Then we shall have cheerfulness of spirit; our words will be hopeful, we shall show that there is a power sustaining, upholding us day by day, and we shall make melody to God in our hearts. Thus we shall show that the way to life is a bright and sunny way. We shall be a light at home, in the church, and before the world. We shall not be talking the theory of the truth so much of the time, but shall do the will of our Heavenly Father, and shall talk of Christ and his love. There will be faithfulness in all the walks of life. We shall have an interest in the souls of all for whom Christ has died. We shall long to see his work become a praise in the earth. We shall spread the glad tidings of truth, we shall give of our means, we shall send the messengers into the missionary fields. Already the fields are white unto harvest; all heaven is interested in this work, and in working with heaven we are laying up a treasure unto life eternal.
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 1)
Christmas Gifts
EGW
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.... This do, and thou shalt live.” The words spoken to the lawyer are applicable to every soul inquiring, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 2)
If we do love God with all the heart, we shall remember his claims upon us. He requires that we shall be like him, that we shall imitate the self-sacrificing life of Christ. Jesus said of himself, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” The joy ever before him was the blessing and uplifting of fallen humanity. Everything else was secondary and subordinate. From the manger to Calvary his life was one scene of loving effort and sacrifice for the good of men. If Christ is dwelling in our hearts, we shall have the same spirit, and shall do the same work. Our thoughts, our interests, our sympathies, as well as our words and money and effort, will be given to the up-building of the Redeemer's kingdom. And this not merely as a duty; it will be our life, our joy. As the living water bursts from the mountain spring, so will our life flow out in words and deeds of love.
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 3)
This spirit of self-sacrifice has become feeble in the hearts of Christ's professed followers. Instead of gratefully inquiring, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” how many of those who claim to have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, seem bent on self-pleasing. Even Christmas, the day observed professedly in honor of the birthday of Christ, has been made a most effective means of turning the mind away from Christ, away from his glory. If Christmas is kept at all, it should be kept in a way that will be in harmony with its significance. Christ should be remembered, his name honored; the old, old story of his love should be recounted. Instead of saying by our actions that we are putting Christ out of our minds and hearts, we should testify to men, to angels, and to God, that we remember our Redeemer, by following his example of self-sacrifice for others’ good. But the day chosen to honor Christ is devoted by the many to honoring and pleasing themselves. Appointed to keep the Saviour in remembrance, it is spent in causing him to be forgotten.
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 4)
How stinted are the offerings that on this day go into the Lord's treasury! how large the sums that are spent in presents to one another! Yearly those who have means, have put God from their remembrance, and bestowed their gifts upon those who have no need of them, and who could repay them again. How many of you have thus needlessly expended time and money, while close under the shadow of your own homes the poor and needy have been neglected, and while the message of truth has been restricted in its work. The means that was devoted to gratify pride and foster vanity would have been a great blessing to the needy, and would have carried the gospel light to those who sit in darkness.
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 5)
God is the giver of every gift, and he has honored men by making them his stewards, that they should prove themselves faithful in disbursing their means in gifts and offerings to sustain his cause. The Lord has not withheld his blessing from man; he has given his only begotten Son to come into this world to suffer and die, that by believing in him we should have eternal life. He that withheld not his own Son, but gave him as an offering to save us from hopeless misery, how much more will he not with him freely give us all things! What offering will we individually present to Jesus our Saviour for this priceless treasure? Will it not be the very best plan to celebrate the coming Christmas by bringing God to our remembrance, and showing our love to him by putting our gifts into his treasury? These gifts are needed, that the gospel may be sustained, and the truth may reach all parts of the world.
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 6)
The rich can bring to God a liberal offering, saying, “All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” Thus they acknowledge the claims of God upon them, and show honor to Christ. In this work the poor also may act a part. God does not estimate the value of our gifts to his cause by their amount in money; he looks upon our motives. It is the heart service that makes the gift valuable. When the Majesty of heaven became a babe, and was intrusted to Mary, she did not have much to offer for the precious gift. She brought to the altar only two turtle doves, the offering appointed for the poor; but they were an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord. She could not present rare treasures such as the wise men of the East came to Bethlehem to lay before the Son of God; yet the mother of Jesus was not rejected because of the smallness of her gift. It was the willingness of her heart that the Lord looked upon, and her love made the offering sweet. So God will accept our gift, however small, if it is the best we have, and is offered from love to him.
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 7)
Will you not acknowledge Jesus as the chief object of your affections, by your free-will offerings to him? Will not parents educate their children to appreciate the great love of Christ, and his wonderful gift? Will they not teach them for his sake to practice self-denial, that they may bring their grateful offerings to Him who for our sake became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich? Instead of sending gifts to one another, let your offerings, large and small, flow into the treasury of God, as the many rivulets flow toward the mighty ocean. The lessons thus taught to your children will be such as God can approve.
