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Faithfulness in Health Reform
141
Those who choose to be presumptuous, saying, “The Lord has
healed me, and I need not restrict my diet; I can eat and drink as
I please,” will erelong need, in body and soul, the restoring power
of God. Because the Lord has graciously healed you, you must not
think you can link yourselves up with the self-indulgent practices of
the world. Do as Christ commanded after His work of healing—“go,
and sin no more.”
John 8:11
. Appetite must not be your god.
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The Lord gave His word to ancient Israel, that if they would
cleave strictly to Him and do all His requirements, He would keep
them from all the diseases such as He had brought upon the Egyp-
tians; but this promise was given on the condition of obedience. Had
the Israelites obeyed the instruction they received, and profited by
their advantages, they would have been the world’s object lesson
of health and prosperity. The Israelites failed of fulfilling God’s
purpose, and thus failed of receiving the blessings that might have
been theirs. But in Joseph and Daniel, in Moses and Elijah, and
many others, we have noble examples of the results of the true plan
of living. Like faithfulness today will produce like results. To us it
is written: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of
Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9
.
Self-Surrender and Rest
Oh, how many lose the richest blessings that God has in store
for them in health and spiritual endowments! There are many souls
who wrestle for special victories and special blessings that they may
do some great thing. To this end they are always feeling that they
must make an agonizing struggle in prayer and tears. When these
persons search the Scriptures with prayer to know the expressed will
of God, and then do His will from the heart without one reservation
or self-indulgence, they will find rest. All the agonizing, all the tears
and struggles, will not bring them the blessing they long for. Self
must be entirely surrendered. They must do the work that presents
itself, appropriating the abundance of the grace of God which is
promised to all who ask in faith.
“If any man will come after Me,” said Jesus, “let him deny
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