Living In The Light

August 7, Essential Preparation For Witnessing

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
—Acts 1:8 LL 233.1

Life is a mysterious, solemn thing. Our work is to look to God, to trust in him, as our heavenly father, believing that he loves us. I would impress upon your mind the necessity and the duty of keeping every organ of mind and body in the most healthful condition, taking every proper means to preserve the physical, mental, and moral powers to use healthfully for God. . . . LL 233.2

You will have opportunities to do good and must be ready to improve these at the right time. If you have unwisely taken a course to becloud your reason, or weaken any faculty that God has given you, you rob Him of that which He has committed to you in trust. Heaven is worth everything to you. Gain it by all means. If you are walking in the heavenward way, you will by precept and example lead others in the same path. If by faith you put your hand in the hand of Christ, you can day by day be rendering service to God. Angels of God are ready to cooperate with you, but your personal agency is essential. You must unite with the holy ones of heaven. In this way “His servants shall serve Him” (Revelation 22:3). LL 233.3

You have the privilege of witnessing for Jesus and advocating His truth wherever you may be. But do not run, without His direction, into the companionship of those who do not love or fear God. You have yielded to the tempter; keep off his ground as much as possible. To resist temptation, arm yourself with the whole armor of righteousness, and you can be a power for good, because the life revealed in you is the life of Christ. You are to be an instrument for His own use in bringing souls to salvation. LL 233.4

Angels long to do this work, and they will work through the human instrumentality that is submitted to Christ. Your life may be a grand opportunity for the holy angels to work for the saving of the lost. The blood of Christ is your only hope, your sufficiency. Through faith, that cleansing blood will remove every dark spot in your character.—Letter 95, 1895. LL 233.5

Further Reflection: Ellen White noted that followers of Christ have “the privilege of witnessing for Jesus and advocating His truth.” Why is it a privilege to witness for Christ? How important is sharing your faith with those you meet? LL 233.6