L - Quotes
It is by the occurrence of small things that character is developed, & that the manner of spirit that dwelleth in us is made known in our lives. There are many who undervalue the small events of life, the little deeds that are to be performed day by day; but these are not to be estimated as small, as every action tells either for the blessing or the injuring of some one. Every action tells its own story, it bears its own history to the throne of God. It is known whether it is on the side of right or on the side of wrong. It is only by acting in accordance with the principles of God’s word in the small transactions of life, that we place ourselves on the right side. We are tried & tested by these small occurrences, & our character will be estimated according as our work shall be. By studying the word of God, by becoming doers of that word, we shall be strengthened of God when placed in a trying, perilous position. As we attain power to stand the small tests of every-day life, we shall thereby gain strength & knowledge that will enable us to bear the more important tests that we shall be called upon to endure. It is well for us individually to understand what a privilege is that of prayer. Nothing can so arm the soul for the conflicts of life as prayer to our Heavenly Father. Day by day as we learn of Jesus, we can display his attributes, & we shall not waver between right & wrong. As circumstances arise that require a right attitude, we shall be loyal to God, because we have trained ourselves in habits of faithfulness & truth. He who is faithful in that which is least, will acquire strength to become faithful in that which is much. The faithful soul will permit nothing to come in between itself & God;... RH Oct. 15, 1895
Be ye doers of the word, & not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22
...We are to be individual workers with Christ in the great plan of salvation, & partakers at last with him in his glory. We are not to follow the customs & traditions of men; for they are far from the ways of God. YI Jun. 28, 1894
He who feels his own danger is on the watch lest he shall grieve the Holy Spirit & then draw away from God because he knows that He is not pleased with his course of action. How much better & safer it is to draw nigh to God, that the pure light shining from His Word may heal the wounds that sin has made in the soul. The closer we are to God, the safer we are, for Satan hates & fears the presence of God. FLB 312
The angels of God were commissioned to visit the fallen pair & inform them that although they could no longer retain possession of their holy estate, their Eden home, because of their transgression of the law of God, yet their case was not altogether hopeless. They were then informed that the Son of God, who had conversed with them in Eden, had been moved with pity as he viewed their hopeless condition, & had volunteered to take upon himself the punishment due to them, & die for them that man might yet live, through faith in the atonement Christ proposed to make for him. Faith in the merits of the Son of God would so elevate man that he could resist the devices of Satan. The angels related to them the grief that was felt in Heaven, as it was announced that they had transgressed the law of God, which had made it expedient for Christ to make the great sacrifice of his own precious life. Such a sacrifice was of sufficient value to save the whole world; but only a few would avail themselves of the salvation brought to them through such a wonderful sacrifice. They would prefer sin & transgression of the law of God, rather than repentance & obedience, relying by faith upon the merits of the sacrifice offered. This sacrifice was of such infinite value as to make a man who should avail himself of it, more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Yet, notwithstanding the weakness, & enfeebled mental, moral & physical, powers of the human race, Christ, true to the purpose for which he left Heaven, continues his interest in the feeble, depreciated, degenerate specimens of humanity, & invites them to hide their weakness & great deficiencies in him. If they will come unto him, he will supply all their needs. 1SP 49-52
Life is like a voyage. We have storm & sunshine, but we bear in mind that we are nearing the desired haven. We shall soon be beyond the storms & tempests. The past is contained in the book where all things are written down. We cannot blot out the record, but we can learn many things if we choose. The past should teach us its lessons. As we make the past our monitor, we may also make it our friend. As we call to mind that in the past which has been disagreeable, let it teach us not to repeat it. In the future let nothing be traced which will cause regret in the by-and-by. Every day we live we are making our history. Today is ours, yesterday is beyond our amendment or control. Then let us not grieve the Spirit of God today, for tomorrow we shall not be able to recall this day; it will be yesterday to us... Jesus Christ has plentiful help & grace for all who will appreciate it. The Lord is our helper; with Him is forgiveness. He alone can blot out the sins of the past. He can strengthen the mind. If we regard the past as no longer our enemy but as a friend to warn us off the ground we should not approach, it will prove a true friend... We are not to educate ourselves to worry. Keep the eye upward, fixed upon the mark of our high calling in Christ Jesus. We have a work to do; let us do it as in the sight of the whole universe of heaven. We are not to faint, to stumble on in unbelief. God desires us to look to Him as our sufficiency & strive to be complete in Him. TMK 89
