O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:6

WHEN once we get a glimpse of the glories of the divine character through the divine plan, when once we get a true view with the eyes of our understanding of him with whom we have to do, as the great heart-searcher and caretaker of his church, we fall before him humbled to the dust, realizing that we are imperfect, that we cannot stand before our Master, that we are unworthy of his favor and blessing. But as he touched John gently, raising him up, so he has spoken to us comfort, peace, and love, assuring us that we have not an High Priest that cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities, but on the contrary, One who is able to sympathize and mercifully to assist, One who has bought us with his own precious blood, who has accepted us and will number us as his body members so long as we abide in him, seeking in our hearts to know and to do his will. Z'05-169R3569:6(Hymn 69)

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

THE Lord Jesus tells us that if we would be faithful to the light we must let our light so shine as to show forth the praises of our Father in heaven. He forewarns us that many will not appreciate our good works, but will say all manner of evil against us falsely, for his name's sake. He assures us that the children of darkness hate the children of light, but he admonishes that in these experiences we should "rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven." Such is the sentiment of the children of the light that they will rejoice even in persecutions and in tribulation. As they let the light, the truth, shine out, the error will be manifested to those of right understanding and of noble heart. Z'15-201R5719:4 (Hymn 275)

Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. John 4:14

ERRORS, falsities, may satisfy temporarily the craving of those who have never yet tasted of the truth, the water of life; but nothing can give permanent, lasting satisfaction except the truth; and our Lord himself, the Word, the Logos, the message of the Father, full of grace and truth, is the embodiment and representative of this satisfying water of life. Whoever receives the Lord as his Redeemer and Leader and Teacher, through whom all the gracious promises of God are to be fulfilled; whoever receives this water of life receives a satisfying portion, and will never be found looking for truth in other directions. It will satisfy his longings as nothing else could do, and so abundantly as to leave no appetite for strange waters. Z'99-27R2424:2 (Hymn 146)

He knoweth the way that I take. Job 23:10

WHILE the more exposed to Satan's attacks and to severer tests of our hope, faith, and love as we go onward in our narrow way, we will have increasing spiritual joys, peace beyond compare, and will be enabled to rejoice even in trials and tribulations, knowing that these are working out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We will be enabled to endure, as seeing him that is invisible, as being upheld and led by his hand. We will have the promise of his presence in every trouble, and that he will never leave us nor forsake us and that all things (even the seeming evils of life) he is able and willing to overrule for our highest good; because we love God and his way and his plan more than self and self's ways--because we are called according to his purpose and have accepted the call, are in sympathy with its objects and are seeking so far as in us lies to walk worthy of the Lord and his high calling, and thus to make our calling and election sure. Z'95-3R1751:3 (Hymn 99)

The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

WHILE the Heavenly Father may not be pleased to grant us either for ourselves or for our children immunity from pain, suffering, and death, nevertheless he has made a still grander and more glorious provision for us through our Lord Jesus Christ--a provision for our eternal life. But this gift is reserved for those who either now or in the future shall cultivate and exemplify generosity, faith, love toward God and man. Blessed are we whose eyes and ears of understanding are now open to know the grace of God, to appreciate the same--we who are now in the school of Christ to develop the fruits and graces of his Spirit, the likeness of our Lord. For such is the kingdom, the joint-heirship and blessings and privileges not only of eternal life, but of joint-heirship with Christ. As for the world in general, it will be required of them during the millennial age that they also shall develop the fruits and graces of the Lord's Spirit if they would be accounted worthy of eternal life. Sonship implies likeness, and none are to have eternal life except those acceptable as sons. Z'04-285R3432:6 (Hymn 235)

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139:3

OH HOW narrow is the way in which the saints must walk who follow in the footsteps of the Master! There is self-denial at every step, but Jesus said, "He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." If we cannot prove our love for the Lord by thus sharing in his reproaches and self-denials, we are not of the class he wishes to make his bride. It will be no easy thing for any to endure unto the end, but blessed is he that shall do it. If we keep looking at the things behind, cherishing the old ambitions and fostering the old spirit which once impelled us, endurance of our trials will become more difficult if not impossible; but let us take the apostle's advice, and forgetting the things behind, seek new conquests over the world and flesh and devil. Z'87-Jan., p.3 R901:6 (Hymn 12)

