Conflict & Courage

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? Job 11:7. {TMK 9.1} We cannot by searching find out God, but He has revealed Himself in His Son, who is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person. If we desire a knowledge of God we must be Christlike. . . . Living a pure life through faith in Christ as a personal Saviour will bri...

For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? Isaiah 14:27. Each actor in history stands in his lot and place; for God's great work after His own plan will be carried out by men who have prepared themselves to fill positions for good or evil. In opposition to righteousness, men become instruments of unrighteousness. But t...

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33. This promise will never fail. We cannot enjoy the favor of God unless we comply with the conditions upon which His favor is bestowed. By so doing there will come to us that peace, contentment, and wisdom that the world can neither give nor take away.... A humble mind and a grate...

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Proverbs 24:16. CC 368.1 The pen of inspiration ✍️, true to its task, tells us of the sins that overcame Noah, Lot, Moses, Abraham, David, and Solomon, and that even Elijah's strong spirit sank under temptation during his fearful trial. Jonah's disobedience and Israel's idolatry are faithfully recorde...

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. Psalm 56:3. Only the sense of God's presence can banish the fear that, for the timid child, would make life a burden. Let him fix in his memory the promise, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7). Let him read that wonderful story of Elisha in the mountain city, and, between him and the hosts o...

"And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men." Acts 19:18, 19. By burning their books on magic, the Ephesian converts showed that the things in which they had once delighted they now abhorred. It was by and through magic that they had especially offended God and imperiled...

Based on Acts 12:1-19 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod. Acts 12:11. The day of Peter's execution was at last appointed, but still the prayers of the believers ascended to heaven; and while all their energies and sympathies were called out in fervent appeals for help, angels of God...

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Acts 6:15. CC 331.1 Stephen, the foremost of the seven deacons, was a man of deep piety and broad faith.... He was very active in the cause of Christ and boldly proclaimed his faith. Learned rabbis and doctors of the law engaged in public discussion with him, confidently expecting an easy...

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:14, 15. CC 317.1 Judas had naturally a strong love for money; but he had not always been corrupt enough to do such a deed as this. He had fostered the evil spirit of avarice until...

If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. Matthew 9:21. {CC 298.1} It was a poor woman who spoke these words–a woman who for twelve years had suffered from a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her means upon physicians and remedies, only to be pronounced incurable. But as she heard of the Great Healer, her hopes revived. . . . Again and again she had tried in vain to ge...

Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matthew 8:10. {CC 296.1} The centurion did not question the Saviour’s power. . . . He had not seen the Saviour, but the reports he heard had inspired him with faith. . . . In the teaching of Christ, as it had been reported to him, he found that which met the need of the soul. All that was spiritual within him responded to t...

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. John 6:64. {CC 285.1} While Jesus was preparing the disciples for their ordination, one who had not been summoned urged his presence among them. It was Judas Iscariot, a man who professed to be a follower of Christ. . . . Judas believed Jesus to be the Messiah;...

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. Mark 1:17, 18. {CC 282.1} They were humble and unlearned men, those fishers of Galilee; but Christ, the light of the world, was abundantly able to qualify them for the position for which He had chosen them. The Saviour did not despise education; for w...

I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Nehemiah 6:3. {CC 268.1} Nehemiah was chosen by God because he was willing to cooperate with the Lord as a restorer. . . . When he saw wrong principles being acted upon, he did not stand by as an onlooker, and by his silence give consent. He did not leave the people to conclude...

Ezra … was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. Ezra 7:6. {CC 260.1} More than two thousand years have passed since Ezra “prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it,” yet the lapse of time has not lessened the influence of his pious example. Through the centuries the record of his life of consecration has inspired many with the determination...

Them that honour me, I will honour. 1 Samuel 2:30. {CC 248.1} In the experience of Daniel and his companions we have an instance of the triumph of principle over temptation to indulge the appetite. It shows us that through religious principle young men may triumph over the lusts of the flesh, and remain true to God’s requirements, even though it costs them a great sacrifice. {CC 248.2} What if Dan...

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. Daniel 1:17. {CC 246.1} Daniel and his companions enjoyed the benefits of correct training and education in early life, but these advantages alone would not have made them what they were. The time came when they must act for themselves–when their future depended upon their own course. Then they decided to be...

And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14. {CC 244.1} A certain day was appointed on which the Jews were to be destroyed and their property confiscated. Little did the king realize the far-reaching results that would have accompanied the complete carrying out of this decree. Satan himself, the hidden instigator of the scheme, was trying to rid the ea...

Carefulness on the Perfection Teaching

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah 6:8. {CC 232.1} It was under circumstances of difficulty and discouragement that Isaiah, while yet a young man, was called to the prophetic mission. Disaster was threatening his country. By their transgression of God’s law the people of Judah had forfeited His protection,...

Behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Isaiah 26:21. {CC 231.1} Our God is a God of mercy. With long-sufferance and tender compassion He deals with the transgressors of His law. . . . But there is a point beyond which divine patience is exhausted, and the judgmen...

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33:18, 19. {CC 226.1} Like the Saviour of mankind, of whom he was a type, Elisha in his ministry among men combined the work of healing with that of teaching. Faithfully, untiringly, throughout his long and effective labors, Elisha ende...

The Battle Song, Conflict and Courage, July 31And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Chronicles 20:21. {CC 218.1} It was a singular way of going to battle against the enemy’s army–praising the Lord with singing, and...

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 2 Chronicles 20:12. {CC 217.1} Toward the close of Jehoshaphat’s reign the kingdom of Judah was invaded by an army before whose approach the inhabitants of the land had reason to tremble. . . . Jehoshaphat was a man of courage and valo...

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 2 Chronicles 1:1.  {CC 188.1}        Not in the surpassing wisdom, the fabulous riches, the far-reaching power and fame that were his, lay the real glory of Solomon's early reign; but in the honor that he brought to the name of the God of Israel through a wise use of the...