MR No. 907 - Ellen G. White Letters To J. H. Kellogg
God Is
Testing You; Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Jesus--Jesus loves you. The experience
which you are having makes me glad, not because you are a sufferer, but because
this is evidence to me that the Lord is testing and proving you to see if you
will come to Him, to see if you will put your trust in Him, if you will find
peace and rest in His love. I am praying for you, that Jesus will teach you
precious lessons in coming to Him, the fountain of living waters. This is the
experience every one of us must have if we ever dwell with Jesus in the
mansions He has gone to prepare for us. You have lessons of the highest value
to learn in the school of Christ, lessons that will lead you to work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling.
{11MR 299.1}
If you
are prospered, if all men speak well of you, then will be your danger. Be on
guard, for you will be tried. My greatest fears for you have been that you
would have too great prosperity, and fail to learn that your dependence is
alone upon God. Your heavenly Father loves you. He is all-powerful. He would
draw you to Himself by the very trials that seem to you so severe. You have
been placed in a position of great trust and honor, and there has been danger
of your becoming dizzy and not realizing your dependence upon God. You have
been in a position where you could exert a wide, far-reaching influence if the
eye were constantly single to the glory of God. While climbing the ladder of
progress, if your eye sees God above the ladder, if you can see the messengers
of light, angels of God, ascending and descending on this ladder of shining
brightness; if you can see the Lord as the source of all power, and you as only
His humble agent, walking in His ways, keeping the truth in the beauty of
holiness, then the inducement is before you, the precious boon of eternal
life--a home of rest and peace, a crown of glory that fadeth not away, riches
that are exhaustless. . . . {11MR 299.2}
You have
One ready and able to help you whenever you shall call upon Him. He is at your
right hand. If you try to carry your burdens alone, you will be crushed under
them. You have weighty responsibilities, and Jesus knows all about them, but He
will not leave you alone if you do not leave Him. He is honored when you commit
the keeping of your soul to Him as unto a faithful Creator. He bids you hope in
His mercy, believing that He does not desire you to carry these weighty
responsibilities alone. Only believe, and you will see the salvation of God. .
. . {11MR 300.1} Jesus sees every action of the children of
men. He weighs thoughts and motives. You are carrying a heavy load. I wish that
everyone could feel this as I do, and would be true and faithful to you, not to
hinder, not to praise or extol and glorify you, but to look upon you as one
whom God is using as His instrument to do a given work, and that they must not
block the wheels, but put their shoulder to the wheel and help rather than
hinder. {11MR 300.2} Again I say, Rejoice in the Lord. Weave Jesus
into your daily experience and rest in Him. His power as a helper you need, and
you may have it. Go forward firmly, valiantly, courageously. You may err in
judgment, but do not lose your hold on Jesus.--Letter 8, 1886, pp. 2,3,7-10.
(To J. H. Kellogg, July 16, 1886.) {11MR
300.3}
Let
Others Bear Responsibilities--You must never take the position that because you
have an experience in your calling and practice that others have not, everyone
must meet your exact measurement in all particulars before you can take them by
your side and teach them all you know yourself, and have them obtain a
practical knowledge of everything essential for the work [so] that you can
leave the sanitarium [to] visit Europe and California, and give instruction to
our young institutions there. . . .
{11MR 300.4} You have been
wonderfully successful in your career in doing a special work. God has raised
you up as a man of opportunity to do this work. But if at any time you take the
credit or glory to yourself, then the Lord will not work by you or through you.
. . . {11MR 301.1} How thankful I felt when I read from your
pen which traced the lines that you were enjoying more of the Spirit of God. No
one could appreciate the blessing of God daily more than yourself. No one could
estimate the knowledge of sins forgiven and the reconciled countenance of your
Redeemer more than yourself, and this precious evidence and light from above will
make you constantly a channel of light, a source of blessing to those with whom
you are brought in contact. {11MR 301.2} I am so desirous that you should come off
conqueror, that you should have the eternal weight of glory. I want you to
live, not for this life, but for the future immortal life. You have transmitted
to you traits of character that are not the most hopeful, or helpful to you in
the religious life, but these may be overcome. Now is our time to fit for
eternity. You have a battle to fight with your own individual temptations and
your marked traits of character which will seek constantly for the
supremacy.--Letter 64, 1886, pp. 1, 3, 4. (To J. H. Kellogg, cir. 1886.) Keep Your Eyes on Jesus--God is very near you
in your work, angels are close in attendance; then let not any feelings or any
words or works of human beings overwhelm you. Rise above all these difficulties
so trying to human nature. Every day has its own troubles for every soul who
lives. Then do not in any way, by feeling, word, or look, increase the
temptations of Satan upon one soul. When tempted to be hasty or passionate,
remember Jesus your Pattern. I want you to have the gift of eternal life, and I
beg you to seek peace and harmony for your own sake as well as for the sake of
those whom God loves, who have devoted their lives to His service. May the Lord
help you, strengthen and bless you, is my prayer. . . . {11MR 302.1}
I know
that the Lord has helped you many, many times. I have the fullest confidence
that He has made you a blessing to very many. May the Lord clothe you with His
salvation. Walk in the light, press to the light, refuse to look at darkness or
talk darkness. Talk of things that are calculate to uplift the soul; come close
to Jesus, commune with Him. He will be your wisdom. He will preserve you still
to do a good work for Him. Satan, you must know, will seek to hinder you in
every possible way. He will delight to discourage you and shorten your life. I
want your life spared; I do not want the devil to have his way. I want you to
be a strong, well-balanced character because the grace of Christ is given you
in large measure. I know it is your privilege to have the blessing of God
daily, and you cannot fill your position unless you do have it. May you be of
good courage in the Lord. Turn your attention from disagreeable things. By
beholding you become changed. Talk of pleasant things, talk hope and courage,
and you will have hope and courage.--Letter 46, 1887, pp. 4, 7. (To J. H.
Kellogg, April 22, 1887.)
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