will draw near to you with mercy and forgiveness. SC 55
The character is revealed, not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts. SC 57
In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the principle of action. SC 59
We do not earn salvation by our obedience; for salvation is the free gift of God, to be received by faith. But obedience is the fruit of faith. SC 61
Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. SC 62
Where there is not only a belief in God's word, but a submission of the will to Him; where the heart is yielded to Him, the affections fixed upon Him, there is faith--faith that works by love and purifies the soul. SC 63
We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. SC 64
The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes... A view of our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon; and when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, He will reveal Himself in power. SC 64-65
You are to give all [to Christ],—your heart, your will, your service... you must take all [of] Christ.. to give you power to obey. SC 69
Surrender all your plans to [God], to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ. SC 70
Your hope is not in yourself; it is in Christ... It is by loving Him, copying Him, depending wholly upon Him, that you are to be transformed into His likeness. SC 70
The heart that rests most fully upon Christ will be most earnest and active in labor for Him. SC 71
We should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear as to whether we shall be saved. Commit the keeping of your soul to God, and trust in Him... If you will leave yourself in His hands, He will bring you off more than conqueror through Him that has loved you. SC 71
Here is where we need to watch, to strive, to pray, that nothing may entice us to choose another master; for we are always free to do this. But let us keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, and He will preserve us. Looking unto Jesus, we are safe. SC 72
Our Saviour's joy was in the uplifting and redemption of fallen men... The spirit of Christ's self-sacrificing love... is the spirit that Christ's followers will possess, the work that they will do. SC 77
No sooner does one come to Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. SC 78
Every act of self-sacrifice for the good of others strengthens the spirit of beneficence in the giver's heart, allying him more closely to the Redeemer of the world SC 79
If you will go... win souls for [Christ]... you will feel the need of a deeper experience.. Encountering opposition and trials will drive you to the Bible and prayer. You will grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, and will develop a rich experience. SC 80
The spirit of unselfish labor for others gives depth, stability, and Christlike loveliness to the character, and brings peace and happiness to its possessor... Those who thus exercise the Christian graces will grow and will become strong to work for God. SC 80
The only way to grow in grace is to be [unselfishly] doing the very work which Christ has enjoined upon us—to engage, to the extent of our ability, in helping and blessing those who need the help we can give them. SC 80
The love of Christ, revealed to us, makes us debtors to all who know Him not... If the followers of Christ were awake to duty, there would be thousands where there is one today proclaiming the gospel in heathen lands. SC 81
Everyone who names the name of Christ should so work that others, by seeing his good works, may be led to glorify their Creator and Redeemer. SC 82
With a loving spirit we may perform life's humblest duties “as to the Lord.” Colossians 3:23. If the love of God is in the heart, it will be manifested in the life. The sweet savor of Christ will surround us, and our influence will elevate and bless. SC 82
You are not to wait for great occasions or to expect extraordinary abilities before you go to work for God... The humblest and poorest of the disciples of Jesus can be a blessing to others. SC 83
No tears are shed that God does not notice... If we would but fully believe this, all undue anxieties would be dismissed... for everything, whether great or small, would be left in the hands of God, who is not perplexed by the multiplicity of cares SC 86
In our circumstances and surroundings, in the changes daily taking place around us, we may find precious lessons if our hearts are but open to discern them. SC 87
We should meditate upon the mission of Him who came to save His people from their sins. As we thus contemplate heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow stronger, and our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God.. SC 87
The more our thoughts are upon Christ, the more we shall speak of Him to others and represent Him to the world. SC 89
We should not take the testimony of any man as to what the Scriptures teach, but should study the words of God for ourselves. SC 89
If God's word were studied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of character, and a stability of purpose rarely seen in these times SC 90
One passage studied until its significance is clear to the mind and its relation to the plan of salvation is evident, is of more value than the perusal of many chapters with no definite purpose in view and no positive instruction gained. SC 90
Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages we should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it will be given... The Holy Spirit exalts and glorifies the Saviour... It is His office to present Christ SC 91
In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life. Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend... [it enables] us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. SC 93
The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer. SC 94
Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? SC 94
Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, who long after God, may be sure that they will be filled. The heart must be open to the Spirit's influence, or God's blessing cannot be received. SC 95
If we regard iniquity in our hearts, if we cling to any known sin, the Lord will not hear us; but the prayer of the penitent, contrite soul is always accepted. SC 95
Another element of prevailing prayer is faith. “He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. SC 96