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12

CONSIDER the light you have now received--the light of the knowledge of God, of his will, of what to live for, and of what kind of characters they are to whom the Lord will be pleased to grant the reward of eternal life, even the highest form of life. Having all this knowledge, put it on as an armor to protect you. Knowing what God requires, put all this on, not as a robe, but as an armor over the robe. Put on the breastplate of righteousness covering the heart. Realize that nothing but heart purity and absolute loyalty to God may be considered. Realize that God is for us. Take the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and all the various pieces enumerated by the apostle. These constitute the "armor of light," so-called because it is obtained from the light of truth. Z'15-282R5770:1 (Hymn 164)

And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. Genesis 24:58

THIS well represents the question which comes before those called to be of the bride of Christ. They hear that he is the "Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." They hear that he is Lord of all, the inheritor of the "exceeding great and precious promises." They learn that union with him will mean the pleasures of fellowship forevermore and participation with him in all his great and wonderful future. Such as are rightly exercised answer, "I will go," as Rebekah did, with great promptness....Only a whole- hearted love for the Lord and a well-grounded faith ...will carry us through to the end of the journey, joyful in anticipation to be finally accepted into glory with our Beloved, the King of Glory. Z'13-60R5188:1 (Hymn 87)

Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:10

DURING the forty days in the wilderness our Lord had come to see that the dominion of earth could be attained only through great suffering. He was weak from his long fast, and all the details of prophecy were before his mind. He saw himself as a lamb dumb before his shearers; as the serpent lifted up in the wilderness. Satan's suggestion was a temptation, but after consideration he saw that Satan was asking him to violate his covenant--to go contrary to God's will. Immediately he answered, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Then the devil left the Lord, finding nothing to work upon--so loyal was Jesus to the Word of Jehovah. Afterwards the angels came and ministered unto him. Z'12-262R5084:6 (Hymn 200)

I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. Psalm 71:16

THE tears and sorrows and battlings in strife against the world, the flesh, and the devil are all very necessary in the present time; and we should neither hope nor expect to be crowned as victors without passing through such experiences. In the battle we learn not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think; we learn of our own weaknesses and imperfections and our need to walk closely with the Lord, if we would keep our garments unspotted from the world. We learn also to trust his grace, and that "our sufficiency is of God." We learn that "greater is he who is on our part than all they that be against us." We learn that the victory that overcometh the world is neither the strength and perfection of our flesh, nor merely the strong resolution of our minds, but the latter helped and strengthened by him who assures us that his strength can be perfected in our weakness. It is here that we learn that all things are working together for good to them that love God. Z'97-227R2195:2(Hymn 266)

Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 73:24

THE humble and believing children of God will realize that while they may not be able at all times to understand the Lord's ways in all his dealings, they can know of his wisdom, love, and care, and they can therefore trust him where they cannot trace him. We should not expect to be able always to comprehend the divine wisdom, which is so much beyond our own; yet we can often see it afterward. Sometimes his discipline may be severe, and by no means easy to bear, yet "afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness." After the bitter comes the sweet; so let us take the bitter patiently, and rejoice in hope of the sure fulfilment of all the exceeding great and precious promises to be realized in due time by those who patiently continue in welldoing--in submitting without reserve to the providence of God, to the guidance with his counsel. Z'93-232R1562:2(Hymn 242)

I have not hid Thy righteousness within My heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation: I have not concealed Thy loving-kindness and Thy truth from the great congregation. Psalm 40:10

IF EVERYTHING else in life were taken from us, and we were without a penny in the world, we would still be rich toward God if we had the truth. And so we all are needy in respect to this intelligence, this knowledge. When we perceive this, how could we be indifferent to the telling forth of the praises of him who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light! So, then, God has so arranged this matter that all those who believe and become children of God may have a share with him in his great work. And since we know these things, they become a test of our loyalty and our love. And the Lord seeing or not seeing this character in us will determine whether or not we shall be associated in the honorable work on the other side of the veil. Z'13-315R5335:4 (Hymn 275)

Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit. John 15:8

THE Lord announced himself as the true vine and his Father as the true Husbandman who planted the true vine, and his followers as the true branches of that vine. The expression "true vine" suggests a false vine, and this thought is accentuated and elaborated in our Lord's last message to his people in the symbols of Revelation. There he speaks of the gathering of the fruitage of the "vine of the earth," and the casting of the same into the winepress of the wrath of God at the end of this age. (Revelation 14:19) There was, therefore, a deeper meaning in our Lord's words, "true vine," than the apostles could have possibly gathered from them. We who are living at a time when both the true vine of the Father's planting and the false vine of the earth, earthly, have developed, have opportunity for noticing also that the vine of the earth is a counterfeit of the heavenly vine. In proportion as we see this matter clearly it will assist us not only in the understanding of the Lord's parable, but also in our application of it in our daily lives. We will be in less danger of misunderstanding, misconstruing and being deceived by the false vine, or by the false branches and the false principles represented in connection with its development, for it is not under the divine Husbandman's care. Z'05-121R3544:2(Hymn 70)

