Divine Health, Joy, and the Living Word

Raw eggs should be used as a beneficial remedial agency, especially when the physical strength is failing or when one is suffering from a poverty-stricken diet12MR 168.2+1. While we should always exercise caution and use eggs from healthy, well-cared-for fowls, they contain essential properties that serve as remedial agencies to counteract certain poisonsCD 204.2+2.

Specific Health Applications

• For Physical Weakness: If you find yourself becoming physically weak, it is your duty to make immediate changes to your diet by including eggs12MR 168.2+1.

• A Strengthening Potion: A highly recommended way to prepare them is to drop a raw egg into a glass of the best unfermented wine or grape juice12MR 168.2+2.

• Restoring the Sick: In cases where a person is extremely frail or even near death, taking a raw egg two or three times a day can provide the life-saving nourishment needed for a rapid recovery21MR 103.5+2.

• Combating Illness: During times of severe illness or exhaustion, a raw egg broken into a cup of strong coffee or mixed with citrus juice can serve as a temporary medicine to revive strength2SM 302.7+2.

Wise Caution and Balance

• Avoid Extremes: We must not go to extremes in health reform by discarding eggs before the Lord prepares the way, as this can lead to impoverished blood and physical debility12MR 168.2+2.

• Parental Judgment: While eggs are beneficial for many, they should not be used in the diet of small children who have an excitable temperament or are struggling with animal passions3SM 286.1+2.

• Quality Matters: It is essential to obtain eggs from healthy fowls that are properly fed and provided with sunlight, air, and room to exerciseCD 365.1+1.

• A Gift from God: We should view these provisions as good gifts, much like a father who would not give his son a scorpion if he asked for an egg Luke 11:11-13COL 141.3+1.

The Progressive Nature of Reform

As wickedness increases and disease in the animal creation becomes more prevalent, the time will eventually come when it is no longer safe to use eggs21MR 286.2+2. However, until the Lord clearly reveals that this time has arrived and provides suitable alternatives, we are not to bring ourselves into a "time of trouble" prematurely by restrictive diets that the system cannot sustainCCh 237.6+2. We are instructed to meet people where they are and provide nourishing food that builds up the body for the highest service to GodHFM 34.6+1.

Yes, the character of God is the very foundation of joy, and He is represented as being filled with gladness to see the happiness of His people7LtMs, Ms 1, 1891, par. 23. God is not a heartless or vindictive tyrant, but a tender, loving, and pitying Father whose very nature is expressed through goodness, mercy, and love9MR 377.3+3.

The Joyful Nature of God

• A Source of Happiness: God loves to make His children happy and has pledged to satisfy the longings of the heart with true happiness18MR 31.2+1.

• Rejoicing over His People: He is described as a bridegroom who rejoices over His bride, resting in His love and joying over His people with singing Isaiah 62:5+1.

• The Joy of Creation: At the creation of the world, the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy, reflecting the gladness of the Creator18MR 31.2+2.

• Vindication of Love: When the great controversy ends, the extermination of sin will forever vindicate God’s love and honor before a universe of beings who delight to do His willDA 764.3.

Representing God's Character

• Reflecting His Brightness: God's people are not to appear as a procession of mourners, but are to represent the brightness of Christ and reveal His love and peace12LtMs, Ms 75a, 1897, par. 8.

• The Fruit of the Spirit: True religion is a living principle that produces love, joy, and peace, which are the very attributes of the character of Christ1888 1756.2+1.

• Fullness of Joy: To know God is to trust Him fully, and this knowledge brings a joy that is rich, deep, and abiding9LtMs, Ms 43, 1894, par. 19+1.

• A Living Witness: Our work is to catch the rays of light from His word and reflect them to a world that misapprehends His character, showing that in His presence is fullness of joy Psalms 16:11RH March 5, 1889, par. 13+1.

