Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him.
      —Isaiah 55:7

Have you, reader, chosen your own way? Have you wandered far from God? Have you sought to feast upon the fruits of transgression, only to find them turn to ashes upon your lips? And now, your life plans thwarted and your hopes dead, do you sit alone and desolate? That voice which has long been speaking to your heart, but to which you would not listen, comes to you distinct and clear, “Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction” (Micah 2:10)….

Do not listen to the enemy’s suggestion to stay away from Christ until you have made yourself better, until you are good enough to come to God. If you wait until then you will never come. When Satan points to your filthy garments, repeat the promise of the Saviour, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Tell the enemy that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. Make the prayer of David your own: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).

The exhortations of the prophet to Judah to behold the living God, and to accept His gracious offers, were not in vain. There were some who gave earnest heed, and who turned from their idols to the worship of Jehovah. They learned to see in their Maker love and mercy and tender compassion. And in the dark days that were to come in the history of Judah, when only a remnant were to be left in the land, the prophet’s words were to continue bearing fruit in decided reformation. “At that day,” declared Isaiah, “shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images” (Isaiah 17:7, 8).

Many were to behold the One Altogether Lovely, the Chiefest among ten thousand.—Prophets and Kings, 319-321.

Further Reflection: Why does God plead so fervently for my repentance? How can I avoid taking His grace for granted?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”—Revelation 2:4

Let us not flatter ourselves that we are the children of God, when our lack of Christ’s love is made manifest by our indifference to the souls for whom He died. “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another…. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

A spirit of careless indifference toward our brethren has been coming into our churches, and the religion of many has become cold, selfish, loveless Phariseeism. The True Counselor has spoken words of the utmost importance to all our souls—“Thou hast left thy first love.” What a loss is this! “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” O, how many have failed to grow up into Christ, their living head! Instead of growing up into Christ, they have grown away from Christ, and have nourished the elements of character that have been like those of Satan. These characteristics of evil excluded Satan from the royal courts above, and they will exclude you from the family of God, “except thou repent.” Your heart must be softened and made susceptible to the influence of the Spirit of God, that you may grow up into a spiritual temple in Christ. The saints on earth must love as Christ loved, or they will not be saints in heaven. If your sympathies have become dried up, turn to God, humble your proud heart before Him, fall on the Rock and be broken, and then Christ will mold you after His own similitude, and make you a vessel unto honor.—The Review and Herald, February 10, 1891.

Further Reflection: What is the proof that the Holy Spirit has softened my heart?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.—2 Corinthians 8:9

There is a world to be warned. To us has been entrusted this work. At any cost we must practice the truth. We are to stand as self-sacrificing minutemen, willing to suffer the loss of life itself, if need be, in the service of God. There is a great work to be done in a short time. We need to understand our work, and to do it with fidelity. Everyone who is finally crowned victor will, by noble, determined effort to serve God, have earned the right to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness. To enter the crusade against Satan, bearing aloft the blood-stained banner of the cross of Christ—this is the duty of every Christian.

This work calls for self-sacrifice. Self-denial and the cross stand all along the way of life. “He that will come after Me,” Christ said, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Those who secure the treasures of this world are obliged to toil and sacrifice. Should those who are seeking for an eternal reward think that they need make no sacrifices?

The most difficult sermon to preach and the hardest to practice is self-denial. The greedy sinner, self, closes the door to the good which might be done, but which is not done because money is invested for selfish purposes. But it is impossible for anyone to retain the favor of God and enjoy communion with the Saviour, and at the same time be indifferent to the interests of his fellow beings who have no life in Christ, who are perishing in their sins. Christ has left us a wonderful example of self-sacrifice. He pleased not Himself, but spent His life in the service of others. He made sacrifices at every step, sacrifices which none of His followers can ever make, because they have never occupied the position He occupied before He came to this earth. He was commander of the heavenly host, but He came here to suffer for sinners. He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich. Because He loved us, He laid aside His glory and took upon Him the form of a servant.—The Review and Herald, January 31, 1907.

Further Reflection: Who in home, church, or community needs my selfless service today?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”—Luke 7:16

There is a work for all to do to open the door of the heart to the heavenly visitor. The Lord of glory, who has redeemed us by His own blood, seeks admittance; but too often we do not welcome Him in. Worldliness does not incline us to throw wide open the door of the heart at the knock of Him who is seeking entrance. Some open the door slightly, and permit a little light from His presence to enter; but they do not bid Him hearty welcome. There is no room for Jesus; the place which should have been reserved for Him is occupied with other things. He entreats, and for a time they feel inclined to hear and open the door; but even this inclination departs, and they fail to secure the communion with the heavenly guest which it was their privilege to have.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock,” says the Saviour. The mansions in glory are His, and the joy of that heavenly abode; yet He humbles Himself to seek an entrance at the door of the heart, that He may bless us with His light, and make us to rejoice in His glory. His work is to seek and to save that which is lost and ready to perish. He will redeem from sin and death all who will come to Him; and will elevate them to His throne, and give them everlasting life.

Jesus will not force open the door of the heart. We must open it ourselves, and show that we desire His presence by giving Him a sincere welcome. If all would make thorough work of clearing away the world’s rubbish, and preparing a place for Jesus, He would enter, and abide with them, and would do a great work through them for the salvation of others. But many receive not the tokens of God’s mercy and loving-kindness with thankful hearts; they do not bend their energies and unite their interests in His work, and they do not share in the blessing that He is waiting to bestow.

“If any man hear My voice,” says Christ, “and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” These words are not addressed simply to the more intelligent and refined, but to all, without respect of persons.—The Signs of the Times, February 10, 1887.

Further Reflection: The opening of the heart to Jesus is something that each of us must do before He can enter. What areas of my heart remain closed to Jesus?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.—1 Peter 5:2

God’s care for His heritage is unceasing. He suffers no affliction to come upon His children but such as is essential for their present and eternal good. He will purify His church, even as Christ purified the temple during His ministry on earth. All that He brings upon His people in test and trial comes that they may gain deeper piety and greater strength to carry forward the triumphs of the cross.

There had been a time in Peter’s experience when he was unwilling to see the cross in the work of Christ. When the Saviour made known to the disciples His impending sufferings and death, Peter exclaimed, “Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee” (Matthew 16:22). Self-pity, which shrank from fellowship with Christ in suffering, prompted Peter’s remonstrance. It was to the disciple a bitter lesson, and one which he learned but slowly, that the path of Christ on earth lay through agony and humiliation. But in the heat of the furnace fire he was to learn its lesson. Now, when his once active form was bowed with the burden of years and labors, he could write, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

Addressing the church elders regarding their responsibilities as undershepherds of Christ’s flock, the apostle wrote: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

Those who occupy the position of undershepherds are to exercise a watchful diligence over the Lord’s flock. This is not to be a dictatorial vigilance, but one that tends to encourage and strengthen and uplift.—The Acts of the Apostles, 524-526.

Further Reflection: How can I affirm the leaders in my life who help to shepherd God’s flock?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names