34
Child Guidance
begin to obtain in this world; the study will be continued throughout
eternity. God has provided for man subjects of thought which will
bring into activity every faculty of the mind. We may read the character
of the Creator in the heavens above and the earth beneath, filling the
heart with gratitude and thanksgiving. Every nerve and sense will
respond to the expressions of God’s love in His marvelous works
Nature and the Bible Were Jesus’ Textbooks—His [Jesus’] ed-
ucation was gained from Heaven-appointed sources, from useful work,
from the study of the Scriptures, from nature, and from the experiences
of life—God’s lesson books, full of instruction to all who bring to
them the willing hand, the seeing eye, and the understanding heart
His intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures shows how diligently
His early years were given to the study of God’s Word. And spread out
before Him was the great library of God’s created works. He who had
made all things studied the lessons which His own hand had written in
earth and sea and sky. Apart from the unholy ways of the world, He
gathered stores of scientific knowledge from nature. He studied the
life of plants and animals, and the life of man. From His earliest years
He was possessed of one purpose; He lived to bless others. For this
He found resources in nature; new ideas of ways and means flashed
[51]
into His mind as He studied plant life and animal life....
Thus to Jesus the significance of the Word and the works of God
was unfolded, as He was trying to understand the reason of things.
Heavenly beings were His attendants, and the culture of holy thoughts
and communings was His. From the first dawning of intelligence He
was constantly growing in spiritual grace and knowledge of truth.
Every child may gain knowledge as Jesus did. As we try to become
acquainted with our heavenly Father through His Word, angels will
draw near, our minds will be strengthened, our characters will be
elevated and refined
Later Used by Him in His Teaching—The great Teacher brought
His hearers in contact with nature, that they might listen to the voice
which speaks in all created things; and as their hearts became tender
and their minds receptive, He helped them to interpret the spiritual
teaching of the scenes upon which their eyes rested. The parables, by
14
Testimonies For The Church 4:581
.
15
The Ministry of Healing, 400
.
16
The Desire of Ages, 70
.