The Substance of Moral Character

Tue Aug 3 05:29:25 PDT 2004

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 Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for July 28
 Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
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The Substance of Moral Character

Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; 
but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by 
you. 2 Cor. 10:15. 

You should keep off from Satan's enchanted ground and not allow your minds to 
be swayed from allegiance to God. Through Christ you may and should be happy 
and should acquire habits of self-control. Even your thoughts must be brought 
into subjection to the will of God and your feelings under the control of 
reason and religion. Your imagination was not given you to be allowed to run 
riot and have its own way without any effort at restraint or discipline. If 
the thoughts are wrong the feelings will be wrong, and the thoughts and 
feelings combined make up the moral character. . . . If you yield to your 
impressions and allow your thoughts to run in a channel of suspicion, doubt, 
and repining you will be among the most unhappy of mortals. . . . 

Dear Sister F, you have a diseased imagination; and you dishonor God by 
allowing your feelings to have complete control of your reason and judgment. 
You have a determined will, which causes the mind to react upon the body, 
unbalancing the circulation and producing congestion in certain organs; and 
you are sacrificing health to your feelings. 

You are making a mistake, which, if not corrected, will not end with wrecking 
your own happiness merely. You are doing positive injury, not only to 
yourself, but to the other members of your family. . . . You have . . . let 
your highly wrought imagination control reason. . . . Had you no power over 
your feelings, this would not be sin; but it will not answer thus to yield to 
the enemy. Your will needs to be sanctified and subdued instead of being 
arrayed in opposition to that of God. . . . 

Man has been placed in a world of sorrow, care, and perplexity. He is placed 
here to be tested and proved, as were Adam and Eve, that he may develop a 
right character and bring harmony out of discord and confusion. There is much 
for us to do that is essential. . . . And there is much for us to enjoy. 
Through Christ we are brought into connection with God. His mercies place us 
under continual obligation; feeling unworthy of His favors, we are to 
appreciate even the least of them. 

>From Maranatha - Page 223