Week of Prayer, December 6–15, 2013 - sdarm.ca

that if they could take back and liveover the past, they would correct theirlives and shun the folly of the world,its vanity and pride; they would live tothe glory of God, and set an exampleto all around them.Why are so few interested in theireternal welfare, so few preparing for theirlast change? Earth attracts them, its treasuresseem of worth to them. They findenough to engross the mind and haveno time to prepare for Heaven. Satan isever seeking to plunge them deeper anddeeper into difficulty. As soon as oneperplexity or trouble is off the mind, hestands ready to involve them in anotherby begetting within them an unholydesire for more of the things of earth.Thus their time passes, and when it istoo late, they see that they have gainednothing substantial. They have graspedat shadows, and lost eternal life.Many who imitate the customs andfashions of the world claim that they dothis in order to have an influence withworldlings. But here they make a sadand fatal mistake. If they would have atrue and saving influence, let them liveout their profession, show their faith bytheir righteous works, and make widethe distinction between the Christianand the world. Our words, our dress,our actions, should tell for God. Thenall will take knowledge of us that wehave been with Jesus. Unbelievers willsee that the truth which we profess hasa holy influence, that faith in Christ’scoming affects our character. If any wishto have their influence sell in favor ofthe truth, let them live it out, and thusimitate the humble Pattern. 3Adjusting our attitudeFrom the light which God has givenme, I know that the Lord would do farmore for us as a people if we wouldwalk in humility before Him. Everyone of God’s people will be tested andproved, and we want you to be in aposition where you will bear the provingof God and not be found wantingwhen your moral worth is weighed inthe balances of the sanctuary. We wantyou to be constantly moving onwardand upward; but that which hindersyour progress in a large degree is yourself-esteem, the high opinion that youThe Lord would do far more for us as apeople if we would walk in humility beforeHim. . . . If we have not a meek and teachablespirit, we shall not be where we can learnthe lessons He desires to teach us.entertain of your own ability. If therewas ever a place where self neededto die, it is here. Let us see the deathstruggle. Let us hear the dying groans.Self-exaltation ever separates the soulfrom God, no matter in whom it isfound, whether in those in responsiblepositions or in those who are in someless important place. Whatever hasbeen done to attract the attention toself has detracted from the glory thatshould have been rendered to God,and has brought leanness to yoursouls. It is through this avenue of selfesteemand self-sufficiency that Satanwill seek to ensnare the people of God.The Lord has very important lessonsfor us to learn; and if we have not ameek and teachable spirit, we shallnot be where we can learn the lessonsHe desires to teach us. We shall thinkwe are wise when we are not. We shallthink that we know the whole story,when we have need to study the a-b-c’sof the lesson. God will prove us againand again, until we overcome ourbesetments or are wholly given over toour rebellion and stubbornness. Thereis danger, when the Lord deals with usthus, that we shall rise up against Him,and set ourselves determinedly not tosubmit to His will. We are living in solemntimes. We are looking forward tothe judgment, and onward to eternity,and it is fitting for us to walk in greathumiliation of soul before God.There have been those who haverisen up against the testimonies thatGod has sent them. They have beenwilling to acknowledge that thetestimony given to others was all right,and that the truth was pointed out inthe cases of their brethren; but whentheir own errors were laid bare, andtheir own faults pointed out, theyhave declared that it could not be so.They have wrapped the garments oftheir self-righteousness around them,and have said, “That does not meanme.” A spirit of Phariseeism has beencoming in upon the people who claimto believe the truth for these last days.They are self-satisfied. 4Guarding our childrenAs the Israelites kept their childrenwithin their houses during the timewhen the judgments of God werein the land of Egypt, so in this timeof peril we are to keep our childrenseparate and distinct from the world.We are to teach them that the commandmentsof God mean much morethan we realize. Those who keep themwill not imitate the practices of thetransgressors of God’s law.Parents must regard God’s Wordwith respect, obeying its teachings.To the parents in this day, as well asto the Israelites, God declares: “Thesewords … shall be in thine heart: andthou shalt teach them diligently untothy children, and shalt talk of themwhen thou sittest in thine house, andwhen thou walkest by the way, andwhen thou liest down, and when thourisest up. And thou shalt bind themfor a sign upon thine hand, and theyshall be as frontlets between thine eyes.And thou shalt write them upon theposts of thy house, and on thy gates”(Deuteronomy 6:6–9).Notwithstanding this plain instruction,some of God’s people permittheir children to attend the publicschools, where they mingle with thosewho are corrupt in morals. In theseschools their children can neither studythe Bible nor learn its principles. Christianparents, you must make provisionfor your children to be educated inBible principles. And do not rest satisfiedmerely with having them study theWord in the church school. Teach theThe Reformation Herald, Vol. 54, No. 6 5