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186
S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 5
8. A Day by Day Experience
—[
John 15:8
quoted] What is it
to bear fruit? It is not all comprised in coming to meeting once a
week, and bearing our testimony in prayer or social meeting. We are
to be found day by day abiding in the Vine, and bringing forth fruit,
with patience, at our home, in our business; and in every relation
in life manifesting the Spirit of Christ. There are many who act as
though they thought an occasional connection with Christ was all
that was necessary, and that they can be accounted living branches
because at times they make confession of Christ. But this is a fallacy.
The branch is to be grafted into the Vine, and to abide there, uniting
itself to the Vine fiber by fiber, drawing its daily supply of sap and
nourishment from the root and fatness of the Vine, until it becomes
one with the parent stock. The sap that nourishes the Vine must
nourish the branch and this will be evident in the life of him who is
abiding in Christ; for the joy of Christ will be fulfilled in him who
walks not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Our professions are worthless unless we abide in Christ; for
we cannot be living branches unless the vital qualities of the Vine
abound in us. In the genuine Christian the characteristics of his
Master will appear, and when we reflect the graces of Christ in our
lives and characters, the Father loves us as He loves His Son. When
this condition is fulfilled in those who profess to believe the present
truth, we shall see a prosperous church; for its members will not
live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and they will
be flourishing branches of the living Vine (
The Signs of the Times,
April 18, 1892
).
10
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 24:23, 24
.
11 (
Acts 2:28
). Light Brings Gladness
—When the light of
heaven shines upon the human agent, his countenance will express
the joy of the Lord within. It is the absence of Christ from the soul
that makes people sad and of a doubtful mind. It is the want of
Christ that makes the countenance sad, and their life is a pilgrimage
[1145]
of sighs. Rejoicing is the very keynote of the Word of God for all
who receive Him. Why? Because they have the Light of life. Light
brings gladness and joy, and that joy is expressed in the life and the
character (
Manuscript 96, 1898
).
12
. See
EGW comment on John 13:34
.