I - Quotes
The Christian's life should be one of faith, of victory, & joy in God...Truly spake God's servant Nehemiah, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” GC 277, 278
In those who possess it, the religion of Christ will reveal itself as a vitalizing, pervading principle, a living, working, spiritual energy. There will be manifest the freshness & power & joyousness of perpetual youth. The heart that receives the Word of God is not as a pool that evaporates, not like a broken cistern that loses its treasure. It is like the mountain stream fed by unfailing springs, whose cool, sparkling waters leap from rock to rock, refreshing the weary, the thirsty, the heavy laden. COL 130
The Christian life is never at a standstill. It is, it must be, progressive. Our love for Christ should become stronger & stronger. If the heart is devoted to Jesus, its love for earthly friends & worldly treasure becomes subordinate rather than supreme. As we by faith drink from the fountain of life, so will our joy & peace increase. RH May 30, 1882
Do not think that when you walk with Jesus you must walk in the shadow. The happiest people in the world are those who trust in Jesus & gladly do His bidding. From the lives of those who follow Him, unrest & discontent are banished... They may meet with trial & difficulty, but their lives are full of joy; for Christ walks beside them, & His presence makes the pathway bright... When you arise in the morning, rise with the praise of God on your lips, & when you go out to work, go with a prayer to God for help... Wait for a leaf from the tree of life. This will soothe & refresh you, filling your heart with peace & joy. Fix your thoughts upon the Saviour. Go apart from the bustle of the world & sit under Christ's shadow. Then, amid the din of daily toil & conflict, your strength will be renewed. It is positively necessary for us to sit down sometimes & think of how the Saviour descended from heaven, from the throne of God, to show what human beings may become if they will unite their weakness to His strength. Having gained renewal of strength by communion with God, we may go on our way rejoicing, praising Him for the privilege of bringing the sunshine of Christ's love into the lives of those we meet... Heavenly intelligences are waiting to cooperate with human instrumentalities, that the world may see what human beings may become through a union with the divine. Those who consecrate body, soul, & spirit to God's service will constantly receive a new endowment of physical, mental, & spiritual power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ gives them the life of His life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in mind & heart. Through the grace given us we may achieve victories which, because of our defects of character & the smallness of our faith, may have seemed to us impossible. HP 62
…Words cannot describe the peace & joy possessed by him who takes God at His word. Trials do not disturb him, slights do not vex him. Self is crucified. Day by day his duties may become more taxing, his temptations stronger, his trials more severe; but he does not falter; for he receives strength equal to his need. MYP 98
Jesus loves us with a love that is infinite. He desires that we shall all be happy in this life, & that we shall receive, finally, the life that measures with the life of God, eternal life in the kingdom of glory. This is what our Saviour desires us to have. Let us all stand on the side of the One who enables us to overcome. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, & am set down with My Father in His throne.” Will we do this? The battle, the striving, is left with us. It is not necessary for you to try to do something wonderful of yourself. You need only to believe in Christ. Believe that He will take you just as you are. Believe that His power will rest upon you. Believe that He gives you just what you ask for. In believing thus, you will find that the grace of Jesus Christ will be upon you, & you will praise Him because of your infinite privileges. 21LtMs, Ms 145, 1906
In Him there is joy that is not uncertain & unsatisfying. If the light that flows from Jesus has come to you, & you are reflecting it upon others, you show that you have joy that is pure, elevating, & ennobling. Why should not the religion of Christ be represented as it really is, as full of attractiveness & power? Why should we not present before the world the loveliness of Christ? RH Mar. 15, 1892
All Heaven is interested in the happiness of man. Our heavenly Father does not close the avenues of joy to any of His creatures. The divine requirements call upon us to shun those indulgences that would bring suffering & disappointment, that would close to us the door of happiness & heaven... He [the world's Redeemer] requires us to perform only those duties that will lead our steps to heights of bliss to which the disobedient can never attain. The true, joyous life of the soul is to have Christ formed within, the hope of glory. SC 46, 47
It rests with yourself whether you will be… happy or unhappy... Jesus loves you & He wants that you should be happy even in this life, & that you should be a light in the world. I wish you could see, & our people could see what they may be & what they may become. God will work with your efforts... You can do this, or He would never require it of you. Your help is in God. 3LtMs, Lt 25, 1882
