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Foreword
To be like Jesus—this is the goal set forth by John the beloved: “Whoever says,
‘I abide in Him,’ ought to walk just as He walked” (
1 John 2:6
, NRSV). And Peter
declared: “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow
His steps” (
1 Peter 2:21
).
In support of this challenging objective, Ellen White wrote: “Talk as Christ
talked. Work as Christ worked. We must look to Christ and live. Catching sight of
His loveliness, we long to practice the virtues and righteousness of Christ.”
The present volume, prepared in the offices of the Ellen G. White Estate, is
designed to help readers fix their eyes on Jesus, noting how He lived, studying
His attitudes and practices, and encouraging them to follow His example. How
important was prayer in His life? How did He relate to inspired writings? How
did He use time and other God-given talents? What was His attitude toward the
natural world, toward the moral law, toward healthful living? The daily readings
are grouped around these and other practical topics month by month, helping to
make clear that salvation involves much more than simply saying, “I believe.” It
means loving Jesus, obeying Him, and seeking to be like Him
.
The devotional readings have been selected from a wide range of Ellen White
articles, books, and letters, written over a span of many decades. To confine them
to a single page, repetitive or less-pertinent portions of the original message have
been omitted, but these omissions, indicated by marks of ellipsis, have in no way
distorted or changed the meaning of the original passage
.
Most of the texts used at the beginning of the daily readings are quoted from
the New King James Version of the Bible, but a few have been taken from the New
Revised Standard Version because in these texts gender-inclusive language sets
forth more precisely the meaning of the Bible writer. For the same reason, without
making any change in Mrs. White’s thought this book uses inclusive language
where it is clear that Ellen White meant to include both males and females in a
passage
.
During a difficult experience in her 70-year ministry Ellen White wrote: “Jesus
is my precious Savior. I want to copy the pattern. How exact in principle and
upright in conduct was He! He gave no place to Satan when he was tempted. How
wide awake He had to be to discern the tempter’s wiles. Oh, if we would only walk
1
The Upward Look, 344
.