Saturday, August 12, 2023

Whenever pride and self-complacency are indulged, the work is marred.... The smallest duty done in sincerity and self-forgetfulness is more pleasing to God than the greatest work when marred with self-seeking....

 

If men could see for a moment beyond the range of finite vision, if they could catch a glimpse of the Eternal, every mouth would be stopped in its boasting.—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 66. 

It is a wicked pride that delights in the vanity of one’s own works, that boasts of one’s excellent qualities, seeking to make others seem inferior in order to exalt self, claiming more glory than the cold heart is willing to give to God. The disciples of Christ will heed the Master’s instruction. He has bidden us love one another even as He has loved us.—Testimonies for the Church 4:223. 

Love rejoices in the truth, and institutes no envious comparisons. He who possesses love compares only the loveliness of Christ and his own imperfect character.... There is no religion in the enthronement of self. He who makes self-glorification his aim will find himself destitute of that grace which alone can make him efficient in Christ’s service. Whenever pride and self-complacency are indulged, the work is marred.... The smallest duty done in sincerity and self-forgetfulness is more pleasing to God than the greatest work when marred with self-seeking.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 402. 

Every man who praises himself, brushes the luster from his best efforts.—Testimonies for the Church 4:607. 

All boasting of merit in ourselves is out of place.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 401. RRe 226

 

At last the order to advance is given, and the countless host moves on—an army such as was never summoned by earthly conquerors, such as the combined forces of all ages since war began on earth could never equal. Satan, the mightiest of warriors, leads the van, and his angels unite their forces for this final struggle. Kings and warriors are in his train, and the multitudes follow in vast companies, each under its appointed leader. With military precision the serried ranks advance over the earth's broken and uneven surface to the City of God. By command of Jesus, the gates of the New Jerusalem are closed, and the armies of Satan surround the city and make ready for the onset.—The Great Controversy, 664. Hvn 124

 

 

But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. James 4:16. KJV