What is the joy of the Christian?—It is the result of the consciousness of the presence of Christ. RH Dec. 4, 1984
Why should not our joy be full—full, lacking nothing? We have the assurance that Jesus is our Saviour, & that we may freely partake of the rich provision He has made for us... It is our privilege to seek constantly the joy of His presence. He desires us to be cheerful & to be filled with praise to His name. He wants us to carry light in our countenances & joy in our hearts. ST Aug. 11, 1909
As Christians we ought to praise God more than we do. We ought to bring more of the brightness of His love into our lives. As by faith we look to Jesus, His joy & peace are reflected from the countenances. How earnestly we should seek so to relate ourselves to God that our faces may reflect the sunshine of His love! When our own souls are vivified by the Holy Spirit, we shall exert an uplifting influence upon others who know not the joy of Christ’s presence. 18LtMs, Ms 115, 1903
Their spiritual life is sustained in the closet, by secret communion with God. Their experience is marked less with bustle & excitement, than with a subdued & reverent joy. Their love for Christ is a quiet, peaceful, yet all-controlling power. The light & love of an indwelling Saviour are revealed in every word & every act. Outward troubles cannot reach that life which we live by faith on the Son of God. Its richest, purest joys are felt when Christ is the theme of thought & conversation. RH May 30, 1882
Then let peace come into the soul, joyfulness into the heart, & speak forth the words Christ has given us, & show forth by our piety, “the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 21MR 308
Seek not for happiness, for it is never to be found by seeking for it. Go about your duty. Let faithfulness mark all your doings, & be clothed with humility. 2T 135
Very many who are seeking for happiness will be disappointed in their hopes, because they seek it amiss, & are indulging in sinful tempers & selfish feelings. By neglecting to discharge the little duties & observe the little courtesies of life, they violate the principles on which happiness depends. True happiness is not to be found in self-gratification, but in the path of duty. God desires man to be happy, & for this reason He gave him the precepts of His Law, that in obeying these he might have joy at home & abroad. While he stands in his moral integrity, true to principle, & having the control of all his powers, he cannot be miserable. With its tendrils twined about God, the heart will be full of peace & joy, & the soul will flourish amid unbelief & depravity. RC 305
By helping others, they themselves will be helped out of their difficulties. Joy takes the place of sadness & gloom. The heart, filled with the Spirit of God, glows with warmth toward every fellow being. VSS 137
They will be constantly seeking to make all around them happy, forgetting self in their kind attentions to others. This is the fruit which grows upon the Christian tree. AH 423
There is no smile that He does not mark. SC 85
If we do represent Christ, we shall make His service appear attractive, as it really is. Christians who gather up gloom & sadness to their souls, & murmur & complain, are giving to others a false representation of God & the Christian life. They give the impression that God is not pleased to have His children happy, & in this they bear false witness against our heavenly Father. SC 116
The Christian’s life is not to be one of burdens & cares, although the cross must be lifted & the burdens borne; for the servants of God are to draw peace & strength from the Source of their strength, & in so doing they will find life full of happiness & peace. RH May 5, 1891
There are many who, though striving to obey God’s commandments, have little peace or joy. This lack in their experience is the result of a failure to exercise faith. They walk as it were in a salt land, a parched wilderness. They claim little, when they might claim much; for there is no limit to the promises of God. Such ones do not correctly represent the sanctification that comes through obedience to the truth. The Lord would have all His sons & daughters happy, peaceful, & obedient. Through the exercise of faith the believer comes into possession of these blessings. Through faith, every deficiency of character may be supplied, every defilement cleansed, every fault corrected, every excellence developed. AA 563
Happiness drawn from earthly sources is as changeable as varying circumstances can make it; but the peace of Christ is a constant & abiding peace. It does not depend upon any circumstances in life, on the amount of worldly goods or the number of earthly friends. Christ is the fountain of living water, & happiness drawn from Him can never fail. MB 16
