"God is the source of life and light and joy to the universe. Like rays of light from the sun, like the streams of water bursting from a living spring, blessings flow out from Him to all His creatures. And wherever the life of God is in the hearts of men, it will flow out to others in love and blessing." SC p.77

As we come to study this next chapter, I thought it might make it easier if we just take a short passage, and look at the message for us in that.

As I thought of this passage I pondered on the effects that the sun and the springs have in our lives -- both warming and cooling. We can't do without either of them. They are both needed in different ways. So, as we meet with others, so our approach to them will depend on whether they need a warming hug, or maybe a listening ear as they need to "cool off" after some upset.

As we begin each new day, we need to ask God to guide us during the day, and make us aware of the needs of other people.

What were your thoughts?

God bless

Beryl

I noticed that the "life of God" must be in the heart. So that religion is not an external force or requirement, but an internal one that flows naturally.

"Our Saviour's joy was in the uplifting and redemption of fallen men. For this He counted not His life dear unto Himself, but endured the cross, despising the shame. So angels are ever engaged in working for the happiness of others. This is their joy. That which selfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, ministering to those who are wretched and in every way inferior in character and rank, is the work of sinless angels. The spirit of Christ's self-sacrificing love is the spirit that pervades heaven and is the very essence of its bliss. This is the spirit that Christ's followers will possess, the work that they will do."

So often God brings into our lives those who need help -- and they are not always the nicest people -- and we may hesitate to become involved. It can be dangerous stuff, this dealing with "that kind of person" -- and yet, we find that this is the work of the sinless angels! How much we still have to learn!

God lbess

Beryl

"When the love of Christ is enshrined in the heart, like sweet fragrance it cannot be hidden. Its holy influence will be felt by all with whom we come in contact. The spirit of Christ in the heart is like a spring in the desert, flowing to refresh all and making those who are ready to perish, eager to drink of the water of life."

"like a sweet fragrance it cannot be hidden". I had the privilege this week to lead our Hills Friendship Club in a visit to "Amanda's Garden". This garden is a memorial for a 16 year old girl who died within a day after sharing a drink bottle with a friend who, unbeknown at that time, was carrying the dreaded menococcal disease (Oops -- spelling??)

As we entered the garden we soon became aware of the varying perfumes from every variety of rose that you could think of! Some were subtle, others shouted, "smell me -- p-l-e-a-s-e smell me!". As we walked around that garden we also became aware of other flowers -- not so beautiful, not so prominent as the roses, but still there, with their own distinctive perfumes.

There was no hiding the fragrance. It was just part of each flower. They didn't have to work at smelling beautiful. They just had to BE!

When the love of Christ is enshrined in the heart, we don't have to work at "smelling good". All we have to do is to allow Christ to come into our lives, and allow HIS "perfume" to radiate out to all who pass by.

After all -- "working hard" often brings its own distinctive "perfume" -- and THAT is not always pleasant! Best just to allow Christ to shine out of our lives.

God bless,

Beryl

In other words, love for Jesus will so change our lives that we will become more and more like Him! Here we have, in a nutshell, a picture of how we should treat not only fellow humans, but also the animal kingdom.

My mind goes back many years to a poem that was a favourite of my younger brother. I can't recall the whole poem, but it began with "I wonder if Christ had a little black dog, all ?? and curly like mine?" The poem then went on through some of the scenes of Christ's ministry where He would have felt alone, but would have been comforted if He had owned "a little black dog". I remember how the poem took you to the Garden of Gethsemane, with the little black dog offering sympathy and love to Christ during that struggle. The last scene was at the cross, where the little black dog would have been with Him right to the end.

Animals, and birds, respond to love and care. Even the wild ones seem to sense kindness. How wonderful, in the New Earth, to be able to enjoy their company as Adam and Eve must have done.

Beryl

Little Black Dog
by Elizabeth Gardiner Reynolds

I wonder if Christ had a little black dog
All curly and woolly like mine;
With two silky ears, and a nose round and wet
And eyes brown and tender that shine.

I am sure, if He had, that the little black friend
Knew right from the first He was God;
That he needed no proofs that Christ was divine,
But just worshipped the ground the He trod.

I'm afraid that He hadn't, because I have read
How He prayed in the garden, alone!
For all of His friends and disciples had fled -
Even Peter, the one called "a stone."

