With God at Dawn

What Is Man, December 1

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained: what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm 8:3, 4. WGD 337.1

Man had become so degraded by sin that it was impossible for him, in himself, to come into harmony with Him whose nature is purity and goodness. But Christ, after having redeemed man from the condemnation of the law, could impart divine power, to unite with human effort. Thus ... the fallen children of Adam might once more become “sons of God.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 64. WGD 337.2

Nature testifies of God. The susceptible mind, brought in contact with the miracle and mystery of the universe, can not but recognize the working of infinite power. Not by its own inherent energy does the earth produce its bounties, and year by year continue its motion around the sun. An unseen hand guides the planets in their circuit of the heavens. A mysterious life pervades all nature,—a life that sustains the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity; that lives in the insect atom which floats in the summer breeze; that wings the flight of the swallow, and feeds the young ravens which cry; that brings the bud to blossom, and the flower to fruit.—Education, 99. WGD 337.3

In those hours that come to all, when the heart is faint, and temptation presses sore; ... where, then, can such courage and steadfastness be found as in that lesson which God has bidden us learn from the stars in their untroubled course?—Education, 115. WGD 337.4