Conflict & Courage

This priceless treasure we hold, so to speak, in a common earthenware jar--to show that the splendid power of it belongs to God and not to us. 2 Corinthians 4:7, Phillips.  {CC 289.1}       All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He and his brot...

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach. Mark 3:14.  {CC 288.1}        In these first disciples was presented a marked diversity. They were to be the world's teachers, and they represented widely varied types of character. There were Levi Matthew the publican, called from a life of business activity, and subservience to Rome; the zealot Sim...

Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. Matthew 20:26, 27.  {CC 287.1}        With Judas an element of antagonism was introduced among the disciples. . . . That which ruled him was the hope of selfish benefit in the worldly kingdom which he expected Christ to establish. Though recognizing the divine power of the l...

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10.  {CC 286.1}        How tenderly the Saviour dealt with him who was to be His betrayer! In His teaching, Jesus dwelt upon principles of benevolence that struck at the very root of covetousness. He presented before Judas the...

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6.  {CC 284.1}        The calling of Matthew to be one of Christ's disciples excited great indignation. For a religious teacher to choose a publican as one of his immediate attendants was an offense against the religious, social, and national customs.  {CC 284.2}        In his grateful humility, Mat...

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom; and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. Luke 5:27, 28.  {CC 283.1}        Of the Roman officials in Palestine, none were more hated than the publicans. The fact that the taxes were imposed by a foreign power was a continual irritation to the Jews, being a rem...

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, he said, "Here is an Israelite worthy of the name: there is nothing false in him." John 1:47, N.E.B.  {CC 281.1}        Nathanael heard John as he pointed to the Saviour and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)! Nathanael looked at Jesus, but he was disappointed in the appearance of the world's Redeemer. Could He who bo...

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. John 1:45.  {CC 280.1}        Philip called Nathanael. . . . If Nathanael had trusted to the rabbis for guidance, he would never have found Jesus. It was by seeing and judging for himself that he became a di...

John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. And many believed on him there. John 10:41, 42.  {CC 279.1}        In the announcement to Zacharias before the birth of John, the angel had declared, "He shall be great in the sight of the Lord" (Luke 1:15). In the estimation of Heaven, what is it that constitutes greatness? Not that which the world accounts greatness; not...

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28.  {CC 278.1}        To many minds a deep mystery surrounds the fate of John the Baptist. They question why he should have been left to languish and die in prison. The mystery of this dark providence our human vision cannot penetrate; but i...

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Philippians 1:29.  {CC 277.1}        John the Baptist had been first in heralding Christ's kingdom, and he was also first in suffering. . . . He was now shut in by the walls of a dungeon cell. . . . As week after week passed, bringing no change, despondency and doubt crept over him. His d...

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:11.  {CC 276.1}        What was it that made John the Baptist great? He closed his mind to the mass of tradition presented by the teachers of the Jewish nation, and opened it to the wisdom which comes...

That is why my happiness is now complete. He must grow greater and greater and I less and less. John 3:29, 30, Phillips.  {CC 275.1}        In every stage of this earth's history God has had His agencies to carry forward His work. . . . John the Baptist had a special work, for which he was born and to which he was appointed--the work of preparing the way of the Lord.  {CC 275.2}        When, after...

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29.  {CC 274.1}        For a time the Baptist's influence over the nation had been greater than that of its rulers, priests, or princes. If he had announced himself as the Messiah, and raised a revolt against Rome, priests and people would have flocked to his standard. Every consideration that appeals to the ambition of the wor...

With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Romans 12:1, Phillips.  {CC 273.1}       The Lord has been calling the attention of His people to health reform. This is one of the great branches of the work of preparation...

Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. Amos 4:12, last part.  {CC 272.1}        John the Baptist in his desert life was taught of God. He studied the revelations of God in nature. Under the guiding of the divine Spirit, he studied the scrolls of the prophets. By day and by night, Christ was his study, his meditation, until mind and heart and soul were filled with the glorious vision. He looked upon th...

He will go out before God in the spirit and power of Elijah--to reconcile fathers and children, and bring back the disobedient to the wisdom of good men--and he will make a people fully ready for their Lord. Luke 1:17, Phillips.  {CC 271.1}        God had called the son of Zacharias to a great work, the greatest ever committed to men. . . . John was to go forth a...

He will be one of God's great men; he will touch neither wine nor strong drink and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment of his birth. Luke 1:15, Phillips.  {CC 270.1}        On heaven's record of noble men the Saviour declared that there stood not one greater than John the Baptist. The work committed to him was one demanding not only physical energy and endurance, but the highest...

They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. Isaiah 58:12.  {CC 269.1}        In the work of reform to be carried forward today, there is need of men who, like Ezra and Nehemiah, will not palliate or excuse sin, nor shrink from vindicatin...

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 c...

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, . . . thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need. Deuteronomy 15:7, 8.  {CC 267.1}        At times following the return of the exiles from Babylon, the wealthy Jews had gone directly contrary to these commands. When the poo...

Our God shall fight for us. Nehemiah 4:20. CC 266.1 The restoration of the defenses of Jerusalem did not go forward unhindered. Satan was working to stir up opposition, and bring discouragement.... But taunts and ridicule, opposition and threats, seemed only to inspire Nehemiah with firmer determination and to arouse him to greater watchfulness. He recognized the dangers that must be met in this w...

And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. Nehemiah 3:5.  {CC 265.1}        Among the first to catch Nehemiah's spirit of zeal and earnestness were the priests. Because of their influential position, these men could do much to advance or hinder the work; and their ready co-operation at the very outset, contributed not a little to its s...

Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me . . . and they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. Nehemiah 2:18.  {CC 264.1}        With sorrow-stricken heart, the visitor from afar gazed upon the ruined defenses of his loved Jerusalem. And is it not thus that angels of heaven survey the condition of...

 It pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Nehemiah 2:6.  {CC 263.1}        While Nehemiah implored the help of God, he did not fold his own hands, feeling that he had no more care or responsibility in the bringing about of his purpose to restore Jerusalem. With admirable prudence and forethought he proceeded to make all the arrangements necessar...