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 8)
Under the Jewish economy, on the birth of children an offering was made to God, by his own appointment. Now we see parents taking special pains to present gifts to their children upon their birthdays; they make this an occasion of honoring the child, as though honor were due to the human being. Satan has had his own way in these things; he has diverted the minds and the gifts to human beings; thus the thoughts of the children are turned to themselves, as if they were to be made the objects of special favor. That which should flow back to God in offerings to bless the needy and carry the light of truth to the world, is turned from the right channel, and frequently does more harm than good, encouraging vanity, pride, and self-importance. On birthday occasions the children should be taught that they have reason for gratitude to God for his loving-kindness in preserving their lives for another year. Precious lessons might thus be given. For life, health, food, and clothing, no less than for the hope of eternal life, we are indebted to the Giver of all mercies; and it is due to God to recognize his gifts, and to present our offerings of gratitude to our greatest benefactor. These birthday gifts are recognized of Heaven.
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 9)
If Christian parents had accustomed their children to present offerings to God in acknowledgment of his great gift of salvation to men, how different would be the character of the young. Their minds would have been called away from themselves to the blessed Saviour. They would have been taught to feel that he loved them, and that he is the source of all blessing; that he is their hope of happiness and eternal life. If this kind of education had been given to our children, we should today see far less selfishness, far less envy and jealousy; we should have more manly young men and womanly young women. We should see the youth coming up with moral strength, with pure principles, with well-balanced minds and lovely characters, because the Model would be ever before them; they would be impressed with the importance of copying the excellence of Jesus, the pattern. The world will follow its own customs, its maxims and practices; but the children of God will seek to reach the elevated standard of purity and holiness.
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 10)
God wants the youth and those of mature age to look to him, to believe in Jesus Christ whom he has sent, and to have him abiding in the heart; then a new life will quicken every faculty of the being. The divine Comforter will be with them, to strengthen them in their weakness, and guide them in their perplexity. It will make the mind clearer, the heart purer; it sanctifies the will, and makes it strong for the service of God. It will make plain to them the path of life.
(RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, 11)
Draw Nigh to God
EGW
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
(RH December 9, 1890, 1)
Christ, the True Witness, said to the church of Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
(RH December 9, 1890, 2)
These words are addressed to those who have had great light, have enjoyed precious opportunities and privileges, and yet have not walked in the light, have not advanced in spiritual knowledge and strength, proportionately to the light given.
(RH December 9, 1890, 3)
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Here also Christians are addressed who have not advanced in spiritual growth in proportion to their privileges and the requirements of God. They have separated themselves from the love of God; the place that love should occupy is filled with selfishness. There is something for them to do. They must “draw nigh to God.” But how shall they do this?—By confession. Let them remember that the Lord is not slack concerning his promises, and his word is pledged,—“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” While it is a disgrace to sin, it is no disgrace to confess sin, and to forsake it, as the hateful thing it is,—that which caused the death of the only begotten Son of God.
(RH December 9, 1890, 4)
If we continue to cherish sin, our prayers will be an abomination to the Lord. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
(RH December 9, 1890, 5)
Will sins which have once been forgiven, ever be charged again to the sinner's account? If the soul whose sins have been forgiven abides in Christ, he remains justified, and he is sanctified by the Holy Spirit; but if he continues in sin, he cuts himself off from communion with God, and, unless he repent, his sins are reckoned unto him in full, and the wrath of God abideth on him. The forgiven of God must abide in Christ, in faith and obedience. If he shows by his conduct that he has left his first love, he is walking in the darkness from which he was once delivered, and needs to repent and do again his first works. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
(RH December 9, 1890, 6)
“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.... Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.”
(RH December 9, 1890, 7)
God is speaking to you from his living oracles; will you heed his instructions? He bears long with the perversity of men, but he deals plainly with the sins which they cherish notwithstanding the great light they have had, and the denunciations of God against all sin.
(RH December 9, 1890, 8)
“The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Who is there that can claim he has not broken it?—Not one. All are condemned by the law. Then let every one meditate and pray, searching the heart to see if there are not sins still clung to and idolized because he loves them. If sins are cherished, he is not abiding in the love of Christ, but is falling back into his old darkness. He does not love God nor his brethren, and the cleansing power of the blood of Christ is not felt on his heart. Sins are retained and practiced which his own conscience tells him are hateful in God's sight. A mere profession of faith is not enough to save any soul. He that will be a final conqueror is not one who has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
(RH December 9, 1890, 9)
Do not, my brethren, deceive your own souls. Do you love the Lord with all the heart, mind, soul, and strength? If not, all heaven demands why; for his love is the marvel of all the heavenly intelligences. God's law is the only standard of character. Herein is revealed the will of God, and here is the revelation of Jesus Christ. As the law opens before us the deformity of our character, Christ our righteousness is lifted up, and presented in contrast with man. As we humble our hearts and draw nigh to Jesus, he draws nigh to us.
