Pearls Of Great Price
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God Cares: `Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears, before God. . . . "The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." His heart of love is touched by our sorrows, and even by our utterance of them. . . . Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest. "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.' (SC 104, 105)
God's Law: `God's law is not a new thing. It is not holiness created but holiness made known. It is a code of principles expressing mercy, goodness and love. It presents to fallen humanity the character of God, and states plainly the whole duty of man.' (19MR182.7)
God's Love: `All the paternal love which has come down from generation to generation through the channel of human hearts, all the springs of tenderness which have opened in the souls of men, are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean when compared with the infinite, exhaustless love of God. Tongue cannot utter it; pen cannot portray it. You may meditate upon it every day of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in order to understand it; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you, in the endeavor to comprehend the love and compassion of the heavenly Father; and yet there is an infinity beyond. . . . Eternity itself can never fully reveal it.' (5T740)
Happiness: `No real joy can be found in the path forbidden by Him who knows what is best, and who plans for the good of His creatures. The path of transgression leads to misery and destruction; but wisdom's ``ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.'' ' (CE68.1)
Health Reform: `God's blessing will rest upon every effort made to awaken an interest in health reform for it is needed everywhere. There must be a revival in regard to this matter, for God purposes to accomplish much through this agency.' (CH261)
`When you make the people intelligent on the question of health reform, you have prepared the way for them to give attention to the present truth for these last days.' (CM133)
`God has permitted the light of health reform to shine upon us in these last days, that by walking in the light we may escape many of the dangers to which we shall be exposed.' (CD22)
Higher Learning: `Those who are deceived, and flattered on in the delusion that the present is an age of real progress, and that the human race has been in the ages past progressing in true knowledge, are under the influence of the father of lies, whose work has ever been to turn the truth of God into a lie.' (4SGa156)
`God is infinite, and the first people upon the earth received their instructions from that infinite God who created the world. Those who received their knowledge direct from infinite wisdom were not deficient in knowledge.' (4SGa154)
`In strength of intellect, men who now live can bear no comparison to the ancients.' (4SGa155)
Humble Occupations: Jesus `learned the trade of a carpenter, that He might stamp all honest labor as honorable and ennobling to all who work with an eye single to the glory of God.' (UL67.2)
Holy Spirit: `At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer.' (DA669)
Hope: Our: `Your hope is not in yourself; it is in Christ. Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might. So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell upon self, but look to Christ. Let the mind dwell upon His love, upon the beauty, the perfection, of His character. Christ in His self-denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ in His purity and holiness, Christ in His matchless love - this is the subject for the soul's contemplation. It is by loving Him, copying Him, depending wholly upon Him, that you are to be transformed into His likeness. Jesus says, "Abide in Me." These words convey the idea of rest, stability, confidence. Again He invites, "Come unto Me ... and I will give you rest.' (SC70/71)
Idolatry: `An idol is anything that human beings love and trust in instead of loving and trusting in the Lord their Maker. Whatever earthly thing men desire and trust in as having power to help them and do them good, leads them away from God, and is to them an idol. Whatever divides the affections, or takes away from the soul the supreme love of God, or interposes to prevent unlimited confidence and entire trust in God, assumes the character and takes the form of an idol in the soul temple.' (3SM330).
Influence: `The reason we have had so little influence upon unbelieving relatives and associates is that there has been so little decided difference between our practices and the world.' (CE14,147)
`Our influence upon others depends not so much upon what we say as upon what we are.’ (DA141.5)
Intemperance: `Let none who profess godliness regard with indifference the health of the body, and flatter themselves that intemperance is no sin, and will not affect their spirituality.' (CD62)
Immune System: `The immune system is a mirror to life, responding to its joy and anguish, its exuberance and boredom, its laughter and tears, its excitement and depression, its problems and prospects. Scarcely anything that enters the mind doesn't find its way into the workings of the body.' (Head First: The Biology of Hope, pp.35-37)
Incarnation: `The radical, shocking truth of the gospel, so powerful that it is often left unsaid and unclaimed, is that every Christian believer is called to have God's Son incarnated in him or her. In a sense, all have been invited to the same awesome responsibility that the angel placed on Mary. Perhaps the present opportunity is even more magnificent and astounding, for while the Messiah was formed physically in Mary's womb, He now asks you to allow Him to be formed spiritually in your soul! ``Christ in you, the hope of glory.'' Col 1:27. (Douglas Cooper, Stranger to the World, pp.28-29)
Indecision: `Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue.' (DA668)
Influence: `It is our practice of the principles we inculcate that gives them weight.' (CT491.3)
`It was the simplicity of the life of Christ, and His freedom from pride and vanity, that gave Him favor with God and man. He did not seek to attract attention for distinction.' (YI Sept 1873).
