“The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.”—Deuteronomy 1:17

Let us believe the Lord will hear our united petitions. With Him nothing is impossible. The words spoken by Moses, the Mighty Counselor speaks to us, “And the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto Me, and I will hear it” (Deuteronomy 1:17). What a cheering, hopeful message is this. Shall not we comply with this gracious invitation? One greater than Moses speaks these words, and it comes down along the line of ages to the Israel of God in these days. The case that is baffling to human wisdom, too difficult for the acutest skill of human beings, take it then to Jesus, and He who has spoken so encouragingly “bring it unto Me” will not disappoint our expectations.

That which He requires of us is simply to exercise faith in His word that He will remove all our difficulties and perplexities and make all that is complex clear, and all that is dark light. With Him nothing is impossible. One thing I know, we must rest upon the promise of God without one doubt. Look and live. “Looking unto Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Here, as on a stable foundation, we rest. Faith can there act its way—often sunless and starless, while everything in appearance is an intricate wilderness. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Faith can travel through trials, endure temptations, bear and live under disappointments. Bear up under apparent forbidding providences, saying, “Thou art my refuge, in Thee I trust implicitly believing His word because the eye of faith sees in Jesus the substitute and surety for humanity, and Jesus is the ever-living witness that God is true.” The promise is then to us, yea and amen in Christ Jesus.

The waves of trial and temptation may be rolling at our feet, and to all appearances we are sinking beneath the white-capped billows that seem to be talking with death, and our souls exclaim in anguish. Will He be favorable no more? Will the Lord cease to be gracious? Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Look up upon the face of His anointed. Behold the glory of God’s verity and His truth and loving kindness and tender compassion beaming in the face of Jesus Christ, and doubt no more.—Letter 80, 1893.

Further Reflection: What case is too hard for me to bear today? Why do I not bring it to Jesus?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.”—John 5:22

Between the first and the second advent of Christ a wonderful contrast will be seen. No human language can portray the scenes of the second coming of the Son of Man in the clouds of heaven. He is to come with His own glory, and with the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. He will come clad in the robe of light, which He has worn from the days of eternity. Angels will accompany Him. Ten thousand times ten thousand will escort Him on His way…. The voice of Christ will penetrate the tomb, and pierce the ears of the dead, “and all that are in the graves … shall come forth.”

“And before Him shall be gathered all nations.” The very One who died for humanity is to judge them in the last day; for the Father “hath committed all judgment unto the Son: … and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.” What a day that will be, when those who rejected Christ will look upon Him whom their sins have pierced. They will then know that He proffered them all heaven if they would but stand by His side as obedient children; that He paid an infinite price for their redemption; but that they would not accept freedom from the galling slavery of sin….

As they gaze upon His glory, there flashes before their minds the memory of the Son of Man clad in the garb of humanity. They remember how they treated Him, how they refused Him, and pressed close to the side of the great apostate. The scenes of Christ’s life appear before them in all their clearness. All He did, all He said, the humiliation to which He descended to save them from the taint of sin, rises before them in condemnation….

Again they hear the voice of Pilate, saying, “I find in Him no fault at all.” They see the shameful scene in the judgment-hall, when Barabbas stood by the side of Christ, and they had the privilege of choosing the Guiltless One. They hear again the words of Pilate, “Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus, which is called Christ?” They hear the response, “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.” To the question of Pilate, “What shall I do then with Jesus?” the answer comes, “Let Him be crucified.”—The Review and Herald, September 5, 1899.

Further Reflection: What strikes me most about this judgment scene?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.—Hebrews 3:4

The Jewish temple was built of hewn stones quarried out of the mountains; and every stone was fitted for its place in the temple, hewed, polished, and tested before it was brought to Jerusalem. And when all were brought to the ground, the building went together without the sound of ax or hammer. This building represents God’s spiritual temple, which is composed of material gathered out of every nation, and tongue, and people, of all grades, high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned. These are not dead substances to be fitted by hammer and chisel. They are living stones, quarried out from the world by the truth; and the great Master Builder, the Lord of the temple, is now hewing and polishing them, and fitting them for their respective places in the spiritual temple. When completed, this temple will be perfect in all its parts, the admiration of angels and of human beings; for its Builder and Maker is God….

There is no person, no nation, that is perfect in every habit and thought. One must learn of another. Therefore God wants the different nationalities to mingle together, to be one in judgment, one in purpose. Then the union that there is in Christ will be exemplified.