And, oh, I am sure that the little black dog
With a heart so tender and warm
Would never have left Him to suffer alone,
But creeping right under His arm.

Would have licked those dear fingers in agony clasped
And counting all favors but loss;
When they took Him away, would have trotted behind,
And followed Him clear to the Cross!

Thank you for that poem! Yes, that is the one. And, yes, I believe that a little dog would have recognised the kindness and goodness of Jesus, while the Pharisees and Sadducees would have only been conscious of a threat to their way of life.

God bless,

Beryl

It was comparatively rare for Jesus to reveal Who he was. He worked hard in His Father's service, and, in the main, left it to the people to work out WHO He was.

Should our lives be the same?

Should we need to TELL people that we are Christian (a follower of Christ), or should that be self-evident in our lives?

God bless,

Beryl

I have always coupled this passage from Hebrews, with the above quote you stated from SC. Our Savior's joy was the uplifting and redemption of everyone...a sobering thought. Your comments recall to mind a fellow I tried to help who was on "coke." he was always out of money to buy food, so at work I fed him, and helped to keep him alive and going, by that and other ways that he needed.

It was very sad to watch how everyone rejected and abused him just because he "had problems." In fact; I got really "indignant" to one person who tried to gossip about the guy to me.

Do we have the same "joy set before us" as did Jesus? Everytime I read Steps To Christ; I find this question to be an anchor point for me; and it is explained so well in the book.

Jesus shows us a better way to deal with the hard to deal with.

Hi, David,

Thanks for that story. Yes, God does sometimes lead us to those very people who, without His help, we would naturally despise.

This happened in my own life. A lady who had asked for help turned out to be an alcoholic -- the first one of "those people" I had ever dealt with. But during the time I was ministering to her physical needs, God gave to me a love that was not mine to share with her. Her story was one of a longing for love from her mother, and a need for protection from the "love" of the stepfather, who had first introduced her to liquor as a 12 year old, and who had continued to supply her needs in that way, so that he could continue to abuse her sexually when she was too drunk to stop him. Her recovery from alcohol has been a long job, but she has been free for several years. She has now been my "foster daughter" for a number of years, as God has given to me a mother's love to share with her.

The son of one of our members was a reformed druggie, and a current alcoholic -- and not exactly the nicest kind. His mother had tried to stop his drinking by commands, to no avail. She asked me to take him some food, and I found a young man who was longing for his mother's love and understanding rather than her dictatorial attitude. Once again, God supplied that love, and enabled me to be able to sit and talk with him in the midst of squalid conditions. We talked and prayed together, as I was supplying food for his physical needs. I accompanied him to his day in court dealing with something he had done while drunk, for which he was sentenced to 8 months in prison. During that time I was able to visit him, and exchange letters. He died in prison from a massive heart attack, but not before he was reconciled with his family and with his God.

I am not telling you this in order to show what a "good person" I am -- because both of these incidents went far beyond my natural inclinations. Because I was willing to follow in God's leading, God was able to use me to help these people, and in so doing, He was able to also change my heart from a "natural critic" to one who now finds it much more "natural" to love.

Yes, I had much to learn, and I am so glad that God chose to place me in situations that I naturally found to be abhorrent, and that He supplied the needed love for me to cope.

God bless,

Beryl

So ---- our "work" is not work at all!! It is the joyful telling, living, of a life that is full of the joy of the Lord! Sometimes the life tells more than words. Never must they be parted. Words without the life are worse than useless. When we have the life in Christ, then HE will supply the words!

God bless,

Beryl

Thnks so much for sharing those stories Beryl. I noticed that the SC passage you presented above mentions "present the attractions of Christ;" and I think that as we make ourselves available; Jesus will help us to do just that.



I know this topic is from chapter 9 of SC; but the quote I posted above is from chapter7...It's the chapter on "The Test Of Discipleship." out of all the books which Ellen White wrote; I find that going back to this one for "reality checks" has been a real anchor point in my christian journey...

Hope you have a great holiday Beryl! Want me to send you some snow from Calgary??

Well, it might save on the cost of airconditioning in the heat!

Happy Christmas,

God bless,

Beryl

In reading this prargraph I find one sentence to be what I would term a "WOW" sentence! So hard to take in the full import of what God is saying:-

This is the highest honour, the greatest joy, that it is possible for God to bestow upon men."