The service rendered in sincerity of heart has great recompense. “Thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly.” By the life we live through the grace of Christ, the character is formed. The original loveliness begins to be restored to the soul. The attributes of the character of Christ are imparted, & the image of the Divine begins to shine forth. The faces of men & women who walk & work with God express the peace of heaven. They are surrounded with the atmosphere of heaven. For these souls the kingdom of God has begun. They have Christ’s joy, the joy of being a blessing to humanity. They have the honor of being accepted for the Master’s use; they are trusted to do His work in His name. AH 535
Fix the mind upon the mansions Jesus has gone to prepare for those that love him. Cultivate clear perceptions of truth, unselfish purposes, & a desire to do others good & make them happy... Heaven is all joy; & if we gather to our souls the joys of Heaven, & as far as possible express them in our words & deportment, we shall be more pleasing to our heavenly Father than if we were gloomy & sad. It is the duty of every one to cultivate cheerfulness instead of brooding over sorrow & troubles…These depressing emotions are a great injury to them healthwise; for by hindering the process of digestion, they interfere with nutrition. While grief & anxiety cannot remedy a single evil, they can do great harm; but cheerfulness & hope, while they brighten the pathway of others, “are life unto those that find them, & health to all their flesh.” ST Feb. 12, 1885
Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, love, promote health & prolong life. A contented mind, a cheerful spirit, is health to the body & strength to the soul. “A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a medicine.” MH 241
Gratitude, rejoicing, benevolence, trust in God's love & care—these are health's greatest safeguard. MH 281
The influence of the mind on the body, as well as of the body on the mind, should be emphasized. The electric power of the brain, promoted by mental activity, vitalizes the whole system, & is thus an invaluable aid in resisting disease... The power of the will & the importance of self-control, both in the preservation & in the recovery of health, the depressing & even ruinous effect of anger, discontent, selfishness, or impurity, &, on the other hand, the marvelous life-giving power to be found in cheerfulness, unselfishness, gratitude, should also be shown. There is a physiological truth—truth that we need to consider—in the scripture, “A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a medicine” RC 137
Approve whenever you can; smile whenever you can…Heaven is all smiles & gladness & gratitude. I wish we all knew more about heaven & would bring its pure, healthful, holy, influence into our lives, for then we would bring sweet joy into many a life that needs it. 4LtMs, Lt 19, 1886
While cheerfulness & a calm resignation & peace will make others happy & healthy, it will be of the greatest benefit to oneself. As we are not our own, as we are bought with a price, it is the duty of everyone who professes to be a Christian to keep his thoughts under the control of reason & oblige himself to be cheerful & happy. However bitter may be the cause of his grief, he should cultivate a spirit of rest & quietude in God. The restfulness which is in Christ Jesus, the peace of Christ, how precious, how healing its influence, how soothing to the oppressed soul! 2MCP 662
The love which Christ diffuses through the whole being is a vitalizing power. Every vital part—the brain, the heart, the nerves—it touches with healing. By it the highest energies of the being are roused to activity. It frees the soul from the guilt & sorrow, the anxiety & care, that crush the life-forces. With it come serenity & composure. It implants in the soul joy that nothing earthly can destroy—joy in the Holy Spirit—health-giving, life-giving joy. 1MCP 250
Would you have Jesus lift upon you the health & light of his countenance?—Then turn your face toward him, & look & live. Talk of Jesus; dwell on his matchless charms; eat of the bread of life; take of the water of life freely. Do you desire to love God supremely & your fellow-men as Jesus loved them?—Keep your heart in meditation upon the spotless character of Christ. His divine heart was moved with compassion & love for suffering humanity. His love cannot be fathomed, except as we take in the sacrifice made on Calvary. Through the renunciation of all selfishness, we need to be able to comprehend what is the height & depth & length & breadth of the love of God, which passeth knowledge. If we constantly cherish the love of Christ, we shall have the love that cannot be repressed. We shall love the atmosphere of light & love & truth & righteousness. We shall be constantly inquiring after truth, &, knowing that there is such a wealth of precious ore of truth to be found, we shall not grasp for thorns & thistles. Humbly & sincerely we shall search after divine knowledge, realizing that all we can carry with us to heaven is that which is akin to heaven. We shall know that it is very poor policy to be cultivating ourselves in the art of seeing everything that is objectionable, for all the knowledge of God that we can here obtain we shall carry with us to heaven. We can safely cultivate purity, love, & devotion to God & our Redeemer. The love of God must be planted in the heart in this life, & it will enable us to have happiness, & joy, & peace, because the kingdom of heaven will be set up in our hearts. Heaven is to begin on earth. The word of God will reveal to us whatsoever is real & abiding, & these permanent excellences will find a place in our hearts, so that we may now have within us the perfection of heaven. ST Feb. 5, 1894