(RH December 9, 1890, 10)
Self-denial and cross-bearing are essential to our own good and our success in the perfection of Christian character. “Draw nigh to God,” who is the source of all power, “and he will draw nigh to you.” What is the promise?—“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
(RH December 9, 1890, 11)
We are not to fix dates, we are not to prescribe the manner in which the gift shall come; for we cannot know the purposes of God, or what gifts he sees are for our good and his glory. We must draw nigh to God, and trust him. The answer to our petitions may not come at the time we expected it, but here our faith is tested; though the answer be deferred, it will surely come. God will not fail to fulfill any of his promises; he will keep his word. And we must not walk apart from God, but keep drawing nearer to him day by day, and hour by hour.
(RH December 9, 1890, 12)
When preferring requests to God, confess your sins with sincere sorrow, and ask him to forgive them. Then if you have aught against your brother, go to him; and by the grace and strength which the Lord gives to all who ask him in faith, let all enmity, all malice, all hatred, be put away from you. Be reconciled to your brother. If you have not a tender, forgiving spirit toward others, your Heavenly Father will not forgive your trespasses. “When ye stand praying, forgive if ye have aught against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
(RH December 9, 1890, 13)
I have been shown that there has come into the hearts of the professed people of God, an unsympathetic, cold, loveless spirit; and many, having left their first love, are ignorant of their true standing before God. They cannot see that they are drawing away from Christ, instead of being laborers together with God. It is the absence of the love of Jesus in the heart that makes the church weak, and this absence is always evinced by a lack of love for brethren. If its members loved God supremely, they would love their brethren; but Satan has been sowing his tares. This cold, critical spirit has been taking up a larger and still larger place in all our religious associations, until the characteristics of Satan himself are plainly revealed. There is a separating of the soul from Christ, its first love. The Lord Jesus understands the situation of the church. He reads every heart. He is the heart-searching God, and he alone, with absolute certainty, knoweth them that are his.
(RH December 9, 1890, 14)
It is the privilege of every member of the church to abide in Christ, and to have Christ abide in the inner sanctuary of the soul. Then divine love will pervade the entire being. Divine wisdom will reveal to him the hidden treasures of truth. The truth as it is in Jesus will be revealed to those who, though in darkness, are inquiring for the good and the true way. A large number of those who have not the truth are restless in their darkness and ignorance and spiritual poverty; they are being drawn by Christ to seek for the goodly pearls of truth. Now if the members of the church are living out their light, they will be laborers with Christ in leading inquirers to these hidden treasures. Their friends and neighbors will then be able to rejoice in the light of the truth as it is in Jesus.
(RH December 9, 1890, 15)
There are thousands in our cities and towns, both near and far, who are hungering and thirsting for a knowledge of the truth. When it is presented to them, they embrace it, and, like Philip, they go in search of their friends and relatives, to tell them the glad news. Like the man who found the treasure hid in a field, they give up all else, that their longings of soul may be satisfied. Because they love Jesus so much, they love all for whom he died, and they cannot keep to themselves the precious knowledge, for they feel themselves to be debtors to all men to make known what is the fellowship of the mystery that is hid in Christ Jesus.
(RH December 9, 1890, 16)
No man can have Christ abiding in his heart, and at the same time separate his influence and his intrusted capital of means from the cause and work of Christ. Those who are Christ's at heart, will make most earnest efforts to send the light of truth into all the highways and by-ways of life. The lover of money, through the greater love he has for Jesus, overcomes his covetousness, and by his gifts and offerings declares, “Of thine own we freely give thee;” the indolent man, through his love for Christ, becomes an active working agent with Christ; “not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” The lovers of pleasure, who have lived for their own gratification, will, through the sanctifying power of the truth, repent of their wrong influence, and will live in harmony with the truth they profess.
(RH December 9, 1890, 17)
May the Lord graciously bless his people during this week of prayer. May all wrongs be righted, all sins confessed, and pardon be written over against your names in the books of heaven. Let the members of every church, of every household, seek the Lord, and humble their souls before him. Let us, so far as possible, clear the King's highway of all the rubbish wherewith we have blocked it.
(RH December 9, 1890, 18)
I have a message from the Lord to the individual members of our churches: “Thou hast left thy first love. Repent, repent, before God, before it shall be forever too late.” Make the remnant left you of the year 1890, a time of sincere searching of heart and deep repentance. Supreme love to God, which places us under obligation to use all our powers for his service, has well-nigh lost its power on the human heart. The True Witness says, “I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” This voice is appealing to every heart, “Repent, repent, because thou hast left thy first love.”“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
(RH December 9, 1890, 19)