A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there should be an abiding, peaceful trust. Your hope is not in yourself; it is in Christ. Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might. So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell upon self, but look to Christ. Let the mind dwell upon His love, upon the beauty, the perfection, of His character. Christ in His self-denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ in His purity and holiness, Christ in His matchless love this is the subject for the soul s contemplation. It is by loving Him, copying Him, depending wholly upon Him, that you are to be transformed into His likeness. Steps to Christ, pp. 70, 71. Ellen G.White
Copyright 1964, renewed 1992 by THE ELLEN G. WHITE PUBLICATIONS PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Cover design copyright 2003 by Review and Herald Publishing Association Cover illlustration: Road to Emmaus Greg Olsen. By arrangement with Mill Pond Press, Inc. Venice, Florida, 34292. For information on the art prints by Greg Olsen, please contact Mill Pond Press at 1-800--535-0331. Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 64-17650 ISBN 0-8280-1789-1 To order, call 1-800-765-6955 Visit us at www.reviewandherald.org for more information on Review and Herald products. FOREWORD Those who are familiar with the Ellen G. White writings and who have treasured devotional books from her inspired pen in the past will welcome this volume from the same rich source. More than half of the book is drawn from the wealth of inspired material in the articles from her pen that appeared during her long lifetime in such periodicals as the Review and Herald, Youth s Instructor, and Signs of the Times. About one third is drawn from previously unpublished manuscripts and letters in the custody of the trustees of the Ellen G. White writings, under whose direction the volume has been prepared. Many of these items are from personal heart-to-heart messages sent to individuals messages that come to us today with the same earnest appeal, the same tender admonition and encouragement, as when they were written. Of special interest are several pages that contain extracts from early morning entries in Ellen White s diary, and give the reader significant glimpses into her personal prayer life. In order to bring each reading into the compass of a single page, frequent deletions have been necessary, and these are indicated in the usual way. Great care has been exercised to preserve without distortion the thought and intent of the writer. It should be noted that when lines from a hymn or a poem appear they were quoted by Ellen White herself. The daily Bible verses have been chosen to harmonize with the message of each day. That I May Know Him goes forth with our prayer that it may truly help each reader to become better acquainted with Jesus, our Lord and Savior. It is our hope that each may gain a deeper appreciation of His amazing sacrifice for the lost human race, gain clearer views of the beauty and perfection of His character, and understand better the heights we may reach in our own character development as clothed in the garments of His righteousness, we strive to become complete in Him. THE TRUSTEES OF THE ELLEN G. WHITE ESTATE Silver Spring, MD
January 1 UNLOCK THE STOREHOUSE! Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Eph. 3:8. THAT I MAY KNOW HIM But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.... That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Philippians 3:7-11. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace. Job 22:21. It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. The Desire of Ages, p. 83. In the Word of God there are rich mines of truth that we may spend our whole lifetime in exploring, and yet we shall find that we have only begun to view their precious stores.... There are unsearchable riches for us. It will take us all eternity to comprehend the riches of the glory of God and of Jesus Christ.... Christ has said: If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink (John 7:37). Have you exhausted the fountain? No, for it is inexhaustible. Just as soon as you feel your need, you may drink, and drink again. The fountain is always full. And when you have once drunk of that fountain you will not be seeking to quench your thirst from the broken cisterns of this world; you will not be studying how you can find the most pleasure, amusement, fun, and frolic. No, because you have been drinking from the stream which makes glad the city of God. Then your joy will be full, for Christ will be in you. 1 Jehovah Immanuel He in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:3, 9) to be brought into sympathy with Him, to know Him, to possess Him, as the heart opens more and more to receive His attributes; to know His love and power, to possess the unsearchable riches of Christ, to comprehend more and more what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (Eph. 3:18, 19) this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord (Isa. 54:17). 2 There is no need for us to hunger, there is no need for us to thirst, while the storehouse of heaven is open for us and the key is given into our possession. What is the key? Faith, which is the gift of God. Unlock the storehouse; take of its rich treasures. 3 6 7