Our heavenly Father in love answers our prayers by giving us that which will be for our highest good—that which we ourselves would desire if with vision divinely enlightened we could see all things as they really are. SC 96
If we expect our own prayers to be heard we must forgive others in the same manner and to the same extent as we hope to be forgiven. SC 97
Unceasing prayer is the unbroken union of the soul with God, so that life from God flows into our life; and from our life, purity and holiness flow back to God. SC 97
We should pray in the family circle, and above all we must not neglect secret prayer, for this is the life of the soul. SC 98
There is no time or place in which it is inappropriate to offer up a petition to God.... We should have the door of the heart open continually and our invitation going up that Jesus may come and abide as a heavenly guest in the soul. SC 99
We may close every door to impure imaginings and unholy thoughts by lifting the soul into the presence of God through sincere prayer. SC 99
We may keep so near to God that in every unexpected trial our thoughts will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun. SC 100
Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. SC 100
No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest. SC 100
To pray in the name of Jesus is something more than a mere mention of that name at the beginning and the ending of a prayer. It is to pray in the mind and spirit of Jesus, while we believe His promises, rely upon His grace, and work His works. SC 100
When men take themselves out of social life, away from the sphere of Christian duty and cross bearing... they cannot pray in regard to the wants of humanity or the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom, pleading for strength wherewith to work. SC 101
We sustain a loss when we neglect the privilege of associating together to strengthen and encourage one another in the service of God. The truths of His word lose their vividness and importance in our minds. SC 101
If Christians would associate together, speaking to each other of the love of God and of the precious truths of redemption, their own hearts would be refreshed and they would refresh one another. SC 101
If we would but think of God as often as we have evidence of His care for us we should keep Him ever in our thoughts and should delight to talk of Him and to praise Him. SC 102
We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. We are the constant recipients of God's mercies, and yet how little gratitude we express, how little we praise Him for what He has done for us. SC 102
Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith. SC 105
To acknowledge that we cannot fully comprehend the great truths of the Bible is only to admit that the finite mind is inadequate to grasp the infinite; that man, with his limited, human knowledge, cannot understand the purposes of Omniscience. SC 108
God is infinite; in Him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3. And to all eternity men may be ever searching, ever learning, and yet never exhaust the treasures of His wisdom, His goodness, and His power. SC 109
If we would [like] not have the Scriptures clouded to our understanding, so that the plainest truths shall not be comprehended, we must have the simplicity and faith of a little child, ready to learn, and beseeching the aid of the Holy Spirit. SC 109
When the word of God is opened without reverence and without prayer; when the thoughts and affections are not fixed upon God, or in harmony with His will, the mind is clouded with doubts; and in the very study of the Bible, skepticism strengthens. SC 110
Disguise it as they may, the real cause of doubt and skepticism, in most cases, is the love of sin... In order to arrive at truth, we must have a sincere desire to know the truth and a willingness of heart to obey it. SC 111
By the grace of Christ, perform every duty that has been made plain to your understanding, and you will be enabled to understand and perform those of which you are now in doubt. SC 111
There is an evidence that is open to all... the evidence of experience. God invites us to prove for ourselves the reality of His word, the truth of His promises. He bids us “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8. SC 111
Christians who gather up gloom and sadness to their souls, and murmur and complain, are giving to others a false representation of God and the Christian life. SC 116
Are not God's promises, like the fragrant flowers, growing beside your path on every hand? Will you not let their beauty and sweetness fill your heart with joy? SC 117
If you talk out your feelings, every doubt you express not only reacts upon yourself, but it is a seed that will germinate and bear fruit in the life of others.. How important that we speak only those things that will give spiritual strength and life! SC 119
All have trials; griefs hard to bear, temptations hard to resist. Do not tell your troubles to your fellow mortals, but carry everything to God in prayer. SC 119
There is many a brave soul sorely pressed by temptation, almost ready to faint in the conflict with self and with the powers of evil. Do not discourage such a one in his hard struggle. Cheer him with brave, hopeful words that shall urge him on his way. SC 120
If we keep uppermost in our minds the unkind and unjust acts of others we shall find it impossible to love them as Christ has loved us; but if our thoughts dwell upon the wondrous love and pity of Christ for us, the same spirit will flow out to others. SC 121
You may be perplexed in business; your prospects may grow darker and darker, and you may be threatened with loss; but do not become discouraged... when, relying upon our Helper, you have done all you can, accept the result cheerfully. SC 122
The Lord would have all His sons and daughters happy, peaceful, and obedient... There is joy and satisfaction in the service of God; the Christian is not left to walk in uncertain paths; he is not left to vain regrets and disappointments. SC 124
Let us keep fresh in our memory all... the tears [God] has wiped away, the pains He has soothed, the anxieties removed, the fears dispelled, the wants supplied, the blessings bestowed,— [to strengthen ourselves] through the remainder of our pilgrimage. SC 125
No comments:
Post a Comment