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Garment Changed, October 15
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which
had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how
camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was
speechless.
Matthew 22:11, 12
.
Discard your citizen’s dress, and put on the wedding garment which Christ
has prepared. Then you can sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. God
welcomes all who come to Him just as they are, not building themselves up
in self-righteousness, not seeking to justify self, not claiming merits for what
they call good actions, not priding themselves on their supposed knowledge.
While you have been walking and working in meekness and lowliness of
heart, a work has been done for you—a work that only God could do. It is
God who works in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. That
good pleasure is to see you abiding in Christ, resting in His love.
Let not anything rob your soul of peace, of restfulness, of the assurance
that you are accepted just now. Claim every promise; all are yours if you will
comply with the prescribed terms. Entire self-surrender, an acceptance of
Christ’s ways, is the secret of perfect rest in His love.
The abiding rest—who has it? That rest is found when all self-justification,
all reasoning from a selfish standpoint, is put away. Entire self-surrender, an
acceptance of His ways, is the secret of perfect rest in His love. We must
learn His meekness and lowliness before we experience the fulfillment of
the promise “Ye shall find rest unto your souls” (
Matthew 11:29
). It is by
learning the habits of Christ that self becomes transformed—by taking His
yoke, and then submitting to learn.
Giving up the life to Christ means much more than many suppose. God
calls for an entire surrender. We cannot receive the Holy Spirit until we break
every yoke that binds us to our objectionable traits of character. These are the
great hindrances to wearing Christ’s yoke and learning of Him. There is no
one who has not much to learn. All must be trained by Christ.—
The Review
and Herald, April 25, 1899
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