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The Divine Physician Prescribes, June 9
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this
bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which
I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:51
.
For the health and vitality of the soul, the divine Physician has prescribed
communion with Himself. We are to sit at His feet and learn of Him how to be
meek and lowly in heart. Spiritual health is dependent on the food given to the
mind and on the air which is breathed.
The soul needs food, and in order to get this food, the Word of God must be
studied.... The breathing of pure air is essential for the cure of disease. And it is
no less essential that the atmosphere we breathe in the spiritual life shall be pure.
This is essential for a healthy growth in grace. Breathe the pure atmosphere which
produces pure thoughts and noble words. Choose Christian society. The Christian
will not have spiritual health unless he is guarded in regard to his associations....
Every Christian who is indeed a Christian must grow. He must constantly
increase in wisdom and knowledge. Day by day he must approach more nearly to
the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus. In order to be a follower of the Master,
he must grow. He must advance into a deeper appreciation of the love of God
and a clearer knowledge of His will. If his light does not shine more and more
brightly, his faith becomes weak, his love grows feeble. And unless he sees and
acknowledges his danger, he is doing the cause of God more harm than an avowed
unbeliever. Piety leaves the soul-temple. He turns carelessly away from duties and
responsibilities. The Son of God is by him crucified afresh and put to open shame.
Exercise is essential to growth in grace. When the spiritually diseased are
given exercise in spiritual things, there is a transformation of character. The
health of the spiritual life is dependent upon exercise. But spirituality cannot grow
while the heart is full of the corrupting sores of selfishness. The soul must be
cleansed and purified by the refining grace of God. The channel of communication
between earth and heaven must be kept free from all obstruction, that the soul
may receive from Christ a supply of living water. And every spiritual muscle and
sinew must be put to the tax. God has given us many opportunities to work for
Him. Unless we improve these opportunities, we cannot be growing Christians.
When Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, a decided change will be seen in
the religious experience of professing Christians.—
Manuscript 50, June 9, 1901
,
untitled manuscript.
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