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Adorning the Gospel, June 9
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have
esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Job 23:12
.
Only those who read the Scriptures as the voice of God speaking to them
are true learners. They tremble at the Word of God, for to them it is a living
reality. They study, they search for the hidden treasure. They open their
understanding and heart to receive, and they pray for heavenly grace, that
they may obtain a preparation for the future, immortal life.
As the heavenly torch is placed in his hand, man sees his own frailty,
his infirmity, his hopelessness in looking to himself for righteousness. In
himself there is nothing that can recommend him to God. He prays for the
Holy Spirit, the representative of Christ, to be his constant guide, to lead him
into all truth....
A bare assent to the truth is not Bible religion.... There are many Christians
whose hearts are encased in a self-righteous armor that the arrow of the Lord,
barbed and true, aimed by angel hands, would fail to pierce. The truth glides
off, and the soul is not wounded. Man must first seek God for himself, then
the Holy Spirit will take the precious truth, far above the price of rubies, as it
falls from the lips of Jesus, and convey it, a living power, to the obedient heart.
The truth, received in the heart becomes a quickening power, awakening every
faculty. It is a divine influence that touches the heart and creates the heavenly
music that flows forth from the lips in pure thanksgiving and praise.
O what can I say in order to awaken the minds of those who profess to
believe the truth, that they may adorn the gospel by a faith that works by love
and purifies the soul. Christ bids you look to Him as the Illuminator of your
darkened souls....
The curiosity of men has led them to seek for the tree of knowledge; and
often they think they are plucking fruit most essential, when, like Solomon’s
research, they find it altogether vanity and nothingness in comparison with
that science of true holiness which will open to them the gates of the city of
God....
Every human agent must see that the great and important work for him in
this life is to receive the divine likeness, to prepare a character for the future
life. He must appropriate the heavenly truths to his special use in practical
life.—
Manuscript 67, June 9, 1898
, “Search the Scriptures.”
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