"AS A LITTLE CHILD"

PART TWO: INSPIRED COMMENTS

Inspired Comments from the Spirit of prophecy:

Submitting the will to God

The information in this chapter can change your life. Read it slowly and thoughtfully. Here are solid answers for one seeking a consistent life in God.

We are told that we must either be under the control of one or the other of the two great powers. If we do not yield our lives to God, Satan will inevitably take control. This is a life and death issue.

"To make God's grace our own, we must act our part. The Lord does not propose to perform for us either the willing or the doing. His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort. Our souls are to be aroused to cooperate. The Holy Spirit works in us, that we may work out our own salvation." Messages to Young People, 147.

"Man is allotted a part in this great struggle for everlasting life; he must respond to the working of the Holy Spirit. It will require a struggle to break through the powers of darkness, but the Spirit that works in him can and will accomplish this. But man is no passive instrument to be saved in indolence. He is called upon to strain every muscle in the struggle for immortality, yet it is God that supplies the efficiency." Our High Calling, 91.

"Man can accomplish nothing without God, and God arranged His plans so as to accomplish nothing in the restoration of the human race without the cooperation of the human with the divine.

"The part man is required to sustain is immeasurably small, yet in the plan of God it is just that part that is needed to make the work a success." Amazing Grace, 319.

"The work of the Holy Spirit is immeasurably great. It is from this source that power and efficiency come to the worker of God; and the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, as the personal presence of Christ to the soul.

"He who looks to Christ in simple, childlike Faith, is made a partaker of the divine nature through the agency of the Holy Spirit. When led by the Spirit of God, the Christian may know that he is made complete in Him who is the head of all things." Review, November 29, 1892.

"Man cannot transform himself by the exercise of his will. He possesses no power by which this change can be effected. . The renewing energy must come from God. The change can be made only by the Holy Spirit. All who would be saved, high or low, rich or poor, must submit to the working of this power." Christ's Object Lessons, 96-97.

"Our finite will must be brought into submission to the will of the Infinite; the human will must be blended with the divine. This will bring the Holy Spirit to our aid." Messages to Young People, 55.

"Man's working, as brought out in the text [Philippians 2:12-13], is not an independent work he performs without God. His whole dependence is upon the power and grace of the Divine Worker. Many miss the mark here, and claim that man must work his own individual self, free from divine power. This is not in accordance with the text. Another argues that man is free from all obligation, because God does it all. both the willing and the doing. The text means that the salvation of the human soul requires the will power. . And it is the very hardest, sternest conflict which comes with the purpose and hour of great resolve and decision of the human to incline the will and way to God's will and God's way." Our High Calling, 91.

"As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings." Christ's Object Lessons, 333,

"Men may have a power to resist evil—a power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can master; a power that will place them where they may overcome as Christ overcame. Divinity and humanity may be combined in them." I Selected Messages, 409.

"The reason why God can do so little for us is that we forget that living virtue in the Holy Spirit is to combine with the human agent." Sons and Daughters of God, 30.

"Let no one think he can overcome without the help of God. You must have the energy, the strength, the power, of an inner life developed within you." Amazing Grace, 111.

"It is for you to yield up your will to the will of Jesus Christ; and as you do this, God will immediately take possession and work in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. Your whole nature will then be brought under the control of the spirit of Christ, and even your thoughts will be subject to Him.

"You cannot control your impulses, your emotions, as you may desire; but you can control the will, and you can make an entire change in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, your life will be hid with Christ in God and allied to the power which is above all principalities and powers, You will have strength from God that will hold you fast to His strength; and a new light, even the light of living faith, will be possible to you. But your will must cooperate with God's will." 5 Testimonies, 514.

"If we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thought and aims, so blend our thoughts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses." Desire of Ages, 668,

" 'Work our your own salvation with fear and trembling.' What does this mean? It means that every day you are to distrust your own human efforts and wisdom. You are to fear to speak at random, fear to follow your own impulses, fear that pride of heart and love of the world and the lust of the flesh shall exclude the precious grace the Lord Jesus is longing to bestow upon you." Our High Calling, 91.

