“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isaiah 55:9

God would have you trust in His love, and be constantly guarding your soul by locking the gate of your thoughts, that they shall not become unmanageable, for when you allow your mind to indulge these thoughts of self-pity, the enemy comes in to suggest the most unkind and unreasonable things in regard to those who would do you good, and only good.

The Lord is to be your Helper, and you will find comfort of mind and strength in considering the very things He would have you think upon. Consider the ways of the Lord toward you that your human life may be an exposition and a witness to His ways. You are a child of God; ever act toward your heavenly Father as you wish your children to act toward you. You cannot measure God; you cannot by searching find out God. “Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what canst thou know?” (Job 11:7, 8).

The Bible is to be to you practical and useful in every phase of your life. In every perplexity, go to God; keep your tongue as in a bridle while with men and women, but talk with God. A life guarded and controlled by the Word of God develops purity and nobility of character, comparable to fine gold, yea, even the golden wedge of Ophir. Jesus bids you come to Him in the night of trial, and you will find rest for your soul. He says, “Take My yoke upon you; and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your soul. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:29, 30).

Listen to Jesus, follow His counsel, and you will not go astray from the wise and mighty Counselor, the only true Guide, the only One who can give you peace, happiness, and fullness of joy. Is not Jesus, everything to you? Can you not hide your life with Christ in God? One with Christ, you are one with the Father. You may have deep and solemn earnestness, but be careful to have all your powers under the control of the Holy Spirit, that your work may be done in simplicity, and without friction.—Letter 10, 1894.

Further Reflection: What does it mean to hide my life with Christ in God?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son.—Galatians 4:4

The rebellion of Israel against the law and authority of God, caused their destruction. The honor God had given them of being thus conducted by His Son, increased their sin. The charges of the Jews that Christ did not regard the law of Moses, was without the least foundation. Christ was a Jew, and, to the hour of His death upon the cross, observed the law binding upon the Jews. But when type met antitype, at the death of Christ, then the offering of the blood of beasts became valueless. Christ made the one great offering in giving His own life, which all their former offerings had foreshadowed, which terminated the value of all the sacrificial offerings of the Jewish law.

Since the fall, no immediate communication could exist between God and humanity, only through Christ, and God committed to His Son, in a special sense, the case of the fallen race. Christ has undertaken the work of redemption. He purposes to maintain the full honor of God’s law, notwithstanding the human family have transgressed it. He will redeem from its curse all the obedient who will embrace the offer of mercy by accepting the atonement so wonderfully provided….

Adam and Eve at their creation had knowledge of the original law of God. It was imprinted upon their hearts, and they were acquainted with the claims of law upon them. When they transgressed the law of God, and fell from their state of happy innocence, and became sinners, the future of the fallen race was not relieved by a single ray of hope. God pitied them and Christ devised the plan for their salvation by Himself bearing the guilt. When the curse was pronounced upon the earth and upon humanity in connection with the curse was a promise that through Christ there was hope and pardon for the transgression of God’s law. Although gloom and darkness hung, like the pall of death, over the future, yet in the promise of the Redeemer, the star of hope lighted up the dark future. The gospel was first preached to Adam by Christ. Adam and Eve felt sincere sorrow and repentance for their guilt. They believed the precious promise of God, and were saved from utter ruin.—The Review and Herald, April 29, 1875.

Further Reflection: If I was Adam, how would it feel to know that God had made a way to save the world that my sin had so terribly damaged?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.—2 Timothy 3:12

Satan’s enmity against the human race is kindled because, through Christ, they are the objects of God’s love and mercy. He desires to thwart the divine plan for man’s redemption, to cast dishonor upon God, by defacing and defiling His handiwork; he would cause grief in heaven and fill the earth with woe and desolation. And he points to all this evil as the result of God’s work in creating human beings.

It is the grace that Christ implants in the soul which creates in men and women enmity against Satan. Without this converting grace and renewing power, human beings would continue the captives of Satan, servants ever ready to do his bidding. But the new principle in the soul creates conflict where hitherto had been peace. The power which Christ imparts enables men and women to resist the tyrant and usurper. Whoever is seen to abhor sin instead of loving it, whoever resists and conquers those passions that have held sway within, displays the operation of a principle wholly from above.