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. James 1:19

THE force of character which permits of anger is the very same force which otherwise directed signifies intensity of love: the inability to be angry under proper cause would imply imperfection, blemishes, just as inability to love strongly would imply similar defects of character....We who have been begotten of the Holy Spirit and who thus have the "mind of Christ," have the mind or disposition that is loving, generous, kind, forgiving toward our fellows and that is reverential and obedient toward God. This is the spirit or disposition that is of the Father and of the Son: the opposite disposition or spirit is of the Adversary. The two spirits or dispositions are so opposite that we cannot have both at once--we cannot serve God and mammon, Christ and Belial. Z'07-26R3928:2,4(Hymn 49)

And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12

WHO has not noticed that all the great Bible characters used of the Almighty were accustomed to go to him regularly in prayer and to seek for guidance from him in respect to every matter? Even the great Redeemer, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, needed to pray to the Father--needed his fellowship and communion--needed to be in touch with the Infinite One. Some may ask, Would the Almighty change his plans in answer to our petitions? Assuredly he would not. Indeed, on the contrary, we are cautioned in the Scriptures to ask only according to his will. We are warned that if we ask amiss our petitions will not be answered. Hence the necessity for studying God's Word and being enlightened thereby respecting the divine program that we may ask in harmony with every feature of it and receive strength and encouragement through the answer to our petitions. Z'11-411R4913:2(Hymn 239)

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27

THE Scriptures abound with testimonies to the effect that the severe trials of the near future will be along the lines of deception. They speak of lying angels and deceivableness of unrighteousness and "lying wonders" and tell us that the Lord will send or permit a strong delusion that they may believe a lie. If we gain the right conception of the matter these deceptions are to affect the whole world, including its wise men, and indeed practically everybody except the "very elect"; and the "very elect" will be preserved, not through their own wisdom or superiority, but through the power of God, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Z'09-123 R4379:3 (Hymn 304)

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7

WE MUST not be disappointed and allow our faith to falter when the test of patient endurance is applied, while the outward peace and quietness which we crave tarry long. Our Father has not forgotten us when the answer to our prayers seems to be delayed. Outward peace and calm are not always the conditions best suited to our needs as new creatures; and we would not desire conditions in which the precious fruits of the Spirit would not grow and develop in us. Therefore, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which shall try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice." (1 Peter 4:12, 13) He who numbers the very hairs of our heads is never indifferent to the sufferings and needs of his weakest and humblest child. Oh, how sweet is the realization of such loving, abiding care! "When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?" Z'15-345R5802:6 (Hymn 137)

If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Romans 8:10

FROM the divine standpoint the body is treated as dead, but the spirit, or mind, is treated as alive. It is the new creature which God recognizes, to which he purposes to give a new spirit body in due time--in the first resurrection. It is necessary that this thought be clearly fixed in our minds, in order that we may continually realize our peace toward God and his favor and sympathy toward us in Christ. If we lose sight of the fact that God regards us from the standpoint of the will, if we get to thinking of ourselves and God's estimate of us as according to the flesh, we are sure to get proportionately into darkness and confusion and discouragement. But let us not forget, on the other hand, that the spirit, or will, is counted alive because of its righteousness, because it is in harmony with God. Let us, therefore, never be slack in respect to the will, or intention, governing the conduct of our lives, but remember that any laxity will mean the proportionate loss of spiritual life. To will right is always possible to us, and nothing less than an absolutely loyal will could be acceptable to God in Christ. Z'03-171R3203:2(Hymn 277)

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

WELL has the wise man said that a friend loveth at all times. He who merely loves at a time when he thinks it will be to his own advantage to love knows not love. He who loves and is a brother in prosperity merely, and whose love and friendship wither under the heat of persecution, and adversity, has never known love in its true sense, but merely a certain brand of selfishness--the love of the world. As God commended his love toward us and showed us that not through selfishness, but generosity, at a great cost to himself, he provided us release from our prison, and gave us privileges of sonship, so true love will be willing to sacrifice. Let us judge, then, of our love for others, for the Lord, for the brethren, for our families, for our neighbors, for our enemies, even, by our willingness to sacrifice in their interest and for their highest welfare. Z'08-248R4224:5(Hymn 23)

