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The Desire of Ages
sense of the weakness of humanity. The less you cherish self, the
more distinct and full will be your comprehension of the excellence of
your Saviour. The more closely you connect yourself with the source
of light and power, the greater light will be shed upon you, and the
greater power will be yours to work for God. Rejoice that you are one
with God, one with Christ, and with the whole family of heaven.
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As the seventy listened to the words of Christ, the Holy Spirit was
impressing their minds with living realities, and writing truth upon the
tablets of the soul. Though multitudes surrounded them, they were as
though shut in with God.
Knowing that they had caught the inspiration of the hour, Jesus
“rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven
and earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent,
and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed
good in Thy sight. All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and
no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father, and who the Father is,
but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.”
The honored men of the world, the so-called great and wise men,
with all their boasted wisdom, could not comprehend the character
of Christ. They judged Him from outward appearance, from the
humiliation that came upon Him as a human being. But to fishermen
and publicans it had been given to see the Invisible. Even the disciples
failed of understanding all that Jesus desired to reveal to them; but
from time to time, as they surrendered themselves to the Holy Spirit’s
power, their minds were illuminated. They realized that the mighty
God, clad in the garb of humanity, was among them. Jesus rejoiced
that though this knowledge was not possessed by the wise and prudent,
it had been revealed to these humble men. Often as He had presented
the Old Testament Scriptures, and showed their application to Himself
and His work of atonement, they had been awakened by His Spirit, and
lifted into a heavenly atmosphere. Of the spiritual truths spoken by the
prophets they had a clearer understanding than had the original writers
themselves. Hereafter they would read the Old Testament Scriptures,
not as the doctrines of the scribes and Pharisees, not as the utterances
of wise men who were dead, but as a new revelation from God. They
beheld Him “whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him
not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with
you, and shall be in you.”
John 14:17
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