Faith
135
Faith Works—When you look to Calvary, it is not to quiet your
soul in the nonperformance of duty, not to compose yourself to sleep,
but to create faith in Jesus, faith that will work, purifying the soul from
the slime of selfishness. When we lay hold of Christ by faith, our work
has just begun.
Every man has corrupt and sinful habits that must be overcome by
vigorous warfare. Every soul is required to fight the fight of faith. If
one is a follower of Christ, he cannot be sharp in deal, he cannot be
hardhearted, devoid of sympathy. He cannot be coarse in his speech.
He cannot be full of pomposity and self-esteem. He cannot be over-
bearing, nor can he use harsh words, and censure and condemn.—MS
16, 1890. (
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 6:1111
.)
Molds the Life—The life is molded by the faith. If light and truth
is within our reach and we neglect to improve the privilege of hearing
and seeing it, we virtually reject it; we are choosing darkness rather
than light.—
The Great Controversy, 597
(1888).
Faith Promises Success—We shall have success if we move for-
ward in faith, determined to do the work of God intelligently. We must
not allow ourselves to be hindered by men who love to stand on the
negative side, showing very little faith. God’s missionary work is to be
carried forward by men of much faith and is steadily to grow in force
and efficiency.—Lt 233, 1904.
Faith Purifies the Soul—Faith, living faith, we must have, a faith
that works by love and purifies the soul. We must learn to take ev-
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erything to the Lord with simplicity and earnest faith. The greatest
burden we have to bear in this life is self. Unless we learn in the school
of Christ to be meek and lowly, we shall miss precious opportunities
and privileges for becoming acquainted with Jesus. Self is the most
difficult thing we have to manage. In laying off burdens, let us not
forget to lay self at the feet of Christ.
Hand yourself over to Jesus, to be molded and fashioned by Him,
that you may be made vessels unto honor. Your temptations, your
ideas, your feelings, must all be laid at the foot of the cross. Then the
soul is ready to listen to words of divine instruction. Jesus will give
you to drink of the water which flows from the river of God. Under
the softening and subduing influence of His Spirit your coldness and
listlessness will disappear. Christ will be in you a well of water,
springing up into everlasting life.—Lt 57, 1887.