…Christ has raised fallen human beings to spiritual life, quickening them with His life, filling their hearts with hope & joy. HP 7
He taught in a way that made them feel the completeness of His identification with their interests & happiness. His instruction was so direct, His illustrations were so appropriate, His words so sympathetic & cheerful, that His hearers were charmed. MH 24
He wants them to be full of pleasantness. … they will exert a cheerful, uplifting influence upon all those with whom they come in contact. Then the angels of God can give them success in their work. 20LtMs, Ms 68, 1905
They sit together in heavenly places in Christ, enjoying in communion with Him the joy & peace that He alone can give. HP 7
Christians should be the most cheerful & happy people that live. They may have the consciousness that God is their father, & their everlasting friend… The religion of Christ is cheering & elevating in its influence. It is above everything like foolish jesting & joking, vain & frivolous chit-chat. HR Jul. 1, 1871
They need the transforming influence of the Spirit of God in order to be happy…“let him refrain his tongue from evil, & his lips that they speak no guile…let him seek peace, & ensue it….” Those who have an experimental knowledge of this scripture are truly happy. They consider the approbation of Heaven of more worth than any earthly amusement… 1T 565
Let us remember that He is not glorified by the manifestation of a fretful, unhappy spirit. The Lord cares for the flowers. He gives them beauty & fragrance. Will He not much more give us the fragrance of a cheerful disposition? Will He not restore in us the divine image? …Then we can give to the world a revelation of what true religion does for men & women. The joy of a Saviour filling our hearts gives us that peace & confidence.…In His Word the Lord has made it plain that His people are a joyful people. YRP 72
The Spirit of the Lord is to rest upon you until you shall be like a fragrant flower from the garden of God. YRP 75
With all heaven engaged in the warfare against sin, how can we be listless? Why not accept the help of the Holy Spirit, & fight as in the presence of the heavenly universe, looking undauntedly into the face of every foe, & saying with heart & voice: “Be of good cheer. Christ has overcome the world. Because He lives, we shall live also”? At every step we should advance heavenward, the eye fixed upon the crown of life, the hands employed in saving those who are ready to perish. ST Apr. 28, 1898
“In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” ... Jesus has not left you to be amazed at the trials & difficulties you meet. He has told you all about them, & He has told you also not to be cast down & oppressed when trials come. Look to Jesus, your Redeemer, & be cheerful & rejoice. 8T 128
Each day do loving deeds & speak cheerful words. Scatter smiles along the pathway of life. As you work in this way, God will place His approval on you, & Christ will one day say to you, “Well done, thou good & faithful servant.” LHU 346
Life is what we make it, & we shall find what we look for. If we look for sadness & trouble, if we are in a frame of mind to magnify little difficulties, we shall find plenty of them to engross our thoughts & our conversation. But if we look on the bright side of things, we shall find enough to make us cheerful & happy. ST Feb. 12, 1885
All may possess a cheerful countenance, a gentle voice, a courteous manner; & these are elements of power. Children are attracted by a cheerful, sunny demeanor. Show them kindness & courtesy, & they will manifest the same spirit toward you & toward one another. AH 421
Christ would gather the lilies of the field & put them in the hands of the little children. Some have said, “No one ever saw Christ smile.” It is not true. It is not true. Christ would gather little children in His arms, & they would fall asleep against His great heart of love. He would look upon them, & His countenance smiled. He would smile at the children, & they would catch the smile, & they would run after Him. They would pick the little flowers, & carry them to Christ, & make their little offering to Him. 17LtMs, Ms 230, 1902
Smile, parents; smile, teachers. If your heart is sad, let not your face reveal the fact. Let the sunshine from a loving, grateful heart light up the countenance. RH Mar. 21, 1882
The father should do his part toward making home happy. Whatever his cares & business perplexities, they should not be permitted to overshadow his family; he should enter his home with smiles & pleasant words. MH 391
Kind words, pleasant looks, a cheerful countenance, throw a charm around the Christian that makes his influence almost irresistible. It is the religion of Christ in the heart that causes the words to be gentle, & the demeanor winning, even to those in the humblest walks of life. In forgetfulness of self, in the light & peace & happiness he is constantly bestowing on others, is seen the true dignity of the man. This is a way to gain respect, & extend the sphere of usefulness, which costs but little; & the one who pursues this course will not complain that he does not receive the honor that is his due. But Bible rules must be written on the heart; Bible rules must be carried into the everyday life. ST Nov. 11, 1886
