Sacredness of God’s Commandments
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He who fed Elijah by the brook, making a raven His messenger, will
not suffer His faithful ones to want for food.
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The Saviour asked His disciples, who were pressed with poverty,
why they were anxious and troubled in regard to what they should eat
or how they should be clothed. Said He: “Behold the fowls of the air:
for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
He pointed to the lovely flowers, formed and tinted by a divine hand,
saying: “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of
the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I
say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like
one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which
today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more
clothe you, O ye of little faith?”
Where is the faith of God’s people? Why are they so unbelieving
and distrustful of Him who provides for their wants and upholds them
by His strength? The Lord will test the faith of His people; He will
send rebukes, which will be followed by afflictions if these warnings
are not heeded. He will break the fatal lethargy of sin at any cost to
those who have departed from their allegiance to Him, and awaken
them to their sense of duty.
My brother, your soul must be quickened and your faith enlarged.
You have so long excused yourself in your disobedience on one plea
or another that your conscience has been lulled to rest and ceases
to remind you of your errors. You have so long followed your own
convenience in regard to keeping the Sabbath that your mind has been
rendered unimpressible as to your course of disobedience; yet you
are none the less responsible, for you have brought yourself into this
condition. Begin at once to obey the divine commandments, and
trust in God. Provoke not His wrath, lest He visit you with terrible
punishment. Return to Him before it is too late, and find pardon for
your transgressions. He is rich and abundant in mercies; He will give
you His peace and approbation if you come to Him in humble faith.
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