Insurance: `Nothing can touch him [who abides in Jesus] except by our Lord's permission, and "all things" that are permitted "work together for good to them that love God.' Romans 8:28. (MB71)
Intemperance: `Those who are forming habits of intemperance are beclouding their reasoning powers so that they cannot discern between truth and error.' (1SAT29)
Jesus In Us: `All who receive Christ by faith become one with Him. The branches are not tied to the vine; they are not joined to it by any mechanical process of fastening. They are united to the vine, so as to become part of it. They are nourished by the vine. So those who receive Christ by faith become one with Him in principle and action. They are united to Him, and the life they live is the life of the Son of God. They derive their life from Him who is life.' (HP56)
Jesus' Rejection: [Many will shun the idea that Jesus was rejected by the Father at Calvary. But He was. He had taken humanity into Himself, and He stood as the representative of humanity and, as such, the Father had to reject Him in the person of humanity.]
`The sufferings of martyrs can bear no comparison with the agony of Christ. The divine presence was with them in their sufferings; but the Father's face was hidden from His dear Son.' (7ABC 463)
`The Father's glory and sustaining presence had left Him; it was this that forced from His lips the anguished cry, ``My God, My God, was hast thou forsaken Me?'' ' (BEcho 08-15-92)
Judgment: `When the nations are gathered before Him, there will be but two classes, and their eternal destiny will be determined by what they have done or have neglected to do for Him in the person of the poor and the suffering. In that day Christ does not present before men the great work He has done for them in giving His life for their redemption. He presents the faithful work they have done for Him. In the great Judgment day, those who have not worked for Christ, who have drifted along thinking of themselves, caring for themselves, will be placed by the Judge of the whole earth with those who did evil. They receive the same condemnation.' (DA637, 641)
Justice & Mercy: `Justice and Mercy stood apart, in opposition to each other, separated by a wide gulf. The Lord our Redeemer clothed His divinity with humanity, and wrought out in behalf of man a character that was without spot or blemish. He planted His cross midway between heaven and earth, and made it the object of attraction which reached both ways, drawing both Justice and Mercy across the gulf. Justice moved from its exalted throne, and with all the armies of heaven approached the cross. There it saw One equal with God bearing the penalty for all injustice and sin. With perfect satisfaction Justice bowed in reverence at the cross, saying, it is enough.' (7BC935/6)
Justification: `All our transgressions are transferred to Christ. While he who knew no sin was made sin for us, and the sinless is accounted sinful, the righteousness of Christ is placed upon the undeserving, so that the repenting sinner is declared to be sinless before God.’ (ST01-16-96)
`We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.' (SC62)
Laodicea: `The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst.' (1NL99)
`The people of God are at ease, believing themselves to be in an exalted condition of spiritual attainments but knowest not that they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God.' (3T252)
`Many are Laodiceans, living in a spiritual self-deception. They clothe themselves in the garments of their own righteousness, imagining themselves to be rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, when they need to learn daily of Jesus, His meekness and lowliness, else they find themselves bankrupt, their whole life being a lie.' (Letter 66, 1894)
`Halfhearted [lukewarm] Christians are worse than infidels; for their deceptive words and noncommittal position lead many astray. The infidel shows his colours. The lukewarm Christian deceives both parties. He is neither a good worldling nor a good Christian. Satan uses him to do a work that no one else can do.' (Letter 44, 1903)
Leadership: `Those who learn to obey are the only ones who will be fitted to command.’ (SD130)
Life: `It is not the result of a mechanism, which, once set in motion, continues its work, that the pulse beats, and breath follows breath . . . The beating of the heart, the throbbing pulse, every nerve and muscle in the living mechanism, is kept in order and activity by the power of an ever present God.' (ML127)
`What is it to lose life? It is when the truth is clearly set before us and we refuse to accept it because a cross is involved.' (3MR95)
Little Things: `The importance of the little things is often underrated because they are small; but they supply much of the actual discipline of life. Our character building will be full of peril while we underrate the importance of the little things.' (COL356)