"God does not bid you fear that He will fail to fulfill His promises, that His patience will weary, or His compassion be found wanting. Fear lest your will shall not be held in subjection to Christ’s will, lest your hereditary and cultivated traits of character shall control your life. 'It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.' Fear lest self shall interpose between your soul and the great Master Worker. Fear lest self will shall mar the high purpose that through you God desires to accomplish. Fear to trust to your own strength, fear to withdraw your hand from the hand of Christ and attempt to walk life's pathway without His abiding presence." Christ's Object Lessons, 161.

"The very first step in the path to live is to keep the mind stayed on God, to have His fear continually before the eyes. A single departure from moral integrity blunts the conscience, and opens the door to the next temptation." Sons and Daughters of God, 111.

"We have no reason to fear while looking to Jesus, no reason to doubt but that He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto Him; but we may constantly fear lest our old nature will again obtain the supremacy, that the enemy shall devise some snare whereby we shall again become his captives. We are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. With our limited powers we are to be as holy in our sphere as God is holy in His sphere. To the extent of our ability, we are to make manifest the truth and love and excellence of the divine character. As wax takes the impression of the seal, so the soul is to take the impression of the Spirit of God and retain the image of Christ." 1 Selected Messages, 336-337.

"There is need of fear and trembling, watchfulness and prayer, lest there be in any of us an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. If the light that God has given us is held in indifference, if it is not appreciated, it will not increase, but it will become darkness.

"Our only safety is in continually looking to Jesus. By living faith we must appropriate the precious promises; for every promise and command, necessary for our salvation, must become a part of us, that we may become one with Christ." Review, September 3, 1889.

Spirit of Prophecy: The possibilities He Holds Out before Us

Reading the following passages, it should come as no surprise that Ellen White would softly declare, "Glory, glory," each time she was taken off in vision. May the bright light of God's wondrous mercy and grace flood our minds—and help us better see our high calling. The close walk, which our heavenly Father offers us, is worth all the sacrifice required to obtain it! Oh, my friend, we must be there, we must be there!

"The great God, whose glory shines from the heavens, and whose divine hand upholds millions of worlds, is our Father. We have only to love Him, trust in Him, as little children in faith and confidence, and He will accept us as His sons and daughters, and we shall be heirs to all the inexpressible glory of the eternal world. All the meek will He guide in judgment, the meek will He teach His way. If we will walk in obedience to His will, learn cheerfully and diligently the lessons of His providence, by and by He will say: Child, come home to the heavenly mansions I have prepared for you." 4 Testimonies, 653.

"Without the cross, man could have no connection with the Father. On it hangs our every hope. In view of it the Christian may advance with the steps of a conqueror; for from it streams the light of the Saviour's love. When the sinner reaches the cross, and looks up to the One who died to save him, he may rejoice with fullness of joy; for his sins are pardoned. Kneeling at the cross, he has reached the highest place to which man can attain. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ; and the words of pardon are spoken: Live, ye guilty sinners, live. Your repentance is accepted; for I have found a ransom." 5 Bible Commentary, 1133.

"The life we live is to be one of continual repentance and humility. We need to repent constantly, that we may be constantly victorious. When we have true humility, we have victory. The enemy never can take out of the hand of Christ the one who is simply trusting in His promises. If the soul is trusting and working obediently, the mind is susceptible to the divine impressions, and the light of God shines in, enlightening the understanding. What privileges we have in Christ Jesus!" 7 Bible Commentary, 959.

"Experimental religion is what is needed now. 'Taste and see that the Lord is good.' Some—yes, a large number—have a theoretical knowledge of religious truth, but have never felt the renewing power of divine grace upon their own hearts." 5 Testimonies, 221.

"If all were willing to receive, all would become filled with His Spirit. . There is nothing that Christ desires so much as agents who will represent to the world His Spirit and character. There is nothing that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Saviour's love. All heaven is waiting for channels through which can be poured the holy oil to be a joy and blessing to human hearts." Christ's Object Lessons, 419.

"Are we willing to pay the price for eternal life? Are we ready to sit down and count the cost, whether heaven is worth such a sacrifice as to die to self and let our will be bent and fashioned into perfect conformity with the will of God? Until this shall be, the transforming grace of God will not be experienced by us.