“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20
“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, & not by faith only.” James 2:24
We profess to be pilgrims & strangers on earth, journeying to a better country, even an heavenly. If we are indeed but sojourners here, traveling to a land where none but the holy can dwell, we shall make it our first business to become acquainted with that country; we shall make diligent inquiry as to the preparation needed, the manners & character which we must have, in order to become citizens there. Jesus, the King of that land, is pure & holy. He has commanded his followers, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” If we are hereafter to associate with Christ & sinless angels, we must here obtain a fitness for such society. Every other consideration is of minor consequence. Our conversation, our deportment, our every act, should be such as to convince our family, our neighbors, & the world, that we expect soon to remove to a better country. More than this, our godly example should keep ever before their minds the preparation needed by all who would enter that blessed home. Our acts must correspond with our faith, & faith will then be made perfect. We should not engage in the work of preparation merely as a duty, a necessity, but as a privilege which we are happy in accepting. Those whose faith is daily confirmed & strengthened by their works, will become acquainted with self-denial in restricting appetite, controlling ambitious desires, bringing every thought & feeling into harmony with the divine will. They will beware lest they be brought into the bondage of sin by conforming to a worldly standard, & thus, before many witnesses, denying their faith. RH Nov. 29, 1881
There are many in the Christian world who claim that all that is necessary to salvation is to have faith; works are nothing, faith is the only essential. But God's Word tells us that faith without works is dead, being alone... Faith & works go hand in hand... Works will never save us; it is the merit of Christ that will avail in our behalf. Through faith in Him, Christ will make all our imperfect efforts acceptable to God. The faith we are required to have is not a do-nothing faith; saving faith is that which works by love & purifies the soul. TMK 229
Let all examine their own hearts to see if they are not cherishing that which is a positive injury to them, & in the place of opening the door of the heart to let Jesus, the Sun of righteousness, in are complaining of the dearth of the Spirit of God. Let these search for their idols, & cast them out. Let them cut away every unhealthful indulgence in eating or drinking. Let them bring their daily practice into harmony with nature's laws. By doing, as well as believing, an atmosphere will be created about the soul that will be a savor of life unto life. HL 306
The Lord calls upon all who think they know what faith is, to be sure that they are not pulling with only one oar, that their little bark is not going round & round, making no progress at all. Faith without intelligent works is dead, being alone. Faith in the healing power of God will not save unless it is combined with good works. Good works & faith are the two oars we need to use. 12LtMs, Ms 86, 1897
Our religion will be of little worth to our fellow-men, if it is only theoretical, & not practical. The greatest triumph given to us by the religion of Christ is control over ourselves. Our natural propensities must be controlled. ST Dec. 30, 1886
And those who are doers of the words of Christ, will not only impart blessings of the highest order to others, but as they by their likeness & obedience to Christ represent His character, they bring joy to the heart of Christ & to all the holy ones of heaven. PrT Dec. 29, 1892
This promise is made to all who reveal a working faith, a faith that prompts the receiver to do good actions, to relieve the necessities of his fellow men. This is a faith that works by love & purifies the soul. 9LtMs, Ms85, 1894
You will hear the cry “Only believe.” Satan believed & trembled. We must have a faith that works by love & purifies the heart. The idea prevails that Christ has done all for us, & that we can go on transgressing the commandments & will not be held accountable for it. This is the greatest deception that the enemy ever devised. 4LtMs, Ms 44, 1886
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire... 1 Peter 1:6-7
