Chapter 5 Highlights

What is the goal of spending time with God in Bible study and prayer?

There was one sentence in this chapter that really caught my attention and I think sums it up:

"Hurried prayers and a rushed reading of the Bible, performed merely as a task on our to-do list, will fall short of producing the transformation that comes by beholding." p. 31 Kindle Edition

Here are some further thoughts about reflecting the character of Jesus:

Revelation 7:14; 14:1-5 – represents a class of fully mature Christians
1 John 3:2 – those that remain on the earth when Jesus comes will have His character
Genesis 1:26 – we were created in God’s image; yet, because of sin we need to be transformed
2 Corinthians 5:17; Psalm 51:10 - We cannot change ourselves. It’s a creative miracle!
Matthew 7:13 – The world is following the broad road to destruction. If we are following the straight and narrow way we will be in the minority.
2 Corinthians 3:2,3 – We are to be examples to the world.
Romans 12:2 – We are transformed by the renewing of our mind. God wants us to think straight on every subject.
John 17:17 - God has given us a standard to measure our thinking - His Word.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – It is by beholding that we become changed. We must be willing to have our mind changed. God’s plan is to work inside out.

Early Writings, p. 71. “I also saw that many do not realize what they must be in order to live in the sight of the Lord without a high priest in the sanctuary through the time of trouble. Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully.

I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of "refreshing" and the "latter rain" to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God.

Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, and who are willing to believe that their condition is far better than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building. But there will be no time then to do it and no Mediator to plead their cause before the Father. Before this time the awfully solemn declaration has gone forth, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still."

I saw that none could share the "refreshing" unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. Let all remember that God is holy and that none but holy beings can ever dwell in His presence.”

1 Selected Messages, p. 191. “The latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord--fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.”

Our High Calling, p. 15. “As Satan seeks to break down the barriers of the soul, by tempting us to indulge in sin, we must by living faith retain our connection with God, and have confidence in His strength to enable us to overcome every besetment. We are to flee from evil, and seek righteousness, meekness, and holiness.”

Sons and Daughters of God, p. 370. “In order to gain the victory over every besetment of the enemy, we must lay hold on a power that is out of and beyond ourselves. We must maintain a constant, living connection with Christ, who has power to give victory to every soul that will maintain an attitude of faith and humility.”

Great Controversy, p. 425. (After quoting Malachi 3:2, 3) “Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.”

Let us not rush through life at the frantic pace that Satan is pushing everyone to follow.