We have seen clouds interpose between us & the sun, but we did not mourn & clothe ourselves in sackcloth for fear that we should never see the sun again. We manifested no anxiety about it, but waited as cheerfully as possible until the cloud passed away & revealed the sun. Just so in our trials & temptations. Clouds may seem to shut from us the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness; but we know that the face of our Redeemer is not forever hidden. He is looking upon us with love & tender compassion. Let us not cast away our confidence, which hath great recompense of reward, but when clouds hang over the soul, let us keep our eyes fixed where we can see the Sun of Righteousness, & rejoice that we have a living Saviour. Think how beautiful was the light which we enjoyed, keep the mind stayed on Jesus, & the light will again shine upon us, & dismal thoughts will flee. We shall have joy in Christ, & shall go singing on our way to Mount Zion. OHC 65
The life on earth is the beginning of the life in heaven. We are children of the heavenly King, members of the royal family, heirs of God, & joint heirs with Christ. The mansions Jesus has gone to prepare are to receive only those who are true, who are pure, who love & obey His words... If we would enjoy eternal bliss, we must cultivate religion in the home... Peace, harmony, affection, & happiness should be perseveringly cherished every day, until these precious things abide in the hearts of those who compose the family. That which will make the character lovely in the home is that which will make it lovely in the heavenly mansions. If we manifest the character of Christ here, keeping all the commandments of God, we shall be cheered & blessed with glimpses of the pleasant home in the mansions Jesus has gone to prepare. There the loves & sympathies that God has planted in the soul will find truest & sweetest exercise. The pure communion with holy beings, the harmonious social life with the blessed angels & with the faithful ones of all ages, the sacred fellowship that binds together “the whole family in heaven & earth” all are among the experiences of the hereafter... With unutterable delight we shall enter into the joy & the wisdom of unfallen beings. OFC 82
Jesus wants us to be happy, trustful, peaceful. This is genuine faith. Let this mind dwell in you which was always in Christ Jesus. Be cheerful, reflect light. 4LtMs, Lt 68, 1886
We hope you are all cheerful & happy. Let not care corrode you… Be determined to be happy as you pass along. Don’t grow old too fast. Keep young in spirit, keep hopeful if the heavens fall. Don’t let your spirit be fretted, for it will never pay. Ever be calm, composed & have self-control. Carry the happy with you, sing in the Spirit, pray in the Spirit, talk in the Spirit. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Children, Jesus lives. He will be your Saviour & your present helper in every time of need. 3LtMs, Lt 29, 1876
It was this joy that filled the hearts of Paul & Silas when they prayed & sang praises to God at midnight in the Philippian dungeon. Christ was beside them there, & the light of His presence irradiated the gloom with the glory of the courts above. From Rome, Paul wrote, unmindful of his fetters as he saw the spread of the gospel, “I therein do rejoice, yea, & will rejoice.” And the very words of Christ upon the mount are re-echoed in Paul’s message to the Philippian church, in the midst of their persecutions, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: & again I say, Rejoice.” MB 35
Man was created for a higher, holier state of enjoyment than this world can afford. He was made in the image of God for high & noble purposes, such as engage the attention of angels. 4T 438
The home of our first parents was to be a pattern for other homes as their children should go forth to occupy the earth. That home, beautified by the hand of God Himself, was not a gorgeous palace. Men & women, in their pride, delight in magnificent & costly edifices, & glory in the works of their own hands; but God placed Adam & Eve in a garden. This was their dwelling. The blue heavens were its dome; the earth, with its delicate flowers & carpet of living green, was its floor; & the leafy branches of the goodly trees were its canopy. Its walls were hung with the most magnificent adornings—the handiwork of the great Master Artist. In the surroundings of the holy pair was a lesson for all time—that true happiness is found, not in the indulgence of pride & luxury, but in communion with God through His created works. BLJ 230
In itself the beauty of nature leads the soul away from sin & worldly attractions, & toward purity, peace, & God. BLJ 232
The life in which the fear of the Lord is cherished will not be a life of sadness & gloom. It is the absence of Christ that makes the countenance sad & the life a pilgrimage of sighs... But Christ dwelling in the soul is a wellspring of joy. For all who receive Him, the keynote of the Word of God is “rejoicing.” ST Aug. 11, 1909