Just take a moment to think about the implications in that sentence! We may take pride in honours bestowed by mankind -- frame that citation, hang it on the wall, be photographed, name in newspaper, on TV -- all honours that show the appreciation of other humans,

BUT

Here is an honour that none other than the Creator of the Universe bestows on us -- the honour of being able, through the passing on of God's love, to bring some soul nearer to his/her Saviour! The rewards make that human-given certificate become worth nothing more than scrap paper!

God bless

Beryl

Yes Beryl; that is a "Wow sentence!" I keep forgetting to come to this Steps To Christ Forum; but everytime I do, you have some special blessing tucked away into one of your comments. Your work here is appreciated!

I believe that this "wow sentence" is something Jesus Himself was aware of, as this chapter in Steps To Christ starts out, in the 2nd paragraph saying:



Happy New Year Beryl!
BTW, I will pass along the new phrase "wow sentence" to my kids. They will love it too! :)

What a privilege! Co-workers with Christ and the angels! There can be no greater privilege than this!

How often does my guardian angel (by my side as I endeavour to minister to a friend) clap his hands over his ears saying, "Oh, no! Those words didn't come out right! Now Sue is offended!" And Jesus tells the angel, "It's OK. Leave Sue to her angel to comfort her and help her through this, and you take care of Beryl and let her know that all is not lost -- together we will get there!" And so the work continues -- the hiccups are ironed out, and the soul-saving work goes on.

Co-workers with Christ and the angels! That privilege is mind-boggling!

God bless,

Beryl

Happy New Year to you, David. In my part of the world it is, in fact, already New Year. It is 6:30 am, 1st January, 2007.

One year closer home! May it be a blessed year.

God bless,

Beryl

"Every act of self-sacrifice in the giver's heart strengthens the spirit of beneficence in the giver's heart,..."

Ever notice how good you feel when you have been able to help someone else? Somehow there is a glow -- not a "patting oneself on the back" type of glow, but that good feeling that comes from helping others.

Thinking about Christ when He was here on earth, He had some woeful days -- when the scribes, pharisees, lawyers, etc did all they could to try to bring His ministry into disrepute.

I like to think that it was the warm glow of having been able to help others that would have give to Jesus some of the strength needed to carry on. There would have been an inner glow as He watched the widow receive back her only son who had died; the joy of the parents of the little girl, raised back to life; the overflowing joy of Mary and Martha receiving Lazarus back from the tomb. Yes, He also kknew the pain of criticism, the murderous plannings were kinown to Him. Sure, He received strength from His Father, but I somehow feel that that inner glow of being able to help someone would have also been there.

God bless,

Beryl

Beryl, you have me thinking of the 10 lepers and how only one returned to thank Him for healing. Thank you, I was stuck on this particular "step" in my own walk. May I join in this study?

annie

Yes, Annie, we would love to have you. Actually, it gets a bit lonely here sometimes!

True, we are so glad when we receive a special blessing from God, and sometimes we are so happy about what God has done for us -- and we forget our manners, and don't say "Thank You". We serve a wonderful God -- and it is so easy to take Him for granted!

I am going to be away for a week commencing early tomorrow morning. David sometimes comes to join in as well, and hopefully he will come in to keep you company while I am away. I will be travelling home on Tuesday, 23 January, and will be back on line as quickly as possible after that. I will be travelling with friends up to Karalundi, our Aboriginal School, and talking with the staff during their orientation program.

God bless,

Beryl

[quote=Beryl]

This reminds me of the text which reads: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..." I have often thought that this "waiting" is not a passive thing where we literally sit on our haunches and "wait." This type of waiting is very busy! You know how it is to watch a waitress "waiting" on people. They never stay still - not even for a minute. Neither does the Christian who "waits" on the Lord. Helping others is waiting on the Lord. Jesus said, "Whatever you do to them; you do to Me."

Thank you, David, for that thought. I have found that intriguing. Yes, we are the "waiters" in the Lord's cafe of good things! And the Lord gives to us plenty to do!

But, do you know what I find just so remarkable? The more I get involved in "waitressing" for the Lord, the more I enjoy my work!

God bless,

Beryl

I like it when you "wait" on me Beryl.

Hey! isn't this a wonderful thought? Just look at this paragraph!

1. We choose to work for Christ - we want to be soulwinners.
2. We realise our need.
3. We plead with God.
4. Our own experience is changed -- our soul drinks deeper.
5. God allows opposition and trials to drive us to the Bible and prayer.
6. We personally grow in grace.
7. We have a rich experience working with Him.