Lukewarmness: `Ever pitiful to the truly repentant, ever ready to receive them and to heal their maladies, He thus evidenced that the open sinner is in a more favourable condition before God than professing Christians who bear no fruit to His glory.' (ST02-21-78.16)
Materialism: `Oh, I would rather have one word of comfort from Jesus than all the wealth and all the mansions in Sydney. I would rather have one smile of approval from Jesus than all the gold of the world. I love Him. I love Him. I praise Him for His wonderful mercy and goodness to the children of men.' (RH03-01-92.6)
Medical Missionary Work: `Soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work.' (WM139)
`Those who live in the last days of this earth's history need to be fully established in the principles of health reform. They need to recognize that the medical missionary work is ordained of God.' (TSDF198)
Nature: `In the growth and development of nature were revealed the principles of His kingdom.' (DA291)
Obedience: `All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.' (DA668)
Overcoming: `Through the victory of Christ the same advantages that he had are provided for man; for he may be a partaker of a power out of and above himself, even a partaker of the divine nature, by which he may overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust.' (ST 01-16-96.6)
Pain: `A bed of pain is a precious place when we have the presence of Jesus.' (OFC76)
Persecution: `On every occasion when persecution takes place, those who witness it make decisions either for Christ or against Him. Those who manifest sympathy for the ones wrongly condemned show their attachment for Christ. Others are offended because the principles of truth cut directly across their practice. Many stumble and fall, apostatizing from the faith they once advocated. Those who apostatize in time of trial will, to secure their own safety, bear false witness, and betray their brethren. Christ has warned us of this, that we may not be surprised at the unnatural, cruel course of those who reject the light.' (DA630)
`When truth in its simplicity and strength, as it is in Jesus, is brought to bear against the spirit of the world, it awakens persecution at once.' (1SG189)
Plagues: `Neither of you have seen the necessity of health reform, but when the plagues of God shall be all around you, you will then see the principles of health reform and strict temperance in all things, - that temperance alone is the foundation of all the graces that come from God, the foundation of all victories to be gained.' (Te201 - Words of An Angel)
Poverty: `Poverty is coming upon this world, . . .' (Ev240, 241)
`God has placed in our care the poor and the suffering, and these are to be cared for as Christ cared for them. The Lord would have this work done in the different churches, rather than that these unfortunate ones should depend so largely upon institutions; for this will take out of the hands of the churches the very work God has appointed them to do.' (MS105, 1899)
Prayer: `Never a prayer is offered, however faltering, never a tear is shed, however secret, never a sincere desire after God is cherished, however feeble, but the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it.' (COL206)
Present Truth: `This is the very message that must be given to our people; we are near the end of time, and the message is, Clear the King's highway; gather out the stones; raise up a standard for the people. The people must be awakened. It is no time now to cry peace and safety. We are exhorted to "cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." (Isaiah 5:1).' (1SM410)
`To make plain natural law and urge the obedience of it is the work that accompanies the third angel's message, to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord.' (MM289)
Prosperity: "It is not the empty cup that we have difficulty in carrying; it is the cup full to the brim that must be carefully balanced. Affliction and adversity may cause sorrow, but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to spiritual life." (PK59.3)
Punishment: `We are not to regard God as waiting to punish the sinner for his sin. The sinner brings the punishment upon himself. His own actions start a train of circumstances that bring the sure result. Every act of transgression reacts upon the sinner, works in him a change of character, and makes it more easy for him to transgress again. By choosing to sin, men separate themselves from God, cut themselves off from the channel of blessing, and the sure result is ruin and death.' (1SM235)
Qualifications: For Service: `God calls for men whose hearts are warmed by the love of Christ. He will choose workers from among those who are willing to hear his voice and obey his words. Their capabilities may be limited, but they are loyal; and loyalty is of far more value in God's sight than mere knowledge. God calls for earnest, high-principled men. He will use such men in his service. But he will separate from his work the lukewarm, worldly minded, self-exalted ones.' (RH6-16-03.8)