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dislikes, choice of things and pursuits; there is no relish for what God
loves or approves but a delight in those things which He despises....
If Christ is abiding in the heart, He will be in all our thoughts. Our
deepest thoughts will be of Him, His love, His purity. He will fill all
the chambers of the mind. Our affections will center about Jesus. All
our hopes and expectations will be associated with Him. To live the
life we now live by faith in the Son of God, looking forward to and
loving His appearing, will be the soul’s highest joy. He will be the
crown of our rejoicing.—
Letter 8, 1891
(
In Heavenly Places, 163
.)
A Lifelong Vigilance—As long as life shall last there is need of
guarding the affections and the passions with a firm purpose. There is
inward corruption, there are outward temptations, and wherever the
work of God shall be advanced, Satan plans so to arrange circum-
stances that temptation shall come with overpowering force upon the
soul. Not one moment can we be secure only as we are relying upon
God, the life hid with Christ in God.—
Letter 8b, 1891
(
The S.D.A.
Bible Commentary 2:1032
.)
God is Preparing a People—God’s people must not only know
His will, but they must practice it. Many will be purged out from the
numbers of those who know the truth because they are not sanctified
by it. The truth must be brought into their hearts, sanctifying and
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cleansing them from all earthliness and sensuality in the most private
life. The soul temple must be cleansed. Every secret act is as if we
were in the presence of God and holy angels, as all things are open
before God, and from Him nothing can be hid....
God is purifying a people to have clean hands and pure hearts to
stand before Him in the judgment. The standard must be elevated,
the imagination purified; the infatuation clustering around debasing
practices must be given up, and the soul uplifted to pure thoughts,
holy practices. All who will stand the test and trial just before us will
be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped, not participated in,
the corruptions that are in the world through lust.—
The Review and
Herald, May 24, 1887
.
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