We sometimes think that we should jump from No. 1 to No. 7 -- but God says, No -- there is preparation to be done!
This seeking to serve God in winning souls results in a rich experience FOR US!God knows the best way for us to work.

God bless,

Beryl

Just checking! How is that preparation going? Have you felt that need for a deeper experience yet?

I have just been through a bit of a faith-shattering/faith-rebuilding experience, and I believe that God allows us to experience these down times so that we will cling closer to Him. A friend sent to me a story, and I am going to put it right here:-

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study group and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it"

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.


What does God need to do in your life so that He can see His image in you?

God bless,

Beryl

So, then it is true! We ARE expected to "work out our own salvation" -- the Bible tells us so ("continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" Phil.2:12)and now we find that confirmed in Steps to Christ.

Interesting! What are your thoughts on this?

-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. NIV

Not in our own strength but God is directing us according to His purpose.

annie

The question is HOW do we work out our Salvation?

The only way I know of is to accept the sacrifice of Jesus and have his life in the place of mine. There is no other way.

So ... yes , I do want to work hard to preserve that belief and connection in my life so that I never lose my relationship with Jesus.

In this old sinful world ... that is a work that I need to do with fear and trembling.

And that is the ONLY way to salvation! You may have noticed that I deliberately did not quote the next verse -- Philippians 2:13 which reads (KJV) "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure".

I like the reading in the Contempory English Version ("The Bible for Today"). It says, "So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved. God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey Him."

To me, that sums it all up. God really is doing all of the work -- our part is to keep being willing to allow Him to work in our lives. Sometimes it is not easy -- we don't like what happens at times, we want everything to be rosy at all times (after all, we are children of God!), and then something comes that "knocks the stuffing out of us" -- we are left bewildered. Where was God when that happened? He needs us to learn that whatever is happening in our lives, He can use that experience to draw us even closer to Him. And that is where we can find real rest and peace.

God bless,

Beryl

This is such a great thread... I don't have much to contribute, but am learning such a lot from it. to Beryl and others posting here..

Hi, Pam. So glad to have you aboard. I am sure that you have something that you can contribute! Just write what you feel about the subject. We would love to hear whatever you have to say.

Beryl

When I think of "working out your own salvation;" I think of God, putting "something" in me; and me "working out," what He has put in.

We do not somehow ensure or arrange our own salvation. We simply work out into our life, or the life of others, what God puts in.

Hi, David. I think that is a great thought. God puts it there for us to use to His glory -- whether in our own lives, or in the lives of others.

Thanks,

Beryl

"Strength comes by exercise, activity is the very condition of life."

What is true in our natural life is equally true in our spiritual lives. Have you ever come across a church that is dead in its outreach to the community, or evangelistic endeavour? As often as not, that church is also spiritually dead! God knows that we are more fulfilled when the welfare of others is high on our agenda.

God bless,

Beryl

Sometimes we are loath to work for Christ, feeling that we may do or say the wrong thing, and not be a "good witness". Well -- sometimes we do think afterwards that we could have said something better -- but God can work in the other person's hearts with what we have put in their mind!

Give to God the best that you have -- and He can perform miracles with what you have given! Don't always look for "results". In the parable of the sowing of the seeds, if the farmer had been looking for 100% results, he would have been disappointed. As it was, he was probably very satisfied with the crop that he had, despite some of the seeds falling in the wrong places.

Sow with kindness, and the love of God. Never argue over little things. Be kind, gentle and loving. It is your job to sow in love, and God is the reaper.

God bless,

Beryl

Hello Beryl

I was wondering as I read this thread here again if you have ever seen the Happiness Digest "version" of Steps To Christ?

It has more contemporary pictures, and titles, but the text itself is the original.

One of the things that I like about this chapter nine, in Happiness Digest is that it is entitled: "Living Through Giving."

I have often heard people tell me how that when we suffer severe pain, illness, tragedy, and the like, cliche' things like "We are brought into sympathy with Christ, through the fellowship of His sufferings." I, being one who has had/still has severe pain and suffering, at times, cannot find any relief in such pious statements when they are made to me in the middle of some firestorm I may be in at the time. But, in Happiness Digest, pg.37, (chapt.9 SC), we read: "We are brought into sympathy with Christ, through the fellowship of His sufferings."