...all prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” [Verses 7-11.] Thus God represents that the very nature that He has created is filled with gladness and joy to see the happiness of His people— 7LtMs, Ms 1, 1891, par. 23

The principles of the character of God were the foundation of the education constantly kept before the heavenly angels. These principles were goodness, mercy, and love.—Manuscript 57, 1896, p. 3. (“The Great Controversy”, December 30, 1896— 9MR 377.3 (1990)

The character of God as represented by His Son, as the Lord of heaven and earth and yet our Father, is not only full of justice and truth, but of mercy and lovingkin...— 11LtMs, Lt 37, 1896, par. 4

...h represent the brightness of Christ, not as mourners covering the altar of God with their weeping. God has divine joy and praise and thanksgiving to proceed from the lips of those who have a living connection with Christ. They are not to betray Christ by their appearanc...— 12LtMs, Ms 75a, 1897, par. 8

... Then hang your helpless souls on Jesus Christ. Abide in the vine, and bear fruit to His glory, and His joy shall be in you, and your joy shall be full. May the blessing of God rest upon these hearers. May the Holy Spirit of God impress the heart, and...— 9LtMs, Ms 43, 1894, par. 31

Yes, our Heavenly Father is explicitly described as a God of peace4Red 61.2. His character is a code of principles expressing mercy, goodness, and love, and His voice speaks to the soul in promises of peace and life1BC 1104.9. By beholding the matchless love and character of God, we are transformed into His likeness and take upon us His nature1MCP 337.3+1.

The Nature of God's Peace

• A Divine Attribute: Peace is not merely a feeling but a divine emanation from God that rules in the heart when the will is harmonized with HisFW 87.4+1.

• Foundation of Character: The principles of God's character, which include goodness and love, form the very foundation of the education given to heavenly angels9MR 377.3.

• Abiding Presence: Those who trust in God find a constant and abiding peace that does not depend on earthly circumstances or friendsFW 87.4+1.

• Restoration through Christ: Christ came to reveal the character of God, showing that mercy and truth have met together and righteousness and peace have embraced each other2MR 232.1+1.

Living in the Peace of God

• The Reward of Obedience: True happiness and peace come as a result of right acting and a heart that is in perfect harmony with God21MR 164.2.

• A Gift to the Soul: When the soul is securely anchored in Christ and partakes of the divine nature, it receives a peace that the world cannot take awaySpTB04 22.2.

• A Call to Peacemaking: Those who are partakers of the divine nature will love peace and seek to allay wrath, for peacemakers are called the children of God4Red 61.2.

• Life Insurance Policy: Living according to the instructions in 2 Peter 1 allows grace and peace to be multiplied unto us through the knowledge of GodYI December 7, 1893, par. 7+1.

The Victory of Peace

• Deliverance from Turmoil: While sin destroys peace, the grace of God reconciles the soul to Him and quiets the storm of human passionsRH October 15, 1908, par. 5.

• A Future of Rest: In the kingdom of our Father, peace, rest, and joy constitute the very atmosphere that pervades the entire realm11LtMs, Ms 52, 1896, par. 75.

• Vindication of Love: At the end of the great controversy, the character of God will be revealed to all, and His law of love and peace will be seen as perfect and immutableDA 764.3.

“Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God.” Our Heavenly Father is a God of peace. When he created man he placed him in an abode of peace and security. All was unity and happiness i...— 4Red 61.2 (1877)

...hose who possess it bear the marks of fanaticism and extravagance. It is not a rambling impulse but an emanation from God. If happiness is drawn from outside sources and not from the Divine Fount, it will be as changeable...— FW 87.4 (1979)

...eace and rest in Jesus Christ—peace, the peace of Christ, not the peace the world gives, that peace which is the happiness which comes as the result of obedience to God, and righteousness or right acting in this life. The heart is in harmony with God, they have the lo...— 21MR 164.2 (1993)

...e law and make it honorable. Make it distinct that mercy and truth have met together in Christ, and righteousness and peace have embraced each other. It is when you are looking to His throne, offering up your penitence and praise and thanksgiving t...— 2MR 232.1 (1987)

.... Love without misinterpretation, without affection, is there, pervading the entire kingdom of God. Peace, rest, and joy are its atmosphere. We shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our...— 11LtMs, Ms 52, 1896, par. 75

May you find deep rest as you contemplate the beautiful character of our God of peace Isaiah 9:6+2.