But do not for a moment suppose that religion will make you sad & gloomy & will block up the way to success. The religion of Christ does not obliterate or even weaken a single faculty. It in no way incapacitates you for the enjoyment of any real happiness; it is not designed to lessen your interest in life, or to make you indifferent to the claims of friends & society. It does not mantle the life in sackcloth; it is not expressed in deep-drawn sighs & groans. No, no; those who in everything make God first & last & best, are the happiest people in the world. Smiles & sunshine are not banished from their countenance. MYP38
As Christians we have duties to do for the benefit of others. We owe to all our contribution to increase the sum of human happiness. In order to do this we must draw from the source of infinite grace through our Lord Jesus Christ. We must let the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine into our hearts, that we may reflect light to others. We may daily be blessed, & be a blessing to others, promoting love, joy, & peace wherever we go… A large share of life’s happiness depends upon giving & receiving Christ-like courtesy. The sharp, rude angles & rough points in our character, the manifestation of selfishness in unkind words & actions, tear away the delicate fabric of human love & happiness. RH Jul. 18, 1893
Paul never doubted the ability of God or his willingness to give him the grace he needed to live the life of a Christian. … He does not live under a cloud of doubt, groping his way in the mist & darkness of uncertainty, complaining of hardship & trials. A voice of gladness, strong with hope & courage, sounds all along the line down to our time. Paul had a healthful religious experience. The love of Christ was his grand theme, & the constraining power that governed him. When in most discouraging circumstances, which would have had a depressing influence upon halfway Christians, he is firm of heart, full of courage & hope & cheer, exclaiming, “Rejoice in the Lord alway, & again I say, Rejoice.” The same hope & cheerfulness is seen when he is upon the deck of the ship, the tempest beating about him, the ship going to pieces. He gives orders to the commander of the ship & preserves the lives of all on board. Although a prisoner, he is really the master of the ship, the freest & happiest man on board. When wrecked & driven to a barbarous island, he is the most self-possessed, the most helpful in saving his fellow-men from a watery grave. His hands brought the wood to kindle the fire for the benefit of the chilled, ship-wrecked passengers. When they saw the deadly viper fasten upon his hand, they were filled with terror; but Paul calmly shook it into the fire, knowing it could not harm him; for he implicitly trusted in God. RH Sept. 8, 1885
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11
The religion of Jesus is joy, peace, & happiness. 5T 579
A congregation may be the poorest in the land. It may be without the attraction of any outward show; but if the members possess the principles of the character of Christ, they will have His joy in their souls. Angels will unite with them in their worship. The praise & thanksgiving from grateful hearts will ascend to God as a sweet oblation. COL 298
... Angel messengers are observing all our course of action. They are ready to help all in their weakness, guarding all from moral & physical danger according to the providence of God. And whenever souls yield to the softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God under these angel ministrations, there is joy in heaven; the Lord Himself rejoices with singing. 1SM 96
He who is following Divine guidance has found the only true source of happiness, & has gained the power of imparting happiness to all around him. No man can really enjoy life without religion. Love to God purifies & ennobles every taste & every desire, intensifies every affection, & brightens every worthy pleasure. It enables men to appreciate & enjoy all that is true, & good, & beautiful. He who is seeking with diligence to acquire the wisdom of human schools, should remember that another school also claims him as a student. Christ was the greatest teacher the world ever saw. He brought to man knowledge direct from Heaven. The lessons which he has given us are what we need for both the present & the future state. He sets before us the true aims of life, & how we may secure them. RH Jul. 11, 1882
In the school of Christ we are to find peace & happiness in gentleness & kindness toward others. RH Jan. 2, 1894
The religion of Christ lifts man above every debasing, groveling vice. Linked to the Infinite One, partakers of the Divine nature, we are clothed with a perfect panoply against the shafts of evil. Every faculty, every attribute with which the Creator has endowed the children of men, is to be employed for his glory; & in this employment is found its purest, noblest, happiest exercise. RH Jul. 11, 1882
