Safety in Following Christ

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Jesus said, «I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.» The will of Christ was in harmony with the will of the Father before he came into our world. The spirit that should characterize everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus should be a spirit of resignation to the will of God. There is altogether too much selfish, human independence among those who profess to be Christians, and this spirit imperils the soul.

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The fallen angel whom God had made covering cherub, was ruined by his selfish, independent will. God had made him noble, had given him rich endowments. He gave him a high, responsible position. He asked of him nothing that was unreasonable. He was to administer the trust given him of God in a spirit of meekness and devotion, seeking to promote the glory of God, who had given him glory and beauty and loveliness. But Lucifer abode not in the truth. He fell from his integrity. Let everyone learn the lesson which he should learn from this wonderful history.

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Satan will use every device, every deceptive influence in his power, to lead us to follow his example. The greater the blessings received from God in intrusted talents, the more earnest will be Satan’s effort to corrupt and pervert their use. Those whom God has favored by giving capabilities to use in his service, Satan will seek to deceive so that they shall use their gifts to work against God. But let there be no uplifting of the soul unto vanity.

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Superintendents and the workers in our Sabbath schools have a very important, broad field to cultivate. They need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit of God, that their minds may be impressed to use the very best methods, and follow the best plans to make their work wholly successful. The Lord will work with their efforts, for the youth are the purchase of the blood of the only begotten Son of God. The Lord loved these youth and gave Jesus to die, that «whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.»

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There is a great work of education to be carried on. The teachers should often pray for and with the children and youth, that they may «behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world.» They should teach the youth their accountability to God, and help them to understand what Jesus expects of them. Exert every influence you can possibly command to interest them in the Scriptures. Labor for their souls, that they themselves shall become zealous workers, using their talents to impart to others that which has been imparted to them.

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Christian women may exert an influence for good over the youth and children. Their capabilities are God’s intrusted talents, and should be wholly consecrated to the Master’s service. Many are quick to discern, and efficient to execute, but they need to be closely connected with God. They will seek for new methods and ways by which to develop character and educate the youth how to use the talents God has given them.

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In selecting officers from time to time be sure that personal preferences do not rule, but place in positions of trust those whom you are convinced love and fear God, and who will make God their counselor. Without the love and fear of God, however brilliant the intellect may be, there will be failure. Jesus says, «Without me ye can do nothing.» This matter of choosing officers should not be left to the control of the Sabbath school scholars. To change the officers frequently will be an advantage to the school; for one man’s mind is not to mould all other minds. He may have some excellent qualifications and yet in some things be deficient. Another chosen may be efficient where the other was lacking. Different minds and qualities will bring in fresh ideas, fresh lines of thought, and this is essential. But above everything else, select those who in the simplicity of their souls are walking in the truth, who love and fear God, and take their lessons in his school. Such will carry the scholars forward and upward. Under wise teachers the scholars will gain increased interest for the word of God, and have deeper insight into the Scriptures. Let Christ be the theme of every lesson. The lessons which Christ has given to his disciples are of the highest importance. ( To be continued .) —

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Many are thirsting for the living streams from the Fountain of Life. Christ looked with yearning tenderness upon a people who were being misled by false shepherds. They were as the sheep of his pasture, and they were to be left among wolves. He said, «Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.» He came to our world that the world through him might have eternal life. He was omnipotent, but his sympathy was toward mankind. His love was given to us before we loved him. He is our elder brother. We have not a high priest who cannot sympathize with us, but one who was in all points tempted like as we are, and yet without sin. He poured out his feelings in precious currents of sympathy and of love for his sheep, whom he says he knows by name. We are the property of Jesus Christ.

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The Father has committed his people to Christ’s care, to be washed in his precious blood, to be guarded by his pastoral care, to be sanctified through the truth, and to be perfected and fitted for the family above.

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Our only safety is to follow Christ, to study his word, and to meet the enemy with the word, saying, «It is written.» When questions were asked him, Christ answered: «Have ye not read?» «What saith the Scriptures?» «How readest thou?» «Search the Scriptures.» The great Teacher might have answered questions upon science, from the depths of infinite wisdom. He might have let in a flood of light, but he chose to direct all minds to the Scriptures, to the living, inspired word of God, that man might make the word the foundation of faith and doctrine. We are to believe truth, not that which is pronounced truth upon the authority of popes or councils, not because a minister pronounces his decision as to what is truth, but on the only sure and safe ground, «Thus saith the Lord.» This is the highest authority. We cannot accept the word of finite man. Our souls are precious, and we can run no risk here where eternal interests are involved. We must know the decision of Him whose word is truth.

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«God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.» The word was made flesh. Christ mysteriously allied himself to human nature. Our gracious Lord would not make this infinite sacrifice to show us how we may be saved, and then leave us to the finite judgment of man to tell us how to reach heaven. «Follow me,» says the world’s Redeemer; «I am the way, the truth, and the life.» And the way to follow Jesus is to study his life, his character, catch his Spirit, and be changed into his likeness.

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The priests and rulers had long been expositors of the Scriptures, but Christ pronounces them blind leaders of the blind. He who always spake truth declared to these false shepherds, «Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God.»

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In the word of God everything is made plain in proportion as it is of vital importance. The plan of salvation must not be brought down to the level of common things and mingled with man-made commandments and manmade inventions, but must be exalted before the eyes of all, that souls for whom Christ died may find eternal life through him. —