Gold is tried in the fire, that it may be purified from dross; but faith that is purified by trial, is more precious than refined gold. Then let us look upon trials in a reasonable way.  Let us not come through them with murmuring and discontent.  Let us not make mistakes in getting out of them.  In times of trial we must cling to God and His promises.  {OHC 312.2} 

The widow of Zarephath shared her morsel with Elijah, and in return her life and that of her son were preserved.  And to all who, in time of trial and want, give sympathy and assistance to others more needy, God has promised great blessing.  He has not changed.  His power is no less now than in the days of Elijah.  No less sure now than when spoken by our Saviour is the promise, "He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward." Matthew 10:41.  {PK 131.5}

The precious Bible is the garden of God, and His promises are the lilies, and the roses, and the pinks.  {FLB 9.2} 

The same power that Christ exercised when He walked visibly among men is in His word.  It was by His word that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons; by His word He stilled the sea and raised the dead, and the people bore witness that His word was with power.  He spoke the word of God, as He had spoken to all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament.  The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ.  {MH 122.1}  

The Scriptures are to be received as God's word to us, not written merely, but spoken.  When the afflicted ones came to Christ, He beheld not only those who asked for help, but all who throughout the ages should come to Him in like need and with like faith.  When He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee;" when He said to the woman of Capernaum, "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace," He spoke to other afflicted, sin-burdened ones who should seek His help.  Matthew 9:2; Luke 8:48.  {MH 122.2}  

So with all the promises of God's word.  In them He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice.  It is in these promises that Christ communicates to us His grace and power.  They are leaves from that tree which is "for the healing of the nations."  Revelation 22:2.  Received, assimilated, they are to be the strength of the character, the inspiration and sustenance of the life.  Nothing else can have such healing power.  Nothing besides can impart the courage and faith which give vital energy to the whole being.  {MH 122.3} 

I arose at half past three and had a precious season of communing with God.  I do claim the rich promises of God given us in His Word.  Faith lays hold of the promises.  Faith is not feeling.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.  We walk by faith and not by sight.  {1888 461.2} 

Dear youth, you lose much by not studying with greater earnestness and care the life of Christ.  There you may learn the character which you must form in order to become his disciples; you may see the victories which you have to gain over selfishness, pride, vanity, and especially over unbelief, that you may win the precious white robe of a spotless character, and stand at last without fault before the throne of God.  "To him that overcometh," is the Saviour's promise, "will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."  {YI, October 10, 1883 par. 10} 

"I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."  Thus are stated the conditions upon which we may expect the blessing of the Lord.  The result of cooperation with God is set forth, -- "I shall not be moved."  Those who keep the commandments of God are promised the gift of eternal life; but he who disobeys the law shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.  {ST, October 22, 1894 par. 6} 

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly ... But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."  Psalm 1:1-3.  It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness among His professed people.  "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."  Jeremiah 6:16.  {GC 478.3}

The work of redemption involves consequences of which it is difficult for man to have any conception.  "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."  1 Corinthians 2:9.  As the sinner, drawn by the power of Christ, approaches the uplifted cross, and prostrates himself before it, there is a new creation.  A new heart is given him.  He becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus.  Holiness finds that it has nothing more to require.  God Himself is "the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."  Romans 3:26.  And "whom He justified, them He also glorified."  Romans 8:30.  Great as is the shame and degradation through sin, even greater will be the honor and exaltation through redeeming love. T o human beings striving for conformity to the divine image there is imparted an outlay of heaven's treasure, an excellency of power, that will place them higher than even the angels who have never fallen.  {COL 162.4} 

As the penitent sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ's atonement in his behalf and accepts this atonement as his only hope in this life and the future life, his sins are pardoned.  This is justification by faith.  Every believing soul is to conform his will entirely to God's will and keep in a state of repentance and contrition, exercising faith in the atoning merits of the Redeemer and advancing from strength to strength, from glory to glory.  {FW 103.1} 

Pardon and justification are one and the same thing.  Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption.  The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety.  The Lord speaks to His heavenly Father, saying: "This is My child, I reprieve him from the condemnation of death, giving him My life insurance policy -- eternal life -- because I have taken his place and have suffered for his sins.  He is even My beloved son."  Thus man, pardoned, and clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ's righteousness, stands faultless before God.  {FW 103.2} 

In every pang of anguish endured we behold the throes of paternal love.  The Father Himself travailed in the greatness of His almighty love in behalf of a world perishing in sin.  By the sacrifice that has been made, the gift of eternal life has been placed within the reach of every son and daughter of Adam.  {13MR 370.2} 

How many there are who grieve the Spirit of God by continual repining!  This is because they have lost sight of Christ.  If we behold him who bore our sorrows and died as our sacrifice, that we might have an exceeding weight of glory, we shall regard our heaviest sorrows and trials as light afflictions.  Think of the Saviour upon the cross, bruised, smitten, mocked, yet uncomplaining and unresisting, suffering without a murmur.  This is the Lord of heaven, whose throne is from everlasting.  All this suffering and shame he endured for the joy that was set before him, -- the joy of bringing to men the gift of eternal life.  {RH, May 6, 1902 par. 10} 

I was shown the saints' reward, the immortal inheritance.  Then I was shown how much God's people had endured for the truth's sake, and that they would count heaven cheap enough.  They reckoned that the sufferings of this present time were not worthy to be compared with the glory which should be revealed in them.  The people of God in these last days will be tried.  But soon their last trial will come, and then they will receive the gift of eternal life.  {1T 432.2} 

There is no excuse for sin or for indolence.  Jesus has led the way, and He wishes us to follow in His steps.  He has suffered, He has sacrificed as none of us can, that He might bring salvation within our reach.  We need not be discouraged.  Jesus came to our world to bring divine power to man, that through His grace we might be transformed into His likeness.  When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit.  {TMK 229.4}