Yes, the bread used at the Lord's Supper represents the broken body of the Son of God and serves as a symbol of the spiritual life and strength we receive from Him6BC 1090.6+1. This sacred emblem points to the infinite sacrifice made for each individual and reminds us that our very existence, both physical and spiritual, depends upon the life of ChristDA 656.5+1.

The Bread as a Symbol of Strength and Life

• A Representation of Christ's Body: The unleavened bread is the only correct representation of the Lord's Supper, symbolizing the unblemished body of Christ given for the salvation of the world6BC 1090.6+1.

• Source of Spiritual Sustenance: Just as we partake of temporal food to give us physical strength, we must day by day feed upon Christ, the Bread of Life, to receive spiritual sustenance1888 1536.2+1.

• Tangible Connection to Daily Life: The cross of Calvary is stamped on every loaf of bread we eat, and the light from the Communion service makes the provisions for our daily life sacred, turning every meal into a sacramentHLv 442.4+1.

• The Bread of God: Jesus declared that the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world, providing satisfaction, comfort, and sobriety to every believer John 6:33FE 455.3.

Spiritual Realities in the Ordinance

• Communion with the Divine: As believers celebrate the ordinance in spirit and truth, they are eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, which the Holy Spirit applies to the understandingST July 15, 1897, par. 5+1.

• The Presence of Christ: At these appointments, Christ meets His people and energizes them by His presence, even if the one officiating is unworthyHLv 442.4+1.

• A Constant Reminder: Partaking of the bread is a means by which Christ’s great work for us is kept fresh in our minds, helping us realize our continual dependence upon Him for salvationCCh 298.2+1.

• Preparation for the Kingdom: The bread represents the new covenant, by which all who receive Christ become children of God and joint heirs with Him, promised every blessing for this life and the life to come Matthew 26:26-29DA 656.5.

Requirements for Participation

• Humility of Heart: Before partaking of the bread, the heart must be cleansed of pride, jealousy, and alienation through the ordinance of feet washing, which is Christ's appointed preparation for the supper18LtMs, Ms 106, 1903, par. 23+1.

• Unleavened and Pure: Nothing corrupted by fermentation, which is a symbol of sin and death, can represent the "Lamb without blemish and without spot," therefore only unleavened bread is used 1 Peter 1:19DA 653.2.

• Self-Examination: Each person is to examine themselves before eating the bread, coming with a contrite and humble spirit to find peace and refreshing from the Lord's presence 1 Corinthians 11:28HLv 441.2+1.

• A Public Witness: By partaking of the bread publicly, the believer bears witness that they accept Christ as their personal Saviour who rescued them from deathRH June 22, 1897, par. 5+1.

Yes, this concept is in perfect harmony with the instruction that the wine is a symbol of Christ's blood, shed for the cleansing of sin and representing the very life poured out for us on Calvary3SG 227.2+1. The sacramental service is designed to be a living connection where the soul assimilates the spiritual life of Christ through the ongoing work of the Holy SpiritDA 660.4+1.

The Wine as the Poured-Out Life of God

• A Symbol of Atonement: The pure juice of the grape represents the spilled blood of the Son of God, which was the infinite price paid to ransom humanity from the power of Satan and hopeless misery2MR 346.3+1.

• The New Covenant: Christ declared at the last supper that this cup is the new covenant, sealed with His own blood, which possesses a soul-cleansing and peace-making efficacy for all who drink in faith Matthew 26:2814LtMs, Lt 108, 1899, par. 26.

• More than a Memorial: While the ordinance commemorates the death of Christ, it is also a means by which the believer is bound up with Christ and the Father, receiving spiritual strength from every CommunionPaM 169.1+1.

• Infinite Sacrifice: The administration of the sacrament makes a forcible illustration of the infinite sacrifice made for us individually, showing that every moment of our existence was purchased with the precious blood of the Son of GodHLv 442.4+1.

The Ongoing Work of the Spirit

• Infusing Divine Life: It is by receiving the life poured out on the cