The best comforters are those who have bonre the greatest sorrows. They are frequently the ones who carry the greatest comfort to others, bringing sunshine wherever they go. Such ones have been chastedned and sweetened by their afflictions; they did not lose confidence in God when trouble assailed them, but clung closer to His protecting love. Such ones are a living proof of the tender care of god, who makes the darkness as well as the light, and chastens us for our good. Christ is the light of the world; in Him is no darkenss. Precious light! Let us live in that light! Bid adieu to sadness and repining, Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice.”
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“Satan made stronger attacks upon Christ than he will ever make upon us. There was much at stake for him, whether Christ or himself should be conqueror. If Christ resisted the his most powerful temptations, and Satan did not succeed in leading Him to sin, he knew that he must lose his power, and finally be punished with everlasting destruction. Therefore Satan worked with mighty power to lead Christ to do a wrong action, for then he would gain advantage over Him. . . . You can never be tempted in so determined and cruel a manner as was our Saviour. Satan was upon his path every moment.
“Will man make take hold of divine power, and with determination and perseverance resist Satan, as Christ has given him example in His conflict with the foe in the wilderness of temptation? God cannot save man against his will from the power, aided by the divine power of Christ, to resist and to conquer at any cost to himself. In short, man must overcome as Christ overcame. And then, through the victory that it is his priviledge to gain by the all-powerful name of Jesus, he may become an heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. This could not be the case if Christ alone did all the overcoming. Man must do his part; he must be victor on his own account, through the strength and grace that Christ gives him. Man must be a co-worker with Christ in the labor of overcoming, and then he will be partaker with Christ in His glory.
“The Saviour overcame to show man how he may overcome. All the temptations of Satan, Christ met with the Word of God. By trusting in God’s promises, He received power to obey God’s commandments, and the tempter could gain no advantage.”
Sons and Daughters of God, by Ellen White, p. 156/
My take from this admonition is, Christ example was to have an answer in the Bible. . . in His Word. Truth will out!
Depiction of the Christian Holy Spirit as a dove, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, in the apse of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Angels surround the stained glass, reaching out to receive the blessings of the light, the Holy Spirit
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthinas 3:18.
“When enlightened by the Spirit of God, the believer beholds the perfection of Jesus, and beholding this perfection, he rejoices with joy unspeakable. In self he sees sin and helplessness–this is a theme upon which we may dwell with deeper and still deeper enthusiasm. Self is nothing; Jesus is everything. (When I typed this thought of my helplessness, when I see sin, the muscles in my shoulders relaxed. . . .Who alone can be perfect, certainly not me!)
“The transforming power of grace can make me a partaker of the divine nature. On Christ the glory of God has shone, and by looking upon Chirst, contemplating His self-sacrifice, remembering that in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, the believer is drawn closer and closer to the Source of power. . . .
“How essential that we have the enlightenment of the Spirit of God; for thus only can we see the glory of Chirst, and by beholding become changed! from character to character in and through faith in Christ. . . . He has grace and pardon for every soul. (May I repeat, Jesus has grace and pardon for every soul.) As by faith we look to Jesus, our faith pierces the shadow, and we adore God for His wondrous love in giving us Jesus the Comforter. . . .
“The sinner may become a child of God, an heir of heaven. He may rise from the dust, and stand forth arrayed in garments of light. . . . At ever step of advance, he sees new beauties in Christ, and becomes more like Him in character.
“The love that was manifested toward him in the death of Christ, awakens a response of thankful love, and in answer to sincere prayer, the believer is brought from grace to grace, from glory to glory until by beholding Christ, he is changed into the same image.”
Sons and Daughters of God, by Ellen White, p. 124. . . Something I needed to hear. . .as I grow closer to Jesus. . .I feel my inadequacy to represent His all loving, all caring, all charming gift of His grace. Then I remember there was only “one” perfect son of man, and they did not know what they were doing when they crucified the Son of God.
I would hate to think, we might be guilty of crucifing the Son of God anew, in our ignorance of how much He dearly loves me and you?
Daily the prayers of God’s people, arrive in Heaven, with the light given to them by the Holy Spirit, He hears and answers the request for forgiveness, if we confess our sin – He is faithful and just to forgives our sins, and turn our hearts towards Him and become obedient to His Word. Leaving all, at His feet, we come, to hear His words, Well done thou good and faithful servant!
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Christ is our example. He placed Himself at the head of the family to accomplish a work the importance of which men do not comprehend because they do not realize the privileges and possibilities before them as members of the human family of God . . . yet a power to draw to it the love of humanity. Through Christ Justice is enabled to forgive without sacrificing one jot of its exalted holiness.
“Christ taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” and added, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive your trespasses.”
“Will you not, if any one has done you a wrong, and is too proud and stubborn to say to you, “I repent,” go to the offender and say, “I love you for Christ’s sake, and I forgive you the injury you have done me”? Jesus will witness and approve of this deed of love; and as you do to others, it shall bedone again to you.
“We are to have a spirit of pity, of compassion toward those who have trespassed against us, whether or not they confess their faults. If they fail to repent and make confession, their sins will stand registered in the books above to confront them in the day of judgment; but if they say, “I repent,” then . . . we are freely to forgive from the heart their trespasses against us.
“True happiness does not consist in the possession of wealth, or position, but in the possession of a pure, clean heart, cleansed by obedience to the truth. . . . To everyone is given the opportunity to carry out the principles of heaven. The forgiving of injuries, not the avenging of them, is an exhibtion of that wisdom which is true goodness. Christlike love for the men through whom the Lord has wrought is a manifestation of real transformation of character.”
“Blessed is the Lord, who daily leadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.” Psalms 68:19.
“Under the Jewish economy, on the birth of children an offering was made to God, by His own appointment. Now we see parents taking special plains to present gifts to their children upon their birthdays; they make this an occasion of honoring the child, as though honor were due to the human being. . . . For life, health food, and clothing, no less than for the hope of eternal life, we are indebted to the Giver of all mercies; and it is due to God to recognize His gifts, and to present our offerings of gratitude to our greatest benefactor.
“If Christian parents had accustomed their children to present offering to God in acknowledgment of His great gift of salvation to men, how different would be the character of the young. Their minds would have been called away from themselves to the blessed Saviour. They would have been taught to feel that He loved them, and that He is the source of all blessings; that He is their hope of happiness and eternal life.
“If this kind of education had been given to our children, we should to-day see far less selfishness, far less envy and jealousy, we should have more manly young men and womanly young women. We should see the youth coming up with moral strength, with pure principles, with well-balanced minds and lovely characters, because the Model would be ever before them; they would be impressed with the importance of copying the excellence of Jesus, the Pattern. . . . God wants the youth and those of mature age to look to Him, to believe in Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and to have Him abiding in the heart; then a new life will quicken every faculty of the being. The divine Comforter will be with them, to strengthen them in their weakness, and guide them in their perplexity. . . . It will make plain to them the path of life.”
Sons and Daughters of God, by Ellen White, p. 152.
“God annointed Jesus of Nezareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38.
“Christ wrought miracle after miracle when He was on this earth. In this work He showed what God can do for afflicted bodies and souls. . . . He was constantly ministering to others, improving every opportunity offered Him. Even in His childhood He spoke words of comfort and tenderness to young and old. . . . He was an example of what all children may strive to be. . . . In His words and actions He manifested tender sympathy for all. His companionship was a healing, soothing balm to the disheartened and depressed.”
“He posessed patientce which nothing could ruffle, and truthfulness which would not be turned aside. His willing hands and feet were ever ready to serve others; study to be a blessing to them, and to glorify your Creator.
“All around us are heard the wails of a world’s sorrow. On every hand are the needy and distressed. It is ours to aid in relieving and softening life’s hardships and misery. The wants of the soul, only the love of Christ can satisfy. If Christ is abiding in us, our hearts will be full of divine sympathy. The sealed fountains of earnest, Christlike love will be unsealed.
“There are many from whom hope has departed. Bring back the sunshine to them. Many have lost their courage. . . . Pray for these souls. Bring them to Jesus. Tell them that there is a balm in Gilead and a Physian there.”
Sons and Daughters of God, by Ellen White, p. 151.
“And he said unto them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.'” Matthew 4:19
“Jesus expects much of the youthful soldiers of His army, and let it be your determination that you will not disappoint your Captain and Leader. You are to wear His armor, to be marshaled under His banner, and become co-laborers with Him in conquering His enemies and extending His kingdom. . . You cannot betray sacred trust without imperiling your soul. You are to be found loyal and true, obedient to every word of command, presenting to others the highest motive to action, and showing them the attractions of the service of Christ. You are to show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
“Those who have experienced the love of Christ cannot be idlers in the Master’s vineyard. They will see opportunities for helping others in their steps to Christ. Partaking of Christ’s love, they will labor for the souls of others. Let every soul copy the Pattern, and become missionaries in the highest sense, winning souls to Jesus.
“In view of what Christ has done for us, and what He suffered for sinners, we should out of pure, disinterested love for souls imitate His example by sacrificing our own pleasure and convenience for their good. The joy set before Christ, which sustained Him in all His sufferings, was the salvation of poor sinners. This should be our joy, and the spur of our ambition in the cause of our Master. In so doing we please God, and manifest our love and devotion to Him as His servants. He first loved us, and withheld not from us His beloved Son, but gave Him from His bosom to die that we might live. Love, true love, for our fellow-men, evinces love to God.
“Those who are in vital contact with Christ will manifest it in their action. . . They will win souls to Christ and bring sheaves into the heavenly garner.”
Sons and Daughters of God, by Ellen White, for May 23.
Jesus showed His disciples, how to walk humbly while watching Him heal the man at the Bethesda Pool! “Do you want to be healed?” He asked.
Daily Jesus lived, ate, slept, guided, trained, healed, led His Disciples.
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love , as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:1,2.
“You are to follow God as dear children, to be obedient to all His requirements, walking in love as Christ also hath loved us. . . . Love was the element in which Chirst moved and walked and worked. He came to embrace the world in the army of His love. . . .
“We are to follow the example set by Christ,and make Him our pattern, until we shall have the same love for others as He has manifested for us. He seeks to impress us with this profound lesson of love. . . If you hearts have been given to selfishiness, let Christ imbue you with His love. He desires that we shall love Him fully, and encourages, yes even commands, that we shall love others as He has given us an example. He has made love the badge of our discipleship. . . . This is the measurement to which you are to reach,—“Love one another; as I have loved you.” What height, what depth and breadth of love! This love is not simply to embrace a few favorites, it is to reach to the lowliest and humblest of God’s creatures. Jesus says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” . . .
“The love and sympathy which Jesus would have us give to others does not savor of sentimentalism, which is a snare to the soul; it is both precept and example. But instead of manifesting this love, how often we are alienated and estranged one from another. . . . The result is estrangement from God, a dwarfed experience, of blighting of Christian growth. . . .
“The love of Jeus is an active principle, uniting heart with heart in bonds of Christian fellowship. Everyone who enters heaven will on earth have been perfected in love; for in heaven the Redeemer and the redeemed will be objects of our interest..”
Sons and Daughters of God, by Ellen White, p. 147.
Engraving From 1873 Featuring Jesus Teaching By The Sea-Side.
“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from here.” John 18:36
“Today in the religions of the world there are multitudes who, as they believe, are working for the establishment of the kingdom of Chirst as an earthly and temporal dominion. They desire to make our Lord the ruler of the kingdoms of this world, the ruler in its courts and camps, its legislative halls, its palaces and market places. They expect Him too rule through legal enactments, enforced by human authority. Since Christ is not now here in person, they themselves will undertake to act in His stead. . . . The establishment of such a kingdom is what the Jews desired in the days of Christ. . . . But He said,”My kingdom is not of this world.” He would not accept the earthly throne.
“The government under which Jesus lived was corrupt and oppressive; on every hand were crying abuses,–extortion, intolerance, and grinding cruelty. Yet the Saviour attempted no civil reforms. He attacked no national abuses, nor condemned the national enemies. He did not interfere with the authority or administration of those in power. He who was our example kept aloof from earthly governments. Not because He was indifferent to the woes of men, but because the remedy did not lie in merely human and external measures. To be efficient, the cure must reach men individually and must regenerate the heart.
“Not by the decisions of courts or councils or legislative assemblies, not by the patronage of worldly great men, is the kingdom of Chirst established, but by the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity through the work of the Holy Sirit. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
“Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Peter 2:23.
“How often we feel that we have been dealt with unjustly, that things have been said concerning us that were untrue, and that we have been set in a false light before others. When we are thus tried, we shall need to keep strict guard over our spirit and our words. We shall need to have the love of Christ, that we may not cherish an unforgivng spirit. Let us not think that unless those who have injured us confess their wrongs, we are justified in withholding from them our forgiveness. We should not accumulate our grievances, holding them to our hearts until the one we think guilty has humbled his heart by repentance and confession. . . . However sorely they may have wounded us, we are not to cherish our grievances and sympathize with ourselves over our injuries, but as we hope to be pardoned for our offenses against God, so must we pardon those who have done evil to us. . . . When we are revilved, how strong is the temptation to revile in return, but doing this we show ourselves as bad as the reviler. When tempted to revile, send up a silent prayer that God will give you His grace, and keep the tongue in silence. . . .
“Jesus has given us an example that we should follow in His steps, and manifest compassion and love and good-will toward all. Let us cultivate a kind spirit, a spirit of forbearance, and tender, pitying love toward those, who, when under temptation, have done us grievous wrongs. If possible, let us heal these wounds, and close the door of temptation by removing every barrier the wrongdoer has erected between himself and us. . . .The Lord delights to bestrow His blessings upon those who will honor Him, who will acknowledge His mercy, and show that they appreciate His love to them by manifesting the same gracious charactristic to those around them.”
Sons and Daughters of God, by Ellen White p. 144.
(I will allow you to have freedom of speech, and hopefully, you will grant me freedom of speech in return.?)
The Red Horse War Against Gods Government understood by the parables of Jesus 