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Learning from the Divine Teacher, June 11
And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the
sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the
Lord an offering in righteousness.
Malachi 3:3
.
Here is the process, the refining, purifying process, to be carried on by the Lord
of hosts. The work is most trying to the soul, but it is only through this process that
the rubbish and defiling impurities can be removed. Our trials are all necessary to
bring us close to our heavenly Father, in obedience to His will, that we may offer to
the Lord an offering in righteousness. God has given each of us capabilities, talents
to improve. We need a new and living experience in the divine life, in order to do
the will of God. No amount of past experience will suffice for the present, or will
strengthen us to overcome the difficulties in our path. We must have new grace and
fresh strength daily in order to be victorious.
We are seldom, in all respects, placed in the same condition twice.... Each has
his own experience, peculiar in its character and circumstances, to accomplish a
certain work. God has a work, a purpose, in the life of each and all of us. Every
act, however small, has its place in our life experience. We must have the continual
light and experience that come from God. We all need them, and God is more than
willing we should have them, if we will take them. He has not closed the windows of
heaven to our prayers, but there are those who have felt satisfied to pass on without
the divine help they so much need....
We need to learn of the divine Teacher as much now as at any period of our lives,
and even more. And the more experience we gain, the nearer we draw toward the
pure light of heaven, the more shall we discern in ourselves that needs reforming. We
may all do a good work in blessing others, if we will seek counsel of God, and follow
on in obedience and faith. The path of the just is a progressive one, from strength to
strength, from grace to grace, and from glory to glory. The divine illumination will
increase more and more, corresponding with our onward movements, qualifying us
to meet the responsibilities and emergencies before us.
Real godliness is diffusive and communicative. The psalmist says, “I have not
hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy
salvation. I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great
congregation” (
Psalm 40:10
). Wherever the love of God is, there is always a desire
to express it. It is hard for us to submit to the crucifixion of self....
We may be thoroughly converted and transformed, and be indeed children of
God, enjoying not only the knowledge of His will, but leading others, by our
example, in the same path of humble obedience and consecration (
The Review and
Herald, June 22, 1886
).
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