ABIDE IN CHRIST TO WIN SOULS
I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.--John 15:5-6
When the law of God is made void, the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Instead of being strengthened when brought into strait places, many prove that they are not living branches of the True Vine. They bore no fruit, and the husbandman taketh them away.
But when the world makes void the law of God, what will be the effect upon the truly obedient and righteous? Will they be carried away by the strong current of evil? Because so many rank themselves under the banner of the prince of darkness, will God's commandment-keeping people swerve from their allegiance? Never! No one who is abiding in Christ will fail or fall. His followers will not bow in obedience to any earthly potentate.
While the contempt placed upon God's commandments causes many to suppress the truth and show less reverence for it, the disrespect shown to the law of Jehovah causes the faithful ones, with greater earnestness, to hold aloft its distinguishing truths....
There is the highest reason for us to prize the true Sabbath and stand in its defense, in opposition to the false, for it is the sign, which distinguishes the people of God from the world. The commandment that the world makes void is the one to which, for this very reason, God's people will give greater honor. It is when the unbelieving cast contempt upon the Word of God that the faithful Calebs are called for. It is then that they will stand firm at the post of duty without parade and without swerving because of reproach. (Manuscript 48, March 24, 1891)
REFLECTION: Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service. The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God. As the vine branch constantly draws the sap from the living vine, so are we to cling to Jesus, and receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character." (The Desire of Ages, 676)
I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.--John 15:5-6
When the law of God is made void, the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Instead of being strengthened when brought into strait places, many prove that they are not living branches of the True Vine. They bore no fruit, and the husbandman taketh them away.
But when the world makes void the law of God, what will be the effect upon the truly obedient and righteous? Will they be carried away by the strong current of evil? Because so many rank themselves under the banner of the prince of darkness, will God's commandment-keeping people swerve from their allegiance? Never! No one who is abiding in Christ will fail or fall. His followers will not bow in obedience to any earthly potentate.
While the contempt placed upon God's commandments causes many to suppress the truth and show less reverence for it, the disrespect shown to the law of Jehovah causes the faithful ones, with greater earnestness, to hold aloft its distinguishing truths....
There is the highest reason for us to prize the true Sabbath and stand in its defense, in opposition to the false, for it is the sign, which distinguishes the people of God from the world. The commandment that the world makes void is the one to which, for this very reason, God's people will give greater honor. It is when the unbelieving cast contempt upon the Word of God that the faithful Calebs are called for. It is then that they will stand firm at the post of duty without parade and without swerving because of reproach. (Manuscript 48, March 24, 1891)
REFLECTION: Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service. The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God. As the vine branch constantly draws the sap from the living vine, so are we to cling to Jesus, and receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character." (The Desire of Ages, 676)
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