Through trials & persecution, the glory - character - of God is revealed in His chosen ones. The church of God, hated & persecuted by the world, are educated & disciplined in the school of Christ. They walk in narrow paths on earth; they are purified in the furnace of affliction. They follow Christ through sore conflicts; they endure self-denial & experience bitter disappointments; but their painful experience teaches them the guilt & woe of sin, & they look upon it with abhorrence. MB 31
The blow that is aimed at him falls upon the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence. Whatever comes to him comes from Christ. He has no need to resist evil, for Christ is his defense. Nothing can touch him except by our Lord’s permission, & “all things” that are permitted “work together for good to them that love God.” FLB 64
...Temptation will come upon you every day, but you must lay hold of the strength of Christ. Christ is our righteousness. We are not to depend on feeling, but by faith rest in the arms of his love, & claim to be the sons & daughters of God. He will make his strength perfect in our weakness. He will take the poor earthen vessels, make them vessels unto honor, & glorify himself through them; & through his love we shall love others, as he has loved us. ST Jul. 1, 1889
We shall be subject to heavy trials, opposition, bereavement, affliction, but we know that Jesus passed through all these. These experiences are valuable to us; the advantages of varying experiences are not by any means confined to this short life; they reach into eternal ages. Through patience, faith, & hope, in all the changing scenes of earth, we are forming characters for the everlasting life. And whatever we are called upon to bear, we may be assured that all things work together for good to those that love God. Faith grows by conflict with doubt & difficulty & trial. Virtue gathers strength by resistance to temptation. The life of the faithful soldier is a battle & a march. No rest, fellow-pilgrim, this side the heavenly Canaan. In this life we are placed under the discipline & government of God to form characters & acquire habits for the higher life. All the scenes in which we must act a part, are to be carefully studied; for they are a part of our education, a part of God’s great plan. We should bring solid timbers into our character building; for we are working both for this life & the eternal life. And as we near the close of this earth’s history, we either rapidly advance in Christian growth, or we rapidly retrograde toward the world. RH Dec. 13, 1892
The trials of life are God’s workmen, to remove the impurities & roughness from our characters. Their hewing, squaring, & chiseling, their burnishing & polishing, is a painful process, it is hard to be pressed down to the grinding wheel. But the stone is brought forth prepared to fill its place in the heavenly temple. Upon no useless material does the Master bestow such careful, thorough work. Only His precious stones are polished after the similitude of a palace. MB 10
It is good that afflictions come upon us; for we may thereby prove the Lord, & find him very precious unto our souls. The Lord designs that his people shall be happy, & he opens before us one source of consolation after another, that we may be filled with joy & peace in the midst of our present experience. We are not to wait until we shall get into heaven for brightness & comfort & joy. We are to have them right here in this life. I testify to all who love & serve God, that we miss very much because we do not grasp the blessings that may be ours in our afflictions. RH Feb. 27, 1894
The things we may so much desire to do may become a reality after God has proved us in the school of experience, & among our greatest blessings may be counted the thing we were not privileged to do, that would have barred the way from doing the very things best calculated to prepare us for a higher work. The plain, sober duties of real life were essential to prevent the fruitless striving to do things that we were not fitted to do. Our devised plans often fail that God’s plans for us may be a complete success. Oh, it is in the future life we shall see the tangles & mysteries of life, that have so annoyed & disappointed our fond hopes, explained. We will see that the prayers & hopes for certain things which have been withheld have been among our greatest blessings. We need not expect all sunshine in this world. Clouds & storms will cluster about us, & we must be prepared to keep our eyes directed where we saw the light last. Its rays may be hidden but they still live, still shine beyond the cloud. It is our work to wait, to watch, to pray, & to believe. We shall prize the light of the sun more highly after the clouds disappear. We shall see the salvation of God if we trust in God in the darkness as well as in the light. OHC 318
Let your short, uncertain life be a continual preparation for the future immortal life. Temptation is allowed to come upon us to discover the character we possess & to improve our defects. ...I beseech of you for your soul’s sake to resist the devil that he may flee from you. Hang your helpless soul on God. HP 24
