Has not the Lord reproved your course? ...You have entrusted capabilities that may be improved greatly and be made efficacious under the discipline of God. Then His righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rereward. “Without me,” says Christ, “ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). If you set at naught His counsel, then you are in danger.—Letter 21c, January 8, 1892,. (TDG 16.5) MC VC

Be constantly learning of Jesus, constantly increasing in faith and growing in grace and the knowledge of the truth. We are doing a great work, and the Lord is our Helper, the Lord is our Shield. He will not leave nor forsake us. Angels of God are engaged in this work of proclaiming the message of warning for the world. Of ourselves we can do nothing. We are as weak as water without the Spirit of the Lord. Our strength is in hiding in Jesus. Let Christ appear as the One altogether lovely, and the chief among ten thousand. (TDG 60.2) MC VC

It is these revealings, these discoveries of God’s goodness, that make the soul humble and lead it to cry out in gratitude, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). We have reason to be comforted. Severe outward trials may press around the soul where Jesus lives. Let us turn to Him for the consolations He has provided for us in His Word. The nether springs of hope and comfort may appear to fail us, but the upper springs which feed the river of God are full of supply and can never be dried up. God would have you look away from the cause of your afflictions to Him who is the Owner of soul, body, and spirit. He is the lover of the soul. He knows the value of the soul. He is the true Vine and we are the branches. We shall have no spiritual nourishment only as we draw it from Jesus who is the life of the soul.—Letter 10, February 23, 1887, to Dr. J. H. Kellogg. (TDG 62.4) MC VC

Thus is presented the copartnership of the human and the divine. All the power is of God. “Without me,” says Christ, “ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Then how many hours is it safe for us to try to work alone? All the glory proceeds from God and should flow back in all possible ways to God, through our cooperation with God.... (TDG 276.5) MC VC

Christ invites your confidence. Of yourself you can do nothing. You cannot be kind, true, courteous, unselfish, without the Holy Spirit’s help.... Study the life of Christ, and practice in the home life those things which you know will be required of you in the heavenly life, in the society of the heavenly family. In the home circle here we may practice our manners for the family above.—Manuscript 125, October 6, 1898, “Education in the Home.” (TDG 288.5) MC VC

You cannot measure yourselves by the world or by the opinions of others. Your only safety is to compare your position with what it would have been had your course been continually onward and upward since you professed to be Christ’s followers. Your moral character is passing in review before God. You are weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, and, if your spirituality does not correspond with the benefits and privileges conferred upon you, you are found wanting. Your path should have been growing brighter and brighter, and you bringing forth much fruit to the glory of God. (TDG 294.4) MC VC