January 2 January 3 WHERE WISDOM BEGINS The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Prov. 9:10. There is a wide difference between what God has given men capacity to become, and the degree of excellence to which they actually attain. 4 The Word of God presents the most potent means of education, as well as the most valuable source of knowledge, within the reach of man. The understanding adapts itself to the dimensions of the subjects with which it is required to deal. If occupied with trivial, commonplace matters only, never summoned to earnest effort to comprehend great and eternal truths, it becomes dwarfed and enfeebled. Hence the value of the Scriptures, as a means of intellectual culture.... They lead directly to the contemplation of the most exalted, the most ennobling, and the most stupendous truths that are presented to the mind of man. They direct our thoughts to the infinite Author of all things. We see revealed the character of the Eternal, and listen to His voice as He communes with patriarchs and prophets. We see explained the mysteries of His providence, the great problems which have engaged the attention of every thoughtful mind, but which, without the aid of revelation, human intellect seeks in vain to solve. They open to our understanding a simple yet sublime system of theology, presenting truths which a child may grasp, but which are yet so far reaching as to baffle the powers of the strongest mind. The more closely God s Word is searched, and the better understood, the more vividly will the student realize that there is, beyond, infinite wisdom, knowledge, and power.... If the youth will but learn of the heavenly Teacher, as did Daniel, they will know that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.... Those who consecrate themselves to God, and who have the protection of His grace and the quickening influence of His Spirit, will manifest keener intellectual power than the mere worldling. They will be able to reach the highest, noblest exercise of every faculty. 5 WHO MAY KNOW GOD? Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? Job 11:7. We cannot by searching find out God, but He has revealed Himself in His Son, who is the brightness of the Father s glory and the express image of His person. If we desire a knowledge of God we must be Christlike.... Living a pure life through faith in Christ as a personal Saviour will bring to the believer a clearer, higher conception of God.... Eternal life is the reward that will be given to all who obey the two great principles of God s law love to God and love to man. The first four commandments define and enjoin love to God; the last six, love to our fellow men. Obedience to these commands is the only evidence man can give that he possesses a genuine, saving knowledge of God. Love for God is demonstrated by love for those for whom Christ has died. While enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, Christ gave directions regarding this love. Distinctly and clearly He laid down the principles of heaven as rules that His chosen people were to observe in their dealings one with another. These principles Christ lived out in His life of humanity. In His teaching He presented the motives that should govern the lives of His followers.... Those who partake of God s love through a reception of the truth will give evidence of this by making earnest, self-sacrificing efforts to give the message of God s love to others. Thus they become laborers together with Christ. Love for God and for one another unites them to Christ by golden links. Their life is bound up with His life in sanctified, elevated union.... This union causes rich currents of Christ s love to flow continually into the heart, and then flow forth again in love for others. The qualities that it is essential for all to possess in order to know God are those that mark the completeness of Christ s character His love, His patience, His unselfishness. These attributes are cultivated by doing kind actions with a kindly heart. 6 8 9
January 4 January 5 SUPERFICIAL KNOWLEDGE NOT ENOUGH To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col. 1:27. There are many mysteries in the Word of God that we do not comprehend, and many of us are content to stop our investigation when we have just begun to receive a little knowledge concerning Christ. When there begins to be a little unfolding of the divine purposes to the mind, and we begin to obtain a slight knowledge of the character of God, we become satisfied and think that we have received about all the light that there is for us in the Word of God. But the truth of God is infinite. With painstaking effort we should work in the mines of truth, discovering the precious jewels that have been hidden.... Jesus meant just what He said when He directed His disciples to search the Scriptures (John 5:39). Searching means to compare scripture with scripture, and spiritual things with spiritual. We should not be satisfied with a superficial knowledge. 7 We do not half realize what the Lord is willing to do for His people.... Our petitions, mingled with faith and contrition, should go up to God for an understanding of the mysteries that God would make known to His saints.... An angel s pen could not portray all the glory of the revealed plan of redemption. The Bible tells how Christ bore our sins and carried our sorrows. Here is revealed how mercy and truth have met together at the cross of Calvary, how righteousness and peace have kissed each other, how the righteousness of Christ may be imparted to fallen man. There infinite wisdom, infinite justice, infinite mercy, and infinite love were displayed. Depths, heights, lengths, and breadths of love and wisdom, all passing knowledge, are made known in the plan of salvation. 