Was EGW being "pious" in the sense that I just referred to? No! because this is only the first sentence. Lets look at the next one: "Every act of self-sacrifice for the good of others, strengthens the spirit of beneficience in the giver's heart; allying him more closely to the Redeemer of the world, who "was rich, yet for your sakes...became poor, that ye, through His poverty might be rich." 2 Cor.8:9. And it is only as we thus fulfil the divine purpose in our creation that life can be a blessing to us."

To me, "fellowship of His sufferings" seems very closely associated to trying to bless others anyways; inspite of your own sufferings and problems. When we try to put ourself into the shoes of someone else who is suffering and needy; we see how Christ must have felt, being King of the Universe, and stooping down low enough to bless fallen mankind.

I think that perhaps I have at times suffered such discouragement because I could not find any encouragement when people in the church would say that my suffering and pain is God giving me "the fellowship of His sufferings." This makes it all too personally focused on me, and avoids this kind of other people focus that the prophet of the Lord is trying to get us involved in by trying to bless others in your path.

One of the ways that I have started to personally put this into action is to periodically round up an item or two of unused furniture or house-hold goods to donate to a thrift shop that supports women and children in trouble and poverty-stricken. One of the fellows who works there is almost deaf, and it can be a challenge to communicate with him at times; but it is amazing how my "junk" is their "treasure." They are so glad to get anything I bring in. I suppose I am trying to say that the people that are reached by this old thrift shop are God's children - His people, and therefore "His sufferings." It might be an odd way to look at this text; but there is an extraordinary "fellowship" with Jesus that takes place with me atleast, whenever I am led into places like this by Him...I don't know exactly how to put this in words - but I have sometimes felt His presence more during times like this than I have at church or on this forum. And I don't mean anything personal with that - it's just my experience and it may not be that of another. But, the look of delight on the face of this elderly almost deaf man when all I did was bring in a $30.00 item for them to sell was priceless. I don't know why we so often pass by so many opportunities to do so much. (ESPECIALLY AT CHURCH!!).

"Living by Giving" is indeed THE WORK AND THE LIFE!

David, you have expressed that very well. It is not the worth of what we give -- it is the spirit in which it is given.

For the last 9 years I have been a friend of a dear lady whom I found when I was delivering some blankets following a call for help. Yes, she had an acute alcohol problem -- made worse by the unwanted attention of her mother's "illegitemate husband", and her mother's uncaring, unloving, critical, attitude. How often she used to ask me (in tears), "Why doesn't my mother love me?" Well, I became the one who she used to introduce to everyone as "my foster-mum". She went through rehabilitation a number of times before success, but the years of alcoholism have given her a degree of brain-damage. She has developed a child-like faith in God. I visited with her today. Just 50 years of age, her liver is very bad. There is not much that they can do. I fear that life is giving out, but I am so glad that I hae been able to be a part of her life.

God bless,

Beryl

"Everyone, to the extent of his talent and opportunity, is to fulfill the Saviour's commission."

Wow! That means EVERYBODY! That puts us all on a level playing field! Right? W-e-l-l! Who gives us our talents? Oh, yes, some are born with them, but some also cultivate them! God can provide any talent that He sees that you would be able to use in His service -- and not all talents are inbuilt. Some come as a result of hard work! And some are given as a result of prayer. We ALL have at least one talent that we can devote to the work of God.

How do you propose to use your talent?

God bless,

Beryl

Now, THERE is a challenge -- we all have a part to play, whether in the "front line", or as the support personnel behind the scenes. No one person is exempted from this. Even if all we can do is pray -- that, too, is needed, and if that is really truly all that we can do, then God will certainly add to it His blessing.

God bless,

Beryl

Which is easier? To talk to strangers, or to those we know? To speak to casual friends, or to sit down with a family member? Sometimes God needs us to work in an area which may be appear to be the hardest for us -- to have to lovingly, but firmly confront someone very close and dear to you about something in their lives that needs to be changed. The right words can be a catalyst for change, whereas the wrong words can be a catalyst for trouble!

God doesn't always ask us to do what is the easiest, but He DOES promise us that He will be with us.

God bless,

Beryl

Ministry involves more than evangelism, too. If the thought of going out and knocking on doors intimidates you, remember that you are witnessing with your life and your lifestyle. Everyone is needed and valuable!



Amen!