He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Isaiah 51:3.

The melody of praise is the atmosphere of heaven; and when heaven comes in touch with the earth, there is music and song—“thanksgiving and the voice of melody.”

Above the new-created earth, as it lay, fair and unblemished under the smile of God, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” So human hearts, in sympathy with heaven, have responded to God’s goodness in notes of praise. Many of the events of human history have been linked with sacred song.

The history of the songs of the Bible is full of suggestion as to the uses and benefits of music and song. Music is often perverted to serve purposes of evil, and it thus becomes one of the most alluring agencies of temptation. But rightly employed, it is a precious gift of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble themes, to inspire and elevate the soul. As the children of Israel, journeying through the wilderness, cheered their way by the music of sacred song, so God bids His children today gladden their pilgrim life. There are few means more effective for fixing His Word in the memory than repeating them in song. And such song has wonderful power. It has power to subdue rude and uncultivated natures, power to quicken thought and to awaken sympathy, to promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and foreboding that destroy courage and weaken effort.

It is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with spiritual truth. How often to the soul hard-pressed and ready to despair, memory recalls some word of God’s—the long-forgotten burden of a childhood song—and temptations lose their power, and courage and gladness are imparted to other souls! …

Let there be singing in the home of songs that are sweet and pure, and there will be fewer words of censure, and more of cheerfulness and hope and joy. Let there be singing in the schools, and the pupils will be drawn closer to God, to their teachers, and to one another.

As a part of religious service, singing is as much an act of worship as is prayer.—Youth’s Instructor, March 29, 1904.

From From the Heart

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. John 4:50.

In the city of Capernaum a nobleman’s son lies sick unto death. In vain his father has tried to save him. A messenger comes with hurried steps to the mansion, and asks to see the nobleman. He tells him that he has just come from Jerusalem, and that there is in Galilee a prophet of God, declared by some to be the long-expected Messiah…. It may be that He can heal the child.

As the nobleman listens, the expression of his countenance changes from despair to hope…. The hope born in his soul strengthens as he prepares for his journey. Before the day dawns, he is on his way to Cana of Galilee, where Jesus is supposed to have gone….

Finding Jesus, he beseeches Him to come to Capernaum and heal his son. “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe,” Jesus answers. To a certain extent the nobleman did believe, else he would not have taken the long journey at that critical time. But Christ desired to increase his faith.

With heartbroken entreaty the father cries, “Sir, come down ere my child die.” He fears that each passing moment will place his son beyond the power of the Healer…. Desiring to lead him to perfect faith, the Savior replies, “Go thy way; thy son liveth.”

“And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” Assured that the death he has dreaded will not come to his son, the nobleman does not ask any question nor seek any explanation. He believes. Over and over again he repeats the words, “Thy son liveth.”

And the power of the words of the Redeemer flashes like lightning from Cana to Capernaum, and the child is healed…. The watchers by the bedside mark with bated breath the conflict between life and death. And when in an instant the burning fever disappears, they are filled with amazement. Knowing the anxiety of the father, they go to greet him with the joyful tidings. He has only one question to ask, When did the child begin to mend? They tell him and he is satisfied…. Now his faith is crowned with assurance….

In our work for Christ, we need more of the unquestioning faith of the nobleman…. The one who trusts the Savior implicitly finds the gates of heaven ajar and flooded with glory from the throne of God.—Youth’s Instructor, December 4, 1902.

From From the Heart

Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4.

Sometimes one who professes to be a follower of Christ is heard saying, “You must not be surprised if I am rough, if I speak bluntly, if I manifest temper; it is my way.”

You ask us not to be surprised! Is not Heaven surprised at such manifestations, since the plan of salvation has been devised, since an infinite sacrifice has been made on Calvary’s cross, that you might reflect the image of Jesus? Will “your way” enter heaven? Suppose someone comes up to the pearly gates, and says, “I know that I have been rude and unkind, and that it is my disposition to lie and steal; but I want an entrance to the heavenly mansions.” Will such a disposition find entrance through the portals of the heavenly city? No, no! Only those who keep God’s way will enter there.

The manifestation of natural and cultivated tendencies to wrongdoing cannot be excused by the plea, “It is my way.” Christians realize that in order to bring the principles of Christianity into the daily life, they need much of the grace of Christ.

