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The Meaning Of God’s Law, February 19
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.
Psalm 19:7
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The carnal mind is enmity against God, and it rebels against His will....
I have been shown what man is without a knowledge of the will of God.... But
when the Spirit of God reveals to him the full meaning of the law, what a change
takes place in his heart! Like Belshazzar, he reads intelligently the handwriting of
the Almighty, and conviction takes possession of his soul. The thunders of God’s
word startle him from his lethargy, and he calls for mercy in the name of Jesus.
And to that humble plea God always listens with a willing ear. He never turns the
penitent away comfortless....
If God’s people would recognize His dealings with them and accept His
teachings, they would find a straight path for their feet and a light to guide them
through darkness and discouragement. David learned wisdom from God’s dealings
with him and bowed in humility beneath the chastisement of the Most High. The
faithful portrayal of his true state by the prophet Nathan made David acquainted
with his own sins and aided him to put them away. He accepted counsel meekly
and humiliated himself before God. “The law of the Lord,” he exclaims, “is
perfect, converting the soul.”
Repentant sinners have no cause to despair because they are reminded of their
transgressions and warned of their danger. These very efforts in their behalf show
how much God loves them and desires to save them. They have only to follow
His counsel and do His will, to inherit eternal life. God sets the sins of His erring
people before them, that they may behold them in all their enormity under the
light of divine truth. It is then their duty to renounce them forever.
God is as powerful to save from sin today as He was in the times of the patri-
archs, of David, and of the prophets and apostles. The multitude of cases recorded
in sacred history where God has delivered His people from their own iniquities
should make the Christian of this time eager to receive divine instruction and
zealous to perfect a character that will bear the close inspection of the judgment....
The words of inspiration comfort and cheer the erring soul. Although the
patriarchs and apostles were subject to human frailties, yet through faith they
obtained a good report, fought their battles in the strength of the Lord, and con-
quered gloriously. Thus may we trust in the virtue of the atoning sacrifice and be
overcomers in the name of Jesus. Humanity is humanity the world over from the
time of Adam down to the present generation, and the love of God through all
ages is without a parallel.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:13-15
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