The graceful forms & delicate hues of the plants & flowers may be copied by human skill, but what touch can impart life to even one flower or blade of grass? Every wayside blossom owes its being to the same power that set the starry worlds on high. Through all created things thrills one pulse of life from the great heart of God. The flowers of the field are clothed by His hand in richer robes than have ever graced the forms of earthly kings... On the lily’s petals, God has written a message for you, written in language that your heart can read only as it unlearns the lessons of distrust & selfishness & corroding care. Why has He given you the singing birds & the gentle blossoms, but from the overflowing love of a Father’s heart, that would brighten & gladden your path of life? ... He has filled the earth & air & sky with glimpses of beauty to tell you of His loving thought for you. The beauty of all created things is but a gleam from the shining of His glory. If He has lavished such infinite skill upon the things of nature, for your happiness & joy, can you doubt that He will give you every needed blessing? “Consider the lilies.” Every flower that opens its petals to the sunshine obeys the same great laws that guide the stars, & how simple & beautiful & how sweet its life! Through the flowers, God would call our attention to the loveliness of Christlike character. He who has given such beauty to the blossoms desires far more that the soul should be clothed with the beauty of the character of Christ... Who would dream of the possibilities of beauty in the rough brown bulb of the lily? But when the life of God, hidden therein, unfolds at His call in the rain & the sunshine, men marvel at the vision of grace & loveliness. Even so will the life of God unfold in every human soul that will yield itself to the ministry of His grace, which, free as the rain & the sunshine, comes with its benediction to all. It is the word of God that creates the flowers, & the same word will produce in you the graces of His Spirit. MB 95-97
We shall be happy; for our spiritual meat & drink will be to us righteousness & peace & joy. AG 248
All faces will reflect the image of their Redeemer. There will then be no anxious, troubled countenances, but all will be bright, & smiling in spotless purity. The angels will be there, also the resurrected saints with the martyrs, & the best of all, & what will cause us the most joy, our lovely Saviour, who suffered & died that we might enjoy that happiness & freedom, will be there.—His glorious face will shine brighter than the sun, & light up the beautiful city & reflect glory all around. ML 357
Christ has said: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, & drink.” John 7:37. Have you exhausted the fountain?—No; for it is inexhaustible. Just as soon as you feel your need, you may drink, & drink again. The fountain is always full. And when you have once drunk of that fountain, you will not be seeking to quench your thirst from the broken cisterns of this world; you will not be studying how you can find the most pleasure, amusement, fun, & frolic. No; because you have been drinking from the stream which makes glad the city of God. Then your joy will be full. OHC 65
He who seeks to quench his thirst at the fountains of this world will drink to thirst again. Everywhere men are unsatisfied. They long for something to supply the need of the soul. Only One can meet that want. The need of the world, “the Desire of all nations,” is Christ. The divine grace which He alone can impart, is as living water, purifying, refreshing, & invigorating the soul. Jesus did not convey the idea that merely one draught of the water of life would suffice the receiver. He who tastes of the love of Christ will continually long for more; but he seeks for nothing else. The riches, honors, & pleasures of the world do not attract him. The constant cry of his heart is, More of Thee. And He who reveals to the soul its necessity is waiting to satisfy its hunger & thirst. Every human resource & dependence will fail. The cisterns will be emptied, the pools become dry; but our Redeemer is an inexhaustible fountain. We may drink, & drink again, & ever find a fresh supply. He in whom Christ dwells has within himself the fountain of blessing... From this source he may draw strength & grace sufficient for all his needs. DA 187
The water that Christ referred to was the revelation of His grace in His Word... Christ's gracious presence in His Word is ever speaking to the soul, representing Him as the well of living water to refresh the thirsting. It is our privilege to have a living, abiding Saviour. He is the source of spiritual power implanted within us, & His influence will flow forth in words & actions, refreshing all within the sphere of our influence, begetting in them desires & aspirations for strength & purity, for holiness & peace, & for that joy which brings with it no sorrow. This is the result of an indwelling Saviour. AG 119
Many of us have idols in our hearts. But you will fail to find satisfaction in the things of this life. Jesus says, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” What is the meaning of these words? They mean that when your mind is attracted by heavenly things, when you dwell upon Christ, then your idols are crucified, & you are satisfied with the love of God. But how little are thoughts of Christ brought into our lives! How few talk of Jesus! How little he is lifted up! In order to teach men & women the worthlessness of earthly things, you must lead them to the living Fountain, & get them to drink of Christ, until their hearts are filled with the love of God, & Christ is in them, a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Language cannot describe the peace & fullness of the joy of the true Christian. Let us seek to drink of the Fountain of life…Educate them to better habits, & better traits, by the power of your own example…Reveal Jesus to them, that they may behold him & become like him. ST Jul. 1, 1889