8 He who desires the truth in his heart, who longs for the working of its power upon the life and character, will be sure to have it. Says the Saviour, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matt. 5:6). 9 CHRIST THE ETERNAL WORD In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father one in nature, in character, in purpose the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting.... When he appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by him, as one brought up with him (Isa. 9:6; Micah 5:2; Prov. 8:22-30). The Father wrought by His Son in the creation of all heavenly beings. By him were all things created,... whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him (Col. 1:16). Angels are God s ministers, radiant with the light ever flowing from His presence, and speeding on rapid wing to execute His will. But the Son, the anointed of God, the express image of his person, the brightness of his glory, upholding all things by the word of his power, holds supremacy over them all (Heb. 1:3). 10 Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense.... The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by Him as His right.... There are light and glory in the truth that Christ was one with the Father before the foundation of the world was laid. This is the light shining in a dark place, making it resplendent with divine, original glory. 11 10 11
January 6 January 7 THE GREAT I AM Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58. I AM means an eternal presence; the past, present, and future are alike with God. He sees the most remote events of past history and the far distant future with as clear a vision as we do those things which are transpiring daily. We know not what is before us, and if we did, it would not contribute to our eternal welfare. God gives us an opportunity to exercise faith and trust in the great I AM.... Our Saviour says, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad (John 8:56). Fifteen hundred years before Christ laid off His royal robe, His kingly crown, and left His position of honor in the heavenly courts, assumed humanity, and walked a man among the children of men, Abraham saw His day, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am (verses 57, 58).... Christ was using the great name of God that was given to Moses to express the idea of the eternal presence. [See Ex. 3:14.] Isaiah also saw Christ, and his prophetic words are full of significance. He says, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). Speaking through him, the Lord says, I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.... Fear not: for I am with thee.... I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.... Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he.... I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King (Isa. 43:3-15).... When Jesus came to our world, He proclaimed Himself, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).... The Lord must be believed and served as the great I AM, and we must trust implicitly in Him. 12 COWORKERS IN CREATION And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Gen. 1:26, 27. After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the Father and Son carried out their purpose, which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in their own image. They had wrought together in the creation of the earth and every living thing upon it. And now God said to His Son, Let us make man in our image. 13 Adam and Eve came forth from the hand of their Creator in the perfection of every physical, mental, and spiritual endowment. God planted for them a garden and surrounded them with everything lovely and attractive to the eye, and that which their physical necessities required.... The holy pair looked upon nature as a picture of unsurpassed loveliness. The brown earth was clothed with a carpet of living green, diversified with an endless variety of self-propagating, self-perpetuating flowers. Shrubs, flowers, and trailing vines regaled the senses with their beauty and fragrance. The many varieties of lofty trees were laden with fruit of every kind and of delicious flavor.... Adam and Eve could trace the skill and glory of God in every spire of grass and in every shrub and flower. The natural loveliness which surrounded them, like a mirror reflected the wisdom, excellence, and love of their heavenly Father. And their songs of affection and praise rose sweetly and reverentially to heaven, harmonizing with the songs of the exalted angels, and with the happy birds who were caroling forth their music without a care. There was no disease, decay, nor death anywhere. Life, life was in everything the eye rested upon. The atmosphere was impregnated with life.... Adam could reflect that he was created in the image of God, to be like Him in righteousness and holiness. His mind was capable of continual cultivation, expansion, refinement and noble elevation, for God was his teacher, and angels were his companions. 14 12 13