“Just as soon as we present our emptied na­ture to the Lord Jesus and His cause, He will supply the vacuum by His Holy Spirit. We can then believe He will give us of His fulness." In Heavenly Places, 155.

"As the Son of God lived by faith in the Father, so are we to live by faith in Christ. So fully was Jesus surrendered to the will of God that the Father alone appeared in His life. Although tempted in all points like as we are, He stood before the world untainted by the evil that surrounded Him. Thus we also are to overcome as Christ overcame." Desire of Ages, 389.

"A divine element combines with the human when the soul reaches out after God and the longing heart can say, 'My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him' (Psalm 62:5)." Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing. 19.

"When the sinner accepts Christ and lives in Him, Jesus takes his sins and weaknesses and then grafts the repentant soul into Himself, so that he sustains the relation to Christ that the branch does to the vine. We have nothing, we are nothing, unless we receive virtue from Jesus Christ." That I May Know Him, 109.

"He who looks to Christ in simple, childlike faith, is made a partaker of the divine nature through the agency of the Holy Spirit. When led by the Spirit of God, the Christian may know that he is made complete in Him who is the head of all things." Review, November 29. 1892.

"Genuine faith will be manifested in good works; for good works are the fruits of faith. As God works in the heart, and man surrenders his will to God, and cooperates with God, he works out in the life what God works in by the Holy Spirit, and there is harmony between the purpose of the heart and the practice of the life. Every sin must be renounced as the hateful thing that crucified the Lord of life and glory, and the believer must have a progressive experience by continually doing the works of Christ." l Selected Messages, 397.

"The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the Word of God. This Word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature, and re-creates the soul in the image of God." Education, 126.

 "We have little idea of the strength that would be ours if we would connect with the Source of all strength." Messages to Young People, 105.

"When this intimacy of connection and communion is formed, our sins are laid upon Christ, His righteousness is imputed to us. He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 5 Testimonies, 229.

"A union with Christ by living faith is enduring; every other union must perish. Christ first chose us, paying an infinite price for our redemption; and the true believer chooses Christ as first and last, and best in everything. But this union costs us something. It is a relation of utter dependence, to be entered into by a proud being." 5 Testimonies, 231.

"Until the heart is surrendered unconditionally to God, the human agent is not abiding in the true Vine, and cannot flourish in the Vine, and bear rich clusters of fruit." Sons and Daughters of God, 288.

"Connected with Christ, human nature becomes true and pure. Christ supplies the efficiency, and man becomes a power for good." In Heavenly Places, 179.

"The root sends its nourishment through the branch to the outermost twig. So Christ communicates the current of spiritual strength to every believer. So long as the soul is united to Christ, there is no danger that it will wither or decay." Desire of Ages, 676.

"In a thousand ways the inward principles will be manifest. Christ abiding in the soul is as a well that never runs dry." Review and Herald, January 15, 1895.

"If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in the heart, our feeling, our thoughts, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God. The sanctified heart is in harmony with the precepts of God's law." Acts of the Apostles, 563.

"We are to keep close to the Source of our strength day by day, and when the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard for us against the enemy. The promise of God is sure, that strength shall be proportioned to our day." Our High Calling, 125.

"We cannot for one moment separate ourselves from Christ with safety. We may have His presence to attend us at every step, but only by observing the conditions which He has Himself laid down." Messages to Young People, 115.

"The Lord Jesus loves His people, and when they put their trust in Him, depending wholly upon Him, He strengthens them. He will live through them, giving them the inspiration of His sanctifying Spirit, imparting to the soul a vital transfusion of Himself." That I May Know Him, 78.

"In the Lord we have righteousness and strength. Lean upon Him; and through His power you may quench all the fiery darts of the adversary and come off more than conqueror." 4 Testimonies, 213-214.

"As the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings." Christ's Object Lessons, 333.

"Men may have a power to resist evil—a power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can master; a power that will place them where they may overcome as Christ overcame. Divinity and humanity may be combined in them." 1 Selected Messages, 409.

"Those who believe in Christ derive their motive power and the texture of their characters from Him in whom they believe." Sons and Daughters of God, 299.

"There was to be imparted to the human being striving for conformity to the divine image an outlay of heaven's treasures, an excellency of power, which would place him higher than the angels who had not fallen." Sons and Daughters of God, 243."

