Living In The Light

April 7, Cherish Friendship With Jesus

I have set the Lord always before me.
—Psalms 16:8 LL 106.1

Amid the perplexities that will press upon the soul, there is only One who can help us out of all our difficulties and relieve all our disquietude. We are to cast all our care upon Jesus, and bear in mind that He is present, and is directing us to commune with Him. We are to keep our minds staid upon God; and in our weakness, He will be our strength; in our ignorance, He will be our wisdom; in our frailty, He will be our enduring might. LL 106.2

We may be assured that we need not go into the heavens to bring Jesus down to us, neither into the deep to bring Him up; for He is at our right hand, and His eye is ever upon us. We should ever seek to realize that the Lord is very near us, to be our counselor and guide. This is the only way in which we may have confidence toward God. LL 106.3

We need to educate and train the mind so that we shall have an intelligent faith and have an understanding friendship with Jesus. Unless we continually cherish friendship between God and our souls, we shall separate from Him and walk apart from Him. We shall make friends of those around us, and place our trust in humanity, and our affections will be diverted from the true object of worship. We must not allow coldness to chill our love for our Redeemer. If we have fellowship with Him, we must ever set the Lord before us, and treat Him as an honored Friend, giving Him the first place in our affections. We should speak of His matchless charms, and constantly cultivate the desire to have a better knowledge of Jesus Christ. Then His Spirit will have a controlling power upon life and character. But how often is the Lord neglected for the society of others, and for things of no value! LL 106.4

Jesus says, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.” “The water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.” Never let amusements, or the companionship of others, come between you and Jesus, your best Friend. Set the Lord always before you. When natural inclination draws you in the direction of fulfilling some selfish desire, set the Lord before you as your counselor, and ask, Will this please Jesus? Will this increase my love for my best Friend? Will this course grieve my dear Savior?— The Youth’s Instructor, July 19, 1894. LL 106.5

Further Reflection: How would setting “the Lord always before” you bless your life? LL 106.6