This is the work which the Lord proposes to do for all who consecrate themselves to Him (The Signs of the Times, September 7, 1882).
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Those Who Feel Insufficient Will Receive Help—Whatever the position in which God has placed us, whatever our responsibilities or our dangers, we should remember that He has pledged Himself to impart needed grace to the earnest seeker. Those who feel insufficient for their position, and yet accept it because God bids them, relying upon His power and wisdom, will go on from strength to strength. When they enter upon their work, they may have almost everything to learn; but with Christ as a teacher they will become efficient laborers. God does not intrust His work to the worldly wise; for they are too proud to learn. He chooses those who, feeling their deficiencies, seek to be guided by unerring wisdom (The Signs of the Times, September 7, 1882).
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Become Sensitive to Little Digressions—There are many whom He has called to positions in His work for the same reason that He called Saul,—because they are little in their own sight, because they have a humble and teachable spirit. In His providence He places them where they may learn of Him. To all who will receive instruction He will impart grace and wisdom. It is His purpose to bring them into so close connection with Himself that Satan shall have no opportunity to pervert their judgment or overpower their conscience. He will reveal to them their defects of character, and bestow upon all who seek His aid, strength to correct their errors. Whatever may be man′s besetting sin, whatever bitter or baleful passions struggle for the mastery, he may conquer, if he will watch and war against them in the name and strength of Israel′s Helper. The children of God should cultivate a keen sensitiveness to sin. Here, as well as elsewhere, we should not despise “the day of small things”. It is one of Satan′s most successful devices, to lead men to the commission of little sins, to blind the mind to the danger of little indulgences, little digressions from the plainly stated requirements of God. Many who would shrink with horror from some great transgression, are led to look upon sin in little matters as of trifling consequence. But these little sins eat out the life of godliness in the soul. The feet which enter upon a path diverging from the right way are tending toward the broad road that ends in death. When once a retrograde movement begins, no one can tell where it may end....
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We must learn to distrust self and to rely wholly upon God for guidance and support, for a knowledge of His will, and for strength to perform it (The Signs of the Times, September 7, 1882).
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22. God Did Not Want Spoil of Corrupt People—[1 Samuel 15:22 quoted.] God required of His people obedience rather than sacrifice. All the riches of the earth were His. The cattle upon a thousand hills belonged to Him. He did not require the spoil of a corrupt people, upon whom His curse rested, even to their utter extinction, to be presented to Him to prefigure the holy Saviour, as a lamb without blemish (The Spirit of Prophecy 1:365).
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Saul a Failure—The first king of Israel proved a failure, because he set his will above the will of God. Through the prophet Samuel the Lord instructed Saul that as king of Israel his course of action must be one of strictest integrity. Then God would bless his government with prosperity. But Saul refused to make obedience to God his first consideration, and the principles of heaven the government of his conduct. He died in dishonor and despair (Manuscript 151, 1899).
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Pretended Righteousness Used as Cloak—Many who profess to be serving God are in the same position as Saul,—covering over ambitious projects, pride of display, with a garment of pretended righteousness. The Lord′s cause is made a cloak to hide the deformity of injustice, but it makes the sin of tenfold greater enormity (MS la, 1890).
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Self-justification Keeps One in Darkness—Those whose deeds are evil, will not come to the light, lest their deeds should be reproved and their real characters revealed. If they continue in the path of transgression, and sever themselves entirely from the Redeemer, stubbornness, and sullenness, and a spirit of revenge will take possession of them, and they will say to their own souls, “Peace, peace”, when there is every reason that they should be alarmed, for their steps are directed toward destruction. As Saul resisted the reproofs of the servant of the Lord, this spirit took possession of him. He defied the Lord, he defied His servant, and his enmity toward David was the outworking of the murderous spirit that comes into the heart of those who justify themselves in the face of their guilt (The Signs of the Times, June 22, 1888).
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