The youth who cooperate with Christ will find that their way is full of errors needing to be corrected. Brought into the character-building, these errors are as rotten timbers. Let none allow them to remain. Let none plead for the privilege of clinging to their imperfections, excusing themselves by saying, “It is my way.” Those who please self, refusing to give up their way for Christ’s way, will suffer the sure result….

Are you striving to walk in the way of truth and righteousness? Then be not discouraged by temptation. True, you will be tempted, but remember that temptation is not sin; it is no indication of the Lord’s displeasure. He suffers you to be tempted, but He measures the temptation by the power which He imparts to enable you to resist and overcome. It is in the time of temptation and trial that you are to measure the degree of your faith in God, and to estimate the stability of your Christian character.

Do not say, “It is impossible for me to overcome.” … In your own strength you cannot overcome, but help has been laid upon One that is mighty. Breathe the prayer, “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.”—Youth’s Instructor, October 2, 1902.

From From the Heart

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10.

A character formed after the divine likeness is the only treasure that we can take from this world to the next…. Regard every moment of time as golden. Do not waste it in indolence, do not spend it in folly, but use it in grasping higher treasures. Cultivate the thoughts and expand the soul by refusing to allow the mind to be filled with unimportant matters. Secure every advantage within your reach for strengthening the intellect. Do not rest satisfied with a low standard. Be not content until, by faithful endeavor, watchfulness, and earnest prayer, you have secured the wisdom that is from above….

Cherish every ray of light you can obtain by searching the Word of God. Take up your God-given work today, and see how much good you can accomplish in the strength of Christ. Make God your counselor….

Christ remembered our nature in the requirements He made. He took our nature upon Himself, and brought to us moral power to combine with human effort…. Our spirit may be so identified with His Spirit that in thought and aim we shall be one with Him….

The intellectual, moral, and physical faculties are to be equally cultivated and improved, that we may reach the highest standard in the attainment of knowledge….

Daniel of sacred history was but a youth when with his friends he was taken captive to Babylon. But he stands before the heavenly universe, before the worlds unfallen, and before a rebellious world, as a bright example of what the grace of God can do for sinners…. It was not his choice to be exposed to the profligacy, the gluttony, and the spendthrift habits of that heathen nation. But he set his heart, while there, to serve the Lord. He cooperated with God. He stood under Christ’s banner as a loyal subject of the heavenly King….

The character formed in this world determines the destiny for eternity. The element of value in the life in this world will be of value in the world to come. Our future is determined by the way in which we now allow ourselves to be influenced…. We take Christ’s yoke upon us, and learn His way.—Youth’s Instructor, August 17, 1899.

From From the Heart

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1.

The thought that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, not because of any merit on our part, but as a free gift from God, is a precious thought. The enemy of God and humanity is not willing that this truth should be clearly presented, for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken. If he can control minds, so that doubt and unbelief and darkness shall compose the experience of those who claim to be the children of God, he can overcome them with temptation. The simple faith that takes God at His word should be encouraged. God’s people must have that faith which will lay hold of divine power; “for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Those who believe that God for Christ’s sake has forgiven their sins should not, through temptation, fail to press on to fight the good fight of faith. Their faith should grow stronger until their Christian life, as well as their words, shall declare, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Faith is trusting God—believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good. Thus instead of our own way, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership and accepts its blessing. Truth, uprightness, purity, have been pointed out as secrets of life’s success…. Every good impulse or aspiration is the gift of God; faith receives from God the life that alone can produce true growth and efficiency.

How to exercise faith should be made very plain. To every promise of God there are conditions. If we are willing to do His will, all His strength is ours. Whatever gift He promises is in the promise itself…. As surely as the oak is in the acorn, so surely is the gift of God in His promise….

Faith that enables us to receive God’s gifts is itself a gift…. It grows as it is exercised in appropriating the Word of God. In order to strengthen faith, we must often bring it in contact with the Word.

How often those who trusted the Word of God, though in themselves utterly helpless, have withstood the power of the whole world…. These are the world’s true noblemen. They are its royal line.—The Review and Herald, December 24, 1908.

From From the Heart