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The Great Exemplar, April 30
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.
1 Peter 2:21
.
It is not enough merely to acknowledge Christ. We must follow where He
leads the way. His grace is sufficient. He suffered for us, and He has left us
an example, that we should follow .... The present is our time of proving. The
experience necessary in order to gain the crown of life will bring us far greater
crucifixion of self than we have hitherto thought possible. What is the message
that the apostle Paul bears to everyone who names the name of Christ? “Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider
him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied
and faint in your minds” (
Hebrews 12:1-3
).
Christ was the Lord of heaven and earth, yet for our sake He became poor,
that we through His poverty might be made rich. He was made in the likeness
of God, yet He humbled Himself, and took upon Him the form of a servant,
that He might save us. He gave His life for our redemption. Will we accept the
sacrifice? The only begotten Son of God was numbered with the transgressors,
that human beings might not perish, but have everlasting life. Life eternal will
be their inheritance, if they will consent to humble their proud heart and become
partakers of His suffering. He patiently endured shame and mockery and derision
that He might save every sinful human being who would lay hold of Him by
living faith. While He hung on the cross, giving His life for our redemption, His
murderers mocked Him, saying, “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he
be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe
him” (
Matthew 27:42
).... He could have refused thus to die, but He was suffering
that the world through Him might be redeemed from Satan’s claim and authority.
Through His death all who believe in Him may have eternal life....
The salvation of human beings means much more than many realize. It means
that we are to choose God’s way rather than our own. The Lord cannot save men
while they refuse to humble themselves under the reproofs and warnings that He
sends, strenuously asserting their own will, and following their own course of
action.—
Letter 133, April 30, 1905
, to J. E. White.
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