"We are living in days of peril. Christ alone can help us and give us the victory. Christ must be all in all to us; He must dwell in the heart; His life must circulate through us, as the blood circulates through the veins. His Spirit must be a vitalizing power that will cause us to influence others to become Christlike and holy." Our High Calling, 60.

"His power awaits the demand of those who would overcome." l Selected Messages, 380.

 "All who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to God's service will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical, mental, and spiritual power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ gives them the breath of His own spirit, the life of His own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind." 6 Testimonies, 306.

"There is need of constant watchfulness, and of earnest, loving devotion; but these will come naturally when the soul is kept by the power of God through faith. We can do nothing, absolutely nothing, to commend ourselves to divine favor. We must not trust at all to ourselves nor to our good works; but when as erring, sinful beings we come to Christ, we may find rest in His love. God will accept every one that comes to Him trusting wholly in the merits of a crucified Saviour. Love springs up in the heart. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there is an abiding, peaceful trust. Every burden is light; for the yoke which Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness becomes bright with beams from the Sun of Righteousness. This is walking in the light as Christ is in the light." 1 Selected Messages, 353-354.

"Man is, through faith, to be a partaker in the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset." Our High Calling, 48.

"We can overcome. Yes; fully, entirely. Jesus died to make a way of escape for us, that we might overcome every evil temper, every sin, every temptation, and sit down at last with Him." 1 Testimonies, 144.

"Talk and act as if your faith was invincible." Christ's Object Lessons, 147.

"God will do great things for those who trust in Him. The reason why His professed people have no greater strength is that they trust so much to their own wisdom, and do not give the Lord an opportunity to reveal His power in their behalf. He will help His believing children in every emergency if they will place their entire confidence in Him and faithfully obey Him." Patriarchs and Prophets, 493.

"There is a great battle to be fought. . but you are not to do the main fighting here. As God's agents you are to yield yourselves to Him, that He may plan and direct and fight the battle for you, with your cooperation. . He knows just how to meet every emergency, and how to guide you through every path of danger. Then why not trust Him? Why not commit the keeping of your soul unto God, as unto a faithful Creator?" 2 Bible Commentary, 994-995.

"When the children of God are struggling with temptation, battling against the passions of the natural heart, faith connects the soul with the only One who can give help, and they are overcomers." Testimonies to Ministers, 161.

"It is not our efforts that bring victory; it is seeing God behind the promise, and believing and trusting Him. Grasp by faith the hand of infinite power. The Lord is faithful who has promised." Review and Herald, December 29, 1910.

"If we will trust Him, and commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps in the very path that will result in our obtaining the victory over every evil passion, and every trait of character that is unlike the character of our divine Pattern." Our High Calling, 316.

"When Christ is in the heart it will be so softened and subdued by love for God and man that fretting, faultfinding, and contention cannot exist there. The religion of Christ in the heart will gain for its possessor a complete victory over those passions that are seeking for the mastery." 4 Testimonies, 610.

"Let no one despair of gaining the victory. Victory is sure when self is surrendered to God." l Bible Commentary, 1095.

"There needs to be a continual reaching out of the heart after God, a constant, earnest confession of sin and humbling of the soul before Him. Perils surround us; and we are safe only as we feel our weakness and cling with the grasp of faith to our mighty Deliverer." 8 Testimonies, 316.

"Live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold you firmly by a hand that will never let go." Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 119.

"In the whole Satanic force there is not power to overcome one soul who in simple trust casts himself on Christ. 'He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.' Isaiah 40:29." Christ's Object Lessons, 157.

"The soul that has given himself to Christ is more precious in His sight than the whole world. The Saviour would have passed through the agony of Calvary that one might be saved in His kingdom. He will never abandon one for whom He has died. Unless His followers choose to leave Him, He will hold them fast." Desire of Ages, 483.

"If we are of one mind with God, our will, will be swallowed up in God's will and we shall follow wherever God leads the way. As a loving child places his hand in that of his father, and walks with him in perfect trust whether it is dark or bright, so the sons and daughters of God are to walk with Jesus through joy or sorrow." That I May Know Him, 250.

