Seite 237 - Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 (1868)

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Chapter 49—Entire Consecration
Dear Brother and Sister K,
In my last vision I was shown some things in regard to your family.
The Lord has thoughts of mercy concerning you and will not forsake
you unless you forsake Him. L and M are in a lukewarm condition.
They must arouse and make efforts for salvation, or they will fail of
everlasting life. They must feel an individual responsibility and have
an experience for themselves. They need a work wrought in their
hearts by the Holy Spirit of God, which will lead them to love and
choose the society of God’s people above any other, and to be separate
from those who have no love for spiritual things. Jesus demands a
whole sacrifice, an entire consecration. L and M, you have not realized
that God requires your undivided affections. You have made a holy
profession, yet have sunk down to the dead level of ordinary professors.
You love the society of the young who have no regard for the sacred
truths which you profess. You have appeared like your associates,
and have been contented with as much religion as would render you
agreeable to all, without incurring the censure of any.
Christ demands all. If He required less, His sacrifice was too dear,
too great to make to bring us up to such a level. Our holy faith cries
out, Separation. We should not be conformed to the world, or to dead,
heartless professors. “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind.” This is a self-denying way. And when you think that the way is
too strait, that there is too much self-denial in this narrow path; when
you say, How hard to give up all, ask yourselves the question, What
did Christ give up for me? This question puts anything that we may
call self-denial in the shade. Behold Him in the garden, sweating great
drops of blood. A solitary angel is sent from heaven to strengthen
the Son of God. Follow Him on His way to the judgment hall, while
He is derided, mocked, and insulted by that infuriated mob. Behold
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Him clothed in that old purple kingly robe. Hear the coarse jest and
cruel mocking. See them place upon that noble brow the crown of
thorns, and then smite Him with a reed, causing the thorns to penetrate
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