The true principles of psychology are found in the Holy Scriptures. Man knows not his own value. He acts according to his unconverted temperament of character because he does not look unto Jesus, the Author & Finisher of his faith. The Lord God is exact & infallible in His comprehension. He understands the working of the human mind, the active principles of the human agents He has formed, just how they will be moved upon by the objects that come before them, & in what manner they will act under every temptation that can try them, & in every circumstance in which they are placed. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place” “The Lord searcheth all hearts, & understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts” He knows the things that come into our minds, every one of them. 2MCP 781-782
Will men & women consider how God regards the creatures He has made? He formed man’s mind. We do not think one noble thought that does not come from Him. He knows all the mysterious workings of the human mind, for did He not make it? God sees that sin has debased & degraded man, but He looks upon him with pity & compassion; for He sees that Satan has him in his power. 14LtMs, Ms 56, 1899
Where the Spirit of Christ is in the heart, the character of Christ will be revealed, & there will be manifested gentleness under provocation, & patience under trial. ST Jun. 20, 1895
When those who claim to be Christians, do not in their words & actions reveal the attributes of Christ, they are represented as salt that has lost its savor. ST Nov. 7, 1895
Those who have by baptism given to God a pledge of their faith in Christ, & their death to the old life of sin, have entered into covenant relation with God. The three powers of the Godhead, the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, are pledged to be their strength & their efficiency in their new life in Christ Jesus. AUCR Oct. 7, 1907
It is our unbelief that shuts us away from God. Joseph preserved his integrity when surrounded by idolaters in Egypt, in the midst of sin & blasphemy & corrupting influences. When tempted to turn from the path of virtue, his answer was, “How can I do this great wickedness, & sin against God?” Enoch, Joseph, & Daniel depended upon a strength that was infinite. This is the only course of safety for Christians to pursue in our day. Those who profess Christ are too indolent in their religious life to surmount obstacles, & be patient, kind, & forbearing. The lives of these marked men were hid with Christ in God. They were loyal to God amidst infidelity, pure amidst depravity, devout & fervent when brought in contact with atheism & idolatry. By faith they gathered to themselves only those properties which are favorable to the development of pure & holy characters. Thus may it be with us; whatever our position, however repulsive or fascinating our surroundings, faith can reach above it all & find the Holy Spirit. The spirit which Enoch, Joseph, & Daniel possessed, we may have. We may draw from the same source of strength, & realize the same power of self-control; & the same graces may shine out in our lives. Whatever may be the surroundings of the Christian, whatever may be his temptations, he should not be uncourteous. Affection, kindness, & forbearance were designed of God as a preparation for the society of heavenly angels. The Christian may lift up his soul to God for strength & grace amid every discouragement. ...In forgetfulness of self, in the light & peace & comfort he is constantly bestowing on others, Is seen the true dignity of the man... He who drinks in the spirit of Christ will let it flow forth in kind words, & be expressed in courteous deportment. The plan of salvation is to soften whatever is harsh & rough in the temper, & to smooth off whatever is rugged or sharp in the manners. External change will testify of an internal change. The truth is the sanctifier, the refiner. Received into the heart, it works with hidden power, transforming the receiver. RH Sept. 1, 1885
Jesus was calm & gentle, not losing His self-command, even when in stormy conflict, amid fiercest elements of opposition. 5T 481
The most becoming dignity you can possess is the Christian self-control that will endure provocation. Your wishes, your will, will be often crossed, but you should not be discouraged. Jesus loves you & He wants you to be happy even in this life & to be a light in the world. Those who cannot endure the vexations & crosses of life will utterly fail when the sterner trials shall open upon them. DG 169-170
Trials patiently borne, blessings gratefully received, temptations manfully resisted, meekness, kindness, mercy, & love habitually revealed, are the lights that shine forth in the character in contrast with the darkness of the selfish heart, into which the light of life has never shone. MB 44
Christ is acquainted with all that is misunderstood & misrepresented by men. His children can afford to wait in calm patience & trust, no matter how much maligned & despised; for nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest, & those who honor God shall be honored by Him in the presence of men & angels. MB 32