I was almost afraid to come to this country because I heard so many say that the different nationalities of Europe were peculiar and had to be reached in a certain way. But the wisdom of God is promised to those who feel their need and who ask for it. God can bring the people where they will receive the truth. Let the Lord take possession of the mind and mold it as the clay is molded in the hands of the potter, and these differences will not exist. Look to Jesus, brethren; copy His manners and spirit, and you will have no trouble in reaching these different classes.

We have not six patterns to follow … only one, and that is Christ Jesus. If the Italian brethren, the French brethren, and the German brethren try to be like Him, they will plant their feet upon the same foundation of truth; the same spirit that dwells in one will dwell in the other—Christ in them, the hope of glory. I warn you, brethren and sisters, not to build up a wall of partition between different nationalities. On the contrary, seek to break it down wherever it exists. We should endeavor to bring all into the harmony that there is in Jesus, laboring for the one object, the salvation of our fellow human beings.—Testimonies for the Church 9:180, 181.

Further Reflection: What ethnic or cultural differences continue to separate the church?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.”—Matthew 4:16

We must pray more, and walk more humbly and more by faith. Christ was perfect in His humanity, and the more faith we have in Him as our sufficiency, the more humbly we walk with God, and the more entire our consecration, the less intrusion of self will there be between God and humanity. The grace of Christ must be an abiding presence in the soul day by day. Only thus can we endure the seeing of Him who is invisible.

Christ came to our world to manifest God to men and women, to lead them to God. “I am the light of the world,” He declared (John 8:12). What was it that consecrated Him the Light of the world? It was this. He came down from heaven. He is the true Teacher sent from God. He was the One chosen to reveal God’s character to the world. He is the bright and morning Star. He is the Sun of Righteousness, a Light to Lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel. John declared of Him, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9).

We may ask of our Lord, knowing that we shall receive. We need more of Christ’s humility and meekness, that we may have fervent charity among ourselves; then we may pray, then we may intercede with God. Thus we shall prove the truth of the word, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him” (Psalm 25:14). But those whom the Lord would use are in great danger of getting on human stilts. There is earnest work to be done. There is need of walking with God. Then tracts right to the point will be issued.

Prayer and faith will do what no power upon earth can accomplish. We need not be so anxious and troubled. The human agent cannot go everywhere and do everything that needs to be done. Often imperfections manifest themselves in the work, but if we show unwavering trust in God, not depending upon the ability or talent of human beings, the truth will advance. Let us place all things in God’s hands, leaving Him to do the work in His own way according to His own will, through whomsoever He may choose. Those who seem to be weak God will use if they are humble.—Manuscript 120, 1898.

Further Reflection: How have prayer and faith affected the way in which I witness for Christ? How have these spiritual blessings changed my walk with God?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

“Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!”—Matthew 25:6

The coming of Christ as our high priest to the most holy place, for the cleansing of the sanctuary, brought to view in Daniel 8:14; the coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of Days, as presented in Daniel 7:13; and the coming of the Lord to His temple, foretold by Malachi, are descriptions of the same event; and this is also represented by the coming of the bridegroom to the marriage, described by Christ in the parable of the ten virgins, of Matthew 25.

In the summer and autumn of 1844 the proclamation, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh,” was given. The two classes represented by the wise and foolish virgins were then developed—one class who looked with joy to the Lord’s appearing, and who had been diligently preparing to meet Him; another class that, influenced by fear and acting from impulse, had been satisfied with a theory of the truth, but were destitute of the grace of God. In the parable, when the bridegroom came, “they that were ready went in with him to the marriage.” The coming of the bridegroom, here brought to view, takes place before the marriage. The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and representative of the kingdom, is called “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Said the angel to John: “Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” “He carried me away in the spirit,” says the prophet, “and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:9, 10). Clearly, then, the bride represents the Holy City, and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper (Revelation 19:9). If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride. Christ, as stated by the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven, “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom;” He will receive the New Jerusalem, the capital of His kingdom, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Daniel 7:14; Revelation 21:2). Having received the kingdom, He will come in His glory, as King of kings and Lord of lords, for the redemption of His people who are to … partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb.—The Great Controversy, 426, 427.

Further Reflection: What would it be like to share a meal with Jesus alone?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names