If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. 1 Peter 4:16

THE apostle was not ashamed of his sufferings, because he realized that they were endured for Christ's sake. Any man or woman would feel and should feel deeply pained at a public arrest and imprisonment as a felon, as a violator of the law. But when these things are experienced, and we can realize that they are coming to us because of our faithfulness to the Lord, in following in his footsteps, we may rejoice in ignominy, rejoice in things which otherwise would be shameful and detestable. If, therefore, in the Lord's providence, arrest or imprisonment or scourging should come to any who read this article, and if they can directly or indirectly trace their tribulation to faithfulness to the Lord and his truth, let them not be ashamed; let them glorify God on this behalf, rejoicing that they are accounted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ, and remembering that even thus also it was with our Lord Jesus. He was placed under arrest; he was bound; he was scourged; he was publicly insulted; he was even crucified as a blasphemer against God. Z'03-140R3189:6(Hymn 13)

The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. 1 Peter 3:12

OUR Heavenly Father is deeply interested in everything that relates to us and ours. What thing is too small for his notice who numbers even the very hairs of our heads?...Fallen creatures though we be, from the noble estate in which we were created, God so loved our race, even while we were yet sinners, as to make provision at great cost for our redemption and restitution and subsequent eternal glory. And therefore it is--because he loves us--that through Christ he extends to us the gracious favor of coming to him as children to a father....We need have no fear that he is too busy with other matters of greater importance, or that he is weary of our coming to him repeatedly with things of small importance....It is our privilege to enter into our closets and shut the doors and pray to our Father which seeth in secret, who will reward us openly. Z'95-213R1865:5; 1864:3; 1865:4(Hymn 293)

By love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

LET us judge of our love for others, for the Lord, for the brethren, for our families, for our neighbors, for our enemies even, by our willingness to sacrifice in their interest and for their highest welfare. If we find ourselves sacrificing nothing in the interest of the Lord's cause, let us not delude ourselves by saying that we love the Lord. If we find ourselves unwilling to endure, to sacrifice in the interests of the brethren and others dear to us, let us not mistake the matter and call it love. If we find ourselves unwilling to do kindness even to our enemies when they are in need, let us make no mistake; for the Lord hath declared that a course of goodness and mercy and self-denial is the only index of a loving heart. Z'08-249R4224:5(Hymn 23)

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42

ALL of God's people can dwell together in love, in fellowship, under the divine care as a "royal priesthood," "seated together in heavenly places"--in the antitypical tabernacle's "Holy." So far as our earthly abode is concerned we may today live comparatively closely, by virtue of the convenient railway and mail services. It behooves us all, therefore, to "speak often one to another" that, as the prophet declares, the Lord may hear and note and prosper our blessing of one another. (Malachi 3:16) And we suggest that it is a partial fulfilment of the injunction that we "make straight paths for our feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way," if we seek such dwelling places as will conduce to our occasional interchanges with the household of faith. Let us put God first, and Christian fellowship and growth in grace second, and both before wealth, in all of our reckonings. Thus we will best seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and find all other things added in proportion to our real needs as new creatures. Z'07-345R4090:5 (Hymn 97)

David went on and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him. II Samuel 5:10

DAVID'S experiences in waiting for the kingdom and the lessons learned and the character developed and the preparation which made him wise and moderate all serve to illustrate a great lesson to the Gospel church. We also are called to sit upon the throne of the Lord-- to rule in his name. We also have been anointed to office by the Holy Spirit, which the apostle declares is a foretaste of the glory and joys into which we shall enter when the crowning days shall have come. If discipline, self-control, faith, moderation, and hope were all requisite to make David a king over the Lord's people and to properly represent him in government, how much more severe lessons should be for us who are called to so much higher a station--to the throne of earth as God's representatives and to the royal priesthood, ruling, judging, and trying mankind, to the intent that as many as possible of them may be rescued from their degraded condition and be brought into full harmony with God! Z'08-268R4236:1(Hymn 300)

The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow therewith. Proverbs 10:22 R.V.

