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Following the Pattern, December 27
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin,
neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled
not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself
to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his
own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 2:21-24
.
In all our afflictions Jesus was afflicted, and the Captain of our salvation
was made perfect through suffering. In this life we shall be proved to see
whether or not we shall be able to bear the test of God. Satan’s temptations
will come upon us, and we shall be tried, but the question of most importance
to us is Shall we be overcome? or shall we be overcomers? ... Like our great
Example, we may be able to meet Satan with the weapon of God’s Word,
saying to him as he tempts us to do evil, “It is written” (
Matthew 4:4
).
Satan knows better than many professed Christians what is written, for he
is a diligent student of the Bible, and he works to pervert the truth, and lead
men into the paths of disobedience. He leads men to neglect the searching of
the Word of God; for he knows that it testifies against him, that his works are
evil. It describes him as the apostate angel who fell from heaven, and drew
many of the hosts of heaven after him in a course of rebellion against their
Creator.
Satan is seeking continually to draw away the minds of men from God
and His Word. He knows that if he can cause men to neglect the Word of God,
he can soon cause them to depart from its precepts, and finally to forget their
Maker. They will then take the suggestions and instructions of the adversary
of God and man, and evil men and evil angels will form a confederacy against
the God of heaven.
Those who would be loyal to God will be subject to trials and temptations;
but if they are truly alive unto God, and have their life hid with Christ in God,
they will also know what it is to have the blessings which God bestows upon
the faithful and obedient.—
The Signs of the Times, August 28, 1893
.
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