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Thankful for Every Moment, December 3
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:18
.
Although I did not have good sleep during the night, my peace was like
a river. The love of Jesus grows in my heart, and I do love Him, and my
heart flows out in grateful thanksgiving. The preciousness of divine truth
presents itself with such clearness and force to my mind that I long to express
it to all that I can reach to comfort, and encourage them with the consolation
wherewith I myself also am comforted. I feel not the slightest depression
of spirits. Pleasant views and ideas present themselves to me like precious
views of gold, and my heart is all aglow and I feel an ardor of soul that seems
longing to express itself.
In reading the Scriptures, light seems to shine upon every letter—
sentences seem so fresh and new and important—and my heart is in complete
harmony with the whole. I am thankful every moment, even when awake at
night and unable to sleep.
I know in my daily experience that the Holy Spirit is present as I read His
Word, planting the truth in the heart, that it may be expressed in the life and
character to others. The Spirit of God takes the truth from the sacred page,
where He Himself hath placed it, and stamps it on the soul. What holy joy,
what hope and consolation can be ours to impart to others.
I attended the afternoon meeting [at Ballarat, N.S.W., Australia], and there
were more people present to hear the word than I expected. I spoke from
John 14:15-24
. The Lord gave me words to speak to the people to present
before them the precious assurances that Christ has given to all those who
know and do His commandments.
Jesus asks an evidence of their love for Him. “If ye love me, keep
my commandments” (
John 14:15
). If it were not possible for us to keep
His commandments, why does He speak words to us of this kind? Now
the following verse opens to us a treasure of knowledge. “And I will pray
the Father, [although I be absent from you] and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (
Verse 16
)....
Is not this promise sure? Can any words from the lips of God’s only
begotten Son make it more decided and positive?—
Manuscript 2, December
3, 1892
, diary.
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