Christ is our example. He was exposed to hardship. He endured suffering, He humbled Himself to humanity. Christ bore His burdens without impatience, without unbelief, without repining. He felt His trials none the less because He was the divine Son of God. ...Again the life & character of Christ were faultless. His character was composed of moral excellencies, including everything pure, & true, & lovely, & of good report. TDG 166
So the sowers have something to do that the seed may not be choked with thorns or perish because of shallowness of soil. At the very outset of the Christian life every believer should be taught its foundation principles. He should be taught that he is not merely to be saved by Christ’s sacrifice, but that he is to make the life of Christ his life & the character of Christ his character. Let all be taught that they are to bear burdens & to deny natural inclination. Let them learn the blessedness of working for Christ, following Him in self-denial, & enduring hardness as good soldiers. Let them learn to trust His love & to cast on Him their cares. Let them taste the joy of winning souls for Him. In their love & interest for the lost, they will lose sight of self. The pleasures of the world will lose their power to attract & its burdens to dishearten. The plowshare of truth will do its work. It will break up the fallow ground. It will not merely cut off the tops of the thorns, but will take them out by the roots. CSA 24
Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life & character that will be to His own glory. And that character which expresses the glory - character - of Christ, will be received into the Paradise of God. FLB 367
God is able & willing to bestow upon His servants all the strength they need, & to give them the wisdom that their varied necessities demand. He will more than fulfill the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him. We may claim much of our kind heavenly Father... We may believe in God, we may trust Him, & by so doing glorify His name. FLB 126
Satan will come to you saying, You are a sinner. But do not let him fill your mind with the thought that, because you are sinful, God has cast you off. Say to him, Yes; I am a sinner, & for that reason I need a Saviour. I need forgiveness & pardon, & Christ says that if I come to Him I shall not perish. In His letter to me I read, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful & just to forgive us our sins, & to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I will believe the word He has left for me... The moment you grasp God's promises by faith & say, I am the lost sheep that Jesus came to save, a new life will take possession of you, & you will receive strength to resist the tempter. But faith to grasp the promises does not come by feeling. “Faith cometh by hearing, & hearing by the word of God.” You must not look for some great change to take place; you must not expect to feel some wonderful emotion... Take God's word on trust, saying, He loves me: He gave His life for me; & He will save me... Look away from yourself to Jesus. Embrace Him as your Saviour. Cease to bemoan your helpless condition. Looking to Jesus, the author & finisher of your faith, you will be inspired with hope & will see the salvation of God. When you feel tempted to mourn, force your lips to utter the praises of God. “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Is He not worthy of praise? Then educate your lips to talk of His glory & to magnify His name... Today the Lord says to you, Be not discouraged, but cast your burdens upon Me. You cannot carry your own sins. I will take them all... If you will trust in Me, you will not want any good thing... Never has a soul that trusts in Jesus been left to perish. “I, even I, am he,” the Lord declares, “that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, & will not remember thy sins.” HP 116
The Christian has duties to do in the world, & God holds him responsible for their faithful performance. He is not to confine himself in monastic walls, nor to avoid all association with worldlings. It is true that his principles will be put to the severest test, & he will be pained by what his eyes see & his ears hear. But he must not, by becoming familiar with these sights & sounds, learn to love them. By association with the world, we incline to catch the spirit of the world, & to adopt their customs, tastes, & preferences. But we are commanded, “Come out from among them, & be ye separate, saith the Lord, & touch not the unclean thing; & I will receive you, & will be a Father unto you, & ye shall be my sons & daughters.” Never let the world say that worldlings & Christ's followers are alike in their tastes & pursuits; for God has drawn a line between His people & the world. This line of demarcation is broad & deep & clear; it is not so blended with the world that it is not discernible. It is only by watching unto prayer, & the exercise of living faith, that the Christian can preserve his integrity in the midst of the temptations that Satan brings to bear upon him. ...Talk to your heart constantly the language of faith: “Jesus said He would receive me, & I believe His word. I will praise Him; I will glorify His name.” Satan will be close by your side to suggest that you do not feel any joy. Answer him, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” I have everything to be glad of; for I am a child of God. I am trusting in Jesus. YRP 360
