The Signs of the Times
June 19, 1901
Christ's Prayer for Us
This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” ST June 19, 1901, par. 1
These words are of the greatest importance to us. Professing Christians should manifest a deep, earnest, anxiety to be like the Redeemer in character. They should dwell upon Christ's life. Then they will be changed into His likeness. Let each examine himself critically, to see whether in the home, in the church, and in the world he is revealing the Christlikeness, so that the Saviour may say, “I am glorified in him.” ST June 19, 1901, par. 2
“I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world,” Christ continued, “but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil.” Christians should exercise every ability which God has given them in an effort to answer this prayer. They are to ask God earnestly and frequently to keep them from the evil that is in the world. Christ has charged His followers to pray without ceasing. Never fail to importune God in private prayer. Never cease to intercede with him; for when you fail to pray, you are strengthless to resist Satan's temptations. ST June 19, 1901, par. 3
Our sanctification is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is the fulfilment of the covenant that God has made with those who bind themselves up with Him, to stand with Him, with His Son, and with His Spirit in holy fellowship. Have you been born again? Have you become a new being in Christ Jesus? Then co-operate with the three great powers of heaven who are working in your behalf. Doing this you will reveal to the world the principles of righteousness. ST June 19, 1901, par. 4
As we strive to represent Christ to the world, we must exercise faith in Him. He says, “According to your faith be it unto you.” It was by faith that Enoch walked with God. Do not ask others to exercise faith for you. You are yourself to obtain a daily experience in the things of God. You are yourself to realize the truth of the words, “All things are possible to him that believeth.” ST June 19, 1901, par. 5
When you accept Christ, you are in one sense cut away from the world. You are dead to its ambitions, dead to its greed for advantage over your brethren and neighbors. God says, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, ... and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” This is the pledge of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; made to you if you will keep your baptismal vow, and touch not the unclean thing. You are to turn aside from all that would pervert the pure, sacred principles of truth. You are to enter into no intrigue. Sharp practise with believers or unbelievers, is an offense in God's sight. It is a sin which places those who commit it in connection with the author of all sin. ST June 19, 1901, par. 6
Those who come out from the world in spirit and in all practise may regard themselves as sons and daughters of God. They may believe His word as a child believes every word of his parents. Every promise is sure to him that believes. Those who unite with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who show by their lives that they are no longer following the course they followed before they united with these divine instrumentalities, will receive wisdom from above. They will not depend upon human wisdom. In order to deal righteously with the world, as members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, Christians must feel their need of a power which comes only from the heavenly agencies that have pledged themselves to work in man's behalf. ST June 19, 1901, par. 7
After we have formed a union with the great threefold power, we shall regard our duty toward the members of God's family with a sacred awe. We shall seek to answer the prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” by living pure, sanctified lives, showing the world how the will of God is done in heaven. ST June 19, 1901, par. 8
“Enoch walked with God; and he was not; for God took him.” And when God takes the members of His church to heaven, it will be because they have walked with Him here on this earth, receiving from above strength and wisdom which enables them to serve Him aright. Those who are taken to God will be men and women who now pray in humility and contrition, whose hearts are not lifted up unto vanity. In their dealing with their fellow-men they represent Christ. Those who dishonor God while professing to serve Him, are one with the world. In the last great day they will be found among the number who knew their Lord's will, but did it not. ST June 19, 1901, par. 9
God calls upon those who have united with Him, who have pledged themselves to die to the world and live unto Christ, properly to represent their profession of faith. If they are partakers of the divine nature, the principles of sacred brotherhood will be sacredly cherished by them. To all they will manifest tenderness, sympathy, and compassion. They will reveal Christ's longing to receive the members of His family, and to feed their hungry souls with the bread of life. ST June 19, 1901, par. 10
“Sanctify them thru Thy truth; Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified thru the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me thru their word; that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” These words present the grand result of Christian unity. Christians are to be one in Christ. By their unity they are to bear witness to the world that Christ is the Sent of God. All true disciples will realize that this is the standard they must reach. They will strive continually to help one another. ST June 19, 1901, par. 11
“I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me.” They are on My side. They stand under My banner. By receiving Me as their personal Saviour, they have pledged themselves to keep My holy law, to reveal Me in all their transactions in the church and in the world. I have purchased them by My manifestation of love and power in their behalf. For them I have sanctified Myself to the work Thou hast appointed Me, that they also may be sanctified to the work Thou hast appointed them, that by their union with Me and with one another they may reveal to the world that Thou didst send Me to the earth to save sinners. ST June 19, 1901, par. 12
“And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved Me.” The world needs to see a correct representation of the principles of the Gospel. As Christians it is our duty to show the uplifting, sanctifying power of the truth. We have a great work to do, and O, we need so much to close the windows of the soul earthward, and open them heavenward. God will keep the current of His grace flowing into the hearts of those who are willing to be channels of light. ST June 19, 1901, par. 13
Mrs. E. G. White