I was so blessed reading your comments today, Richard and Jim! And I am responding to your last post's question, Richard. You asked, "But, while the spirit is ready, the flesh is weak. How do we cross over this boundary where we are willing to let go?" As I reflect upon this question, I am reminded of something you have said many a time, and which I know to be true from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. "The answer is always the same. We need Jesus." Yet, the need we have for Jesus so that we will desire to make a full surrender to Him can only come as we BEHOLD JESUS and as we BEHOLD THE LOVELINESS of HIS CHARACTER we shall desire to be wholly transformed into His image. The statement that clarifies how such a surrender is to take place can be found in both Desire of Ages and Steps to Christ, but it is really grounded in the word of God:
It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross. {DA 83.4}
It is a mistake to entertain the thought that God is pleased to see His children suffer. All heaven is interested in the happiness of man. Our heavenly Father does not close the avenues of joy to any of His creatures. The divine requirements call upon us to shun those indulgences that would bring suffering and disappointment, that would close to us the door of happiness and heaven. The world's Redeemer accepts men as they are, with all their wants, imperfections, and weaknesses; and He will not only cleanse from sin and grant redemption through His blood, but will satisfy the heart-longing of all who consent to wear His yoke, to bear His burden. It is His purpose to impart peace and rest to all who come to Him for the bread of life. He requires us to perform only those duties that will lead our steps to heights of bliss to which the disobedient can never attain. The true, joyous life of the soul is to have Christ formed within, the hope of glory. {SC 46.3}
Many are inquiring, "How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?" You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him. {SC 47.1}
John 1:29: "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
2 Corinthians 3:18: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
If we will behold Christ daily, spending that thoughtful hour with Him and falling so deeply in love with Him that we find sin to be hateful to us, we will desire to surrender our will to HIm. Then it is a simple choice--we love God because He first loved us, and as we read in today's reading, we would find victory, not choosing in our trials to separate from Christ by murmuring, despondency, or doubt. Rather, we will choose faith and praise God that He allowed the trial for our good in growing in character:
Yet we should not lose courage when assailed by temptation. Often when placed in a trying situation we doubt that the Spirit of God has been leading us. But it was the Spirit's leading that brought Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. When God brings us into trial, He has a purpose to accomplish for our good. Jesus did not presume on God's promises by going unbidden into temptation, neither did He give up to despondency when temptation came upon Him. Nor should we. "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." He says, "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalm 50:14, 15. {DA 126.3}
I love Jesus who allows my trials for my good. Will you pray, "Lord, please send and allow the needed trials in my life that I may be more like you today?" If we would learn to embrace Christ in every trial, we could be thankful that He allows such things for our own good--and for the benefit of those to whom our witness will encourage in like circumstances, that they also may know that there is a loving Savior who is able and willing to help them in every time of need! Hallelujah! Jesus is our Savior! Bless the LORD, O my soul!!!