Hope has been set before us, even the hope of eternal life. Nothing short of this blessing for us will satisfy our Redeemer, but it is our part to lay hold upon this hope by faith in Him who has promised. We may expect to suffer, for it is those who are partakers with Him in His sufferings who shall be partakers with Him in His glory. He has purchased forgiveness & immortality for the sinful, perishing souls of men, but it is our part to receive these gifts by faith. Believing in Him, we have this hope as an anchor of the soul, sure & steadfast. We are to understand that we may confidently expect God's favor not only in this world but in the heavenly world, since He paid such a price for our salvation. Faith in the atonement & intercession of Christ will keep us steadfast & immovable amid the temptations that press upon us in the church militant. Let us contemplate the glorious hope that is set before us, & by faith lay hold upon it... We gain heaven not through our own merits but through the merits of Jesus Christ... Let your hope not be centered in yourself, but in Him who has entered within the vail. Talk of the blessed hope & the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is true that we are exposed to great moral peril; it is true that we are in danger of being corrupted. But this danger threatens us only as we trust in self & look no higher than our own human efforts. In doing this we shall make shipwreck of faith. In Christ our hope of eternal life is centered... Our hope is an anchor to the soul both sure & steadfast when it entereth into that within the vail, for the tempest-tossed soul becomes a partaker of the divine nature. He is anchored in Christ. Amid the raging elements of temptation he will not be driven upon the rocks or drawn into the whirlpool. His ship will outride the storm. TMK 79
"Cast all your care upon the Lord; for He careth for you.” Lay your burdens & perplexities upon the Burden-bearer. The peace of Christ in the heart is worth more to us than anything else. 19LtMs, 19Lt, 1904
The Lord invites you to roll your burden on Him for He carries you on His heart... Jesus will not consent to bear our burdens unless we trust Him... You cannot renew a right spirit in man. You cannot give man a new heart. I, your Redeemer, will use you as My instrument. Will you trust Me to do the work which it is not possible for the human agent to do? ...Worry is blind & cannot discern the future. But Jesus sees the end from the beginning, & He has prepared His way to bring relief. “So much to do!” Yes; but who is the chief worker? Jesus Christ your Lord. He offers to lighten the loads we carry by putting Himself under the loads. Now..., don’t worry. Do not allow yourself to be kept up through unseasonable hours in committee meetings. You need rest for the brain, & you will break down unless you have rest. 7LtMs, 41Lt, 1892
There is a lack of firm trust, a fearfulness to resign all into the hands of God, as though He could not keep that which is committed to His trust. The children of God are wise & powerful according to their reliance upon His wisdom & power. They are strong & happy according to their separation from the wisdom & help of man. Daniel & his companions were captives in a strange land, but God suffered not the envy & hatred of their enemies to prevail against them. The righteous have ever obtained help from above. It is the privilege of Christians to know indeed that Christ is in them of a truth. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” This faith will penetrate the darkest cloud & bring rays of light & hope to the drooping, desponding soul. It is the absence of this faith & trust which brings perplexity, distressing fears, & surmisings of evil. God will do great things for His people when they put their entire trust in Him. 2T 139
We should not darken our own path or the path of others with the shadow of our trials. We have a Saviour to whom to go, into whose pitying ear we may pour every complaint. We may leave all our cares & burdens with Him, & then our labor will not seem hard or our trials severe... By the exercise of living faith you can separate from everything that is not in accordance with the mind of God, & thus bring heaven into your life here below. Doing this, you will have sunshine at every step. When the enemy seeks to enshroud the soul with darkness, sing faith & talk faith, & you will find that you have sung & talked yourself into the light. WGD 315
Put your trust in God, & patiently rely upon Him. Jesus lives & reigns. I can only bid you look to Jesus, trust in Jesus. Cast your helpless souls upon Jesus. Help has been laid upon One that is mighty. 6LtMs, Lt27, 1890
Amid the perplexities that will press upon the soul, there is only One who can help us out of all our difficulties, & relieve all our disquietude... We are to keep our minds stayed upon God; & in our weakness, He will be our strength; in our ignorance, He will be our wisdom; in our frailty, He will be our enduring might. YI Jul. 19, 1894