WHOEVER has the Lord's blessing is rich indeed, regardless of the amount of this world's goods which he possesses. Of what value is all the wealth of a Croesus if it bring not peace, joy, and happiness? Wherever we go we find all--rich and poor--seeking pleasure, seeking the springs of joy; but how few of these seekers ever find it! Alas! it seems impossible for the world to understand the great fact that the blessing of the Lord constitutes the true fund of riches and pleasures forevermore--more than the life that now is, and the coming one! Those whom the Lord makes rich with his promises and his favor, his guidance and his blessing, have the joy which others are vainly seeking. These true riches during this Gospel age are obtainable by all who have the "hearing ear," and who learn of God's favor in Christ. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of divine wisdom, love, and power. Z'13-30R5171:1(Hymn 179)

My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips. Psalm 89:34

THESE words of Jehovah God are very comforting and satisfying to his faithful children. As faith becomes a basis for things hoped for, so confidence and experience constitute a basis for faith to rest upon. The unchangeableness of our God is one of the attractive features of his character: his assurance is, "I am the same, I change not." Even when the Lord's word or sentence is against us--as in the case of his pronouncement against sin and sinners--and even though his unchangeableness will not permit him to excuse sin or clear the guilty, this very constancy becomes an assurance to us that as God has been strict and unchangeable in regard to the penalty pronounced, he will be equally strict and equally unchangeable concerning all the good promises and covenants which he has made to us. Z'02-342R3107:3(Hymn 219)

I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. John 14:16

WHAT a satisfaction, what a comfort has come to the Lord's people through their privilege of being used by him and adopted into his family by the begetting of the Holy Spirit, the adoption of the Holy Spirit, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the holy influence, the blessing of the Father and of the Son, guiding our judgments, guiding our hearts, opening to us the Scriptures, causing our hearts to burn within us as we are brought to a still greater appreciation of the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of our Father's glorious plan of salvation for ourselves and all the families of the earth!...Truly, as our Lord said, the Holy Spirit shows us things to come, and explains to us things that are past. How many of our blessings are along the line of appreciation of coming things--the millennial kingdom, the times of restitution, the uplifting and strengthening of all the families of the earth! Z'08-139R4166:6(Hymn 91)

We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together. Romans 8:22

DEARLY beloved of the consecrated household, let us not forget to keep in touch with the groaning creation; to sympathize with its sorrows and its woes; to realize its deep degradation and misery; to remember its frailties, its awful burden of hereditary taints and consequent weaknesses; its present environments of ignorance and superstition, and its long established error of public sentiment; remembering that we too are still in the sinful flesh, and that the motions of sin are still often painfully manifest in us, in some directions, at least, if not in many. And as the cries of the groaning creation come up into the ears of the Lord of hosts with strong and pathetic pleading to his loving heart, so let them come into our ears and gain our sympathies, and quicken our zeal to cooperate with our Heavenly Father's plan for the establishment of his kingdom of righteousness and peace. Z'02-263 R3067:6 (Hymn 38)

The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation. Exodus 15:2

THE Lord is our strength; we lean not upon human might--neither of our own or of other men. We hold the Head, from whom not only come the laws which govern us, but from whom come the strength, the direction, the protection, the care, which we need and which we enjoy. The Lord is become our salvation; he has saved us from the condemnation of sin through faith in the blood; he has rescued us from the love of sin. He has not only revived us, but strengthened us, and enabled us to walk in the narrow way, and to do so with joy and gladness and leaping. He is our salvation already--the salvation that is to be brought unto us, and thus to be complete in us, in the first resurrection, is already begun--for we are already passed from death unto life, and have the witness of this in the Holy Spirit. Z'02-10R2934:4(Hymn 120)

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Colossians 3:15

THE peace and joy which surpasseth all human understanding was not given to the world, nor is it given to the nominal Christian professor, nor to the formalist and ritualist, however zealous they may be. It is intended for and can be had only by those who receive riches of grace through the Holy Spirit-- those who by obedience to the truth and its spirit grow up into Christ their living Head in all things. Such have peace, deep and abiding, and ever increasing proportionately as they come to comprehend with all saints through faith and obedience the riches of divine grace --the lengths, breadths, heights, and depths of the love of God. Z'99-93R2456:6(Hymn 244)

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. Isaiah 43:2

IN VIEW of the fact that all of the called, chosen, and faithful must be required to pass through the school of experience, discipline, and testing with a view to their final approval, how encouraging it is to know that the Lord will indeed be with us in every trouble, that he sympathizes with us in all of our trials, adversities, afflictions, perplexities, etc., and that "behind a frowning providence he hides a smiling face." The waters of affliction, disappointment, perplexity, trouble, will be about us, and we are not to float with the current either, but are to endure hardness as good soldiers. But our source of strength in battling with the current of life is never to be forgotten...the Lord will pull us safely over to the other side, where we shall have life, and that more abundantly, with the glory, honor, and immortality which he will provide for his bride--his elect. Z'07-171R4005:1(Hymn 93)