The truth as it is in Jesus can be experienced, but never explained. Its height & breadth & depth pass our knowledge. We may task our imagination to the utmost, & then we shall see only dimly the outlines of a love that is unexplainable, that is as high as heaven, but that stooped to the earth to stamp the image of God on all mankind. Yet it is possible for us to see all that we can bear of the divine compassion. This is unfolded to the humble, contrite soul. We shall understand God's compassion just in proportion as we appreciate His sacrifice for us. As we search the word of God in humility of heart, the grand theme of redemption will open to our research. It will increase in brightness as we behold it, & as we aspire to grasp it, its height & depth will ever increase. Our life is to be bound up with the life of Christ; we are to draw constantly from Him, partaking of Him, the living Bread that came down from heaven, drawing from a fountain ever fresh, ever giving forth its abundant treasures. If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet joyful sense of the presence of Jesus. Often our hearts will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. When this is in truth the experience of the Christian, there is seen in his life a simplicity, a humility, meekness, and lowliness of heart, that show to all with whom he associates that he has been with Jesus & learned of Him. COL 129
Rejoice evermore. No one but a true Christian is truly happy. God is life & light & joy to the soul. With the sense of an ever-present, abiding Christ, you may rejoice all the day long. You may sing aloud & shout His praises. Your joy in & through Christ Jesus is as the eating of the leaves of the tree of life, which are for the healing of the nations. Rejoice all the day long that you may have the companionship of Christ, assured you by the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” The joy that is fed from inexhaustible springs is constantly breaking forth into more refreshing abundance. When the power of the destroyer presses surely & heavily, trust in Jesus. Looking to Him, you can say as a child of God, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive shall fail, & the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, & there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I joy in the God of my salvation.” Your own heart may be so oppressed that all seems dark & dreary, but look to Jesus constantly. The way will brighten as you think, The blessed presence of Christ is with me… 16LtMs, Lt 124, 1901
As I look to Jesus, the darkness flees away, & I am happy in Christ. 7LtMs, Ms 19, 1892
We cannot be happy without Jesus, & He in His great love cannot be satisfied without us. 10LtMs, Lt 92, 1895
You ought to feel that you are the happiest people upon the face of the whole earth. TMK 183
If we have the love of God in our hearts, we shall be happy. 4LtMs, Ms 47, 1886
Christians holding daily communion with God, feasting upon the truths of his word, will by their religious conversation be constantly exerting a powerful influence for good upon their fellow-men. Hearts imbued with the love of Jesus will not fail to express themselves in words. The precious love of Christ has been experienced by them, & they cannot refrain from relating their experience to others. From a heart throbbing with a Saviour’s love, the story of the cross of Christ will be repeated, & they will thus testify that Jesus has power on earth to forgive sins… They may exemplify in their lives that the happiness which worldlings seek after in vain is to be found in the service of Jesus Christ. Here alone is serenity, peace, contentment, & true happiness & joy. RH Aug. 28, 1879
Those who abide in Jesus will be happy, cheerful, & joyful in God. A subdued gentleness will mark the voice, reverence for spiritual & eternal things will be expressed in the actions, & music, joyful music, will echo from the lips; for it is wafted from the throne of God. This is the mystery of godliness, not easily explained, but nonetheless felt & enjoyed…The more closely we are connected with Christ, the more will our words & actions show the subduing, transforming power of His grace. 4T 625
Remember that the Lord loves you, & you please the dear Saviour when you are gentle & kind & obedient; & if you are pleasant & have a beautiful character, Jesus will, when He comes, give you a beautiful harp that you can play upon. He will give you a crown of gold, & you will be very happy always. 5MR 190
Jesus has gone to prepare mansions for those that love him, that where he is gone, they may be also. If you are faithful, you will go to those blest mansions. All will be joy, beauty & loveliness. There no trials will ever come. There none will say, I am sick. Heaven, sweet heaven, will be our blest & happy home. YI Jan. 1, 1856