"If we take Christ for our Guide, He will lead us safely along the narrow way. The road may be rough and thorny; the ascent may be steep and dangerous; there may be pitfalls upon the right hand and upon the left; we may have to endure toil in our journey; when weary, when longing for rest, we may have to toil on; when faint, we may have to fight; when discouraged, we may be called upon to hope; but with Christ as our Guide, we shall not lose the path to immortal life, we shall not fail to reach the desired haven at last.

"Christ Himself has trod the rough pathway before us, and has smoothed the path for our feet. The narrow path of holiness, the way cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in, is illuminated by Him who is the Light of the world. As we follow in His steps, His light will shine upon us; and as we reflect the light borrowed from the glory of Christ, the path will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day." That I May Know Him, 253.

"In order to walk without fear, you must know that your hand is firmly held by the hand of Christ. You must not for a moment think there is no danger for you. The wisest make mistakes. The strongest sometimes falter." 2 Selected Messages, 169.

"If we surrender our lives to His service, we can never be placed in a position for which God has not made provision. Whatever may be our situation, we have a Guide to direct our way; whatever our perplexities we have a sure Counselor; whatever our sorrow, bereavement, or loneliness, we have a sympathizing Friend. If in our ignorance we make missteps, Christ does not leave us." Christ's Object Lessons, 173.

"The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the defense of every contrite soul. Not one that in penitence and faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy's power. The Saviour is by the side of His tempted and tried ones. With Him there can be no such thing as failure, loss, impossibility, or defeat; we can do all things through Him who strength­ens us. When temptations and trials come, do not wait to adjust all the difficulties, but look to Jesus, your Helper." Desire of Ages, 490-493.

"Looking unto Jesus, we are safe. Nothing can pluck us out of His hand." Steps to Christ, 72.

"Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Saviour. By prayer, by the study of His Word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold them by a hand that will never let go." Ministry of Healing, 182.

"When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agen­cies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan." Desire of Ages, 324.

"Christ is our tower of strength, and Satan can have no power over the soul that walks with God in humility of mind." My Life Today, 316.

"Look constantly to Jesus. Take all your troubles to Him. He will never misunderstand you. He is the refuge of His people. Under the shadow of His protection they can pass unharmed. Believe in Him and trust in Him. He will not give you up to the spoiler. Flee to the stronghold, and learn that the power of Christ to strengthen and to help passes all comprehension. Open the door of the heart. and let Jesus enter, to fill your life with His peace, His grace, His joy." Review and Herald. January 5. 1911.

"While Satan is constantly devising evil, the Lord our God overrules all. so that it will not harm His obedient, trusting children. The same power that controls the boisterous waves of the ocean can hold in check all the power of rebellion and of crime. God says to one as to the other, Thus far shalt thou go.'" 3 Bible Commentary, 1141.

"While they were under the divine protection, no people or nation, though aided by all the power of Satan. should be able to prevail against them." Patriarchs and Prophets, 449.

“Abundant grace has been provided that the believing soul may be kept free from sin; for all heaven, with its limitless resources, has been placed at our command." 1 Selected Messages, 394.

"Our only safety is in constant distrust of self, and dependence on Christ." Christ's Object Lessons. 155.

"He is watching over you, and if you are willing to be guided by Him, He will throw around you influences for good that will enable you to accomplish all His will for you." Messages to Young People. 17.

"He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God." Review and Herald, March 10, 1904.

 "Our duty, our safety, our happiness and usefulness, and our salvation call upon us each to use the greatest diligence to secure the grace of Christ, to be so closely connected with God that we may discern spiritual things, and not be ignorant of Satan's devices." In Heavenly Places, 184.

"We should sanctify ourselves as a people and seek strength from God to meet the demands of this time. When iniquity prevails in the world, God's people should seek to be more closely connected with heaven." 4 Testimonies, 583.

"When we are securely anchored in Christ, we have a power that no human being can take from us. Why is this?—Because we are partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 9 Testimonies, 187.

“Jesus will be the helper of all who put their trust in Him. Those who are connected with Christ have happiness at their command. They follow the path where their Saviour leads, for His sake crucifying the flesh, with its affections and lusts. They have built their hopes on Christ, and the storms of earth are powerless to sweep them from the sure foundation." Messages to Young People, 415.