The antagonism that exists between the spirit of Christ and the spirit of Satan was most strikingly displayed in the world’s reception of Jesus. It was not so much because He appeared without worldly wealth, pomp, or grandeur that the Jews were led to reject Him. They saw that He possessed power which would more than compensate for the lack of these outward advantages. But the purity and holiness of Christ called forth against Him the hatred of the ungodly. His life of self-denial and sinless devotion was a perpetual reproof to a proud, sensual people. It was this that evoked enmity against the Son of God. Satan and evil angels joined with evil human beings. All the energies of apostasy conspired against the Champion of truth.

The same enmity is manifested toward Christ’s followers as was manifested toward their Master. Whoever sees the repulsive character of sin, and in strength from above resists temptation, will assuredly arouse the wrath of Satan and his subjects.—The Great Controversy, 506, 507.

Further Reflection: What is my current attitude towards sin? Do I find it repulsive and abhorrent, or have I become desensitized to its destructive power?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”—Daniel 5:25

The hand was gone, but four terrible words were left. With bated breath the people waited as Daniel announced their meaning: “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin:” “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it;” “thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting;” “thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:25-28).

Just as surely as there was a Witness at the feast of Belshazzar, there is also a Witness in every scene of sacrilegious mirth, and just as surely is the recording angel writing, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”

Intemperance is on the increase, in spite of the efforts made to control it. We cannot be too earnest in seeking to hinder its progress, to raise the fallen, and shield the weak from temptation. With our feeble human hands we can do but little, but we have an unfailing Helper. We must not forget that the arm of Christ can reach to the very depths of human woe and degradation. He can give us help to conquer even this terrible demon of intemperance.

But it is in the home that the real work must begin. The greatest burden rests upon those who have the responsibility of educating the youth, of forming their character. Here is a work for mothers, in helping their children to form correct habits and pure tastes, to develop moral stamina, true moral worth. Teach them that they are not to be swayed by others, that they are not to yield to wrong influences, but to influence others for good, to ennoble and elevate those with whom they associate. Teach them that if they connect themselves with God, they will have strength from Him to resist the fiercest temptations.

In the Babylonian court, Daniel was surrounded by allurements to sin, but by the help of Christ he maintained his integrity. He who cannot resist temptation, with every facility which has been placed within his reach, is not registered in the books of heaven as a man. The Lord never places men in positions so trying that it is beyond their power to withstand evil. Divine power is ever ready to protect and strengthen him who has been made a partaker of the divine nature.—Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 21, 22.

Further Reflection: How can I avoid giving in to Satan’s many allurements to sin?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men.—John 2:24

Those only who are constantly receiving fresh supplies of grace, will have power proportionate to their daily need and their ability to use that power. Instead of looking forward to some future time when, through a special endowment of spiritual power, they will receive a miraculous fitting up for soul winning, they are yielding themselves daily to God, that He may make them vessels meet for His use. Daily they are improving the opportunities for service that lie within their reach. Daily they are witnessing for the Master wherever they may be, whether in some humble sphere of labor in the home, or in a public field of usefulness.

To the consecrated worker there is wonderful consolation in the knowledge that even Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily for fresh supplies of needed grace; and from this communion with God He went forth to strengthen and bless others. Behold the Son of God bowed in prayer to His Father! Though He is the Son of God, He strengthens His faith by prayer, and by communion with heaven gathers to Himself power to resist evil and to minister to the needs of human beings. As the Elder Brother of our race He knows the necessities of those who, compassed with infirmity and living in a world of sin and temptation, still desire to serve Him. He knows that the messengers whom He sees fit to send are weak, erring persons; but to all who give themselves wholly to His service He promises divine aid. His own example is an assurance that earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith—faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work—will avail to bring to human beings the Holy Spirit’s aid in the battle against sin.

Every worker who follows the example of Christ will be prepared to receive and use the power that God has promised to His church for the ripening of earth’s harvest. Morning by morning, as the heralds of the gospel kneel before the Lord and renew their vows of consecration to Him, He will grant them the presence of His Spirit, with its reviving, sanctifying power. As they go forth to the day’s duties, they have the assurance that the unseen agency of the Holy Spirit enables them to be “laborers together with God.”—The Acts of the Apostles, 55, 56.

Further Reflection: If Jesus wants to address my deepest needs, what area of my life should I open to Him today?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names