"Never can we safely put confidence in self or feel, this side of heaven, that we are secure against temptation. Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or feel they are saved. This is misleading, Every one should be taught to cherish hope and faith; but even when we give ourselves to Christ and know that He accepts us, we are not beyond the reach of temptation." Christ's Object Lessons, 155.

"When man is in fellowship with God, that unswerving purpose which preserved Joseph and Daniel amidst the corruption of heathen courts will make his a life of unsullied purity." Ministry of Healing, 136.

"God has a special work for everyone to do, and each one of us may do well the work which God has assigned him. The only thing we have to fear on our part is that we shall not keep our eyes continually fixed upon Jesus, that we shall not have an eye single to the glory of God, so that if we were called to lay down our armor and sleep in death we might not be ready to give an account of our trust." 2 Selected Messages; 273.

"Let us trust fully, humbly, unselfishly, in God. We are His little children, and thus He deals with us. When we draw near to Him, He mercifully preserves us from the assaults of the enemy. Never will He betray one who trusts in Him as a child trusts in its parents. He sees the humble, trusting souls drawing near to Him, and in pity and love He draws near to them, and lifts up for them a standard against the enemy." Our High Calling, 85.

"Everyone needs to have a personal experi­ence in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, 'Be still, and know that I am God.' Psalm 46: I0." Desire of Ages, 363.

"God must be ever in our thoughts. We must hold converse with Him while we walk by the way, and while our hands are engaged in labor. In all the purposes and pursuits of life, we must inquire, What will the Lord have me to do? How shall I please Him who has given His life a ransom for me? Thus may we walk with God, as did Enoch of old; and ours may be the testimony which he received, that he pleased God." Review and Herald, May 30, 1882.

"If in our ignorance we make missteps, Christ does not leave us. His voice, clear and distinct, is heard saying, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.' " Christ's Object Lessons, 173.

"His children must follow where He has led the way; at whatever sacrifice of ease or selfish indulgence, at whatever cost of labor or suffering, they must maintain a constant battle with self." Gospel Workers, 135.

"Those who surrender their lives to His guidance and to His service will never be placed in a position for which He has not made provision. Whatever our situation, if we are doers of His Word, we have a Guide to direct our way; whatever our perplexity, we have a sure Counselor; whatever our sorrow, bereavement, or loneliness, we have a sympathizing Friend.

"If in our ignorance we make missteps, the Saviour does not forsake us. We need never feel that we are alone. Angels are our companions. The Comforter that Christ promised to send in His name abides with us. In the way that leads to the city of God there are no difficulties, which those who trust in Him may not overcome. There are no dangers, which they may not escape. There is not a sorrow, not a grievance, not a human weakness, for which He has not provided a remedy." Ministry of Healing, 248­249.

"The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature. This is evidence that Satan's delusions have lost their power; that the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you." Steps to Christ, 64-65.

"None of the apostles and prophets ever claimed to be without sin. Men who have lived the nearest to God, men who would sacrifice life itself rather than knowingly commit a wrong act, men whom God has honored with divine light and power, have confessed the sinfulness of their nature. They have put no confidence in the flesh, have claimed no righteousness of their own, but have trusted wholly in the righteousness of Christ.

"So will it be with all who behold Christ. The nearer we come to Jesus, and the more clearly we discern the purity of His character, the more clearly shall be seen the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the less shall we feel like exalting ourselves. There will be a continual reaching out of the soul after God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin and humbling of the heart before Him. At every advance step in our Christian experience our repentance will deepen. We shall know that our sufficiency is in Christ alone and shall make the apostle's confession our own: 'I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing,' 'God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.' Romans 7:18; Galatians 6:14," Acts of the Apostles, 561.

"Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning." Desire of Ages, 311.

"Those who are really seeking to perfect Christian character will never indulge the thought that they are sinless. Their lives may be irreproachable, they may be living representatives of the truth which they have accepted; but the more they discipline their minds to dwell on the character of Christ, and the nearer they approach His divine image, the more clearly they will discern its spotless perfection, and the more deeply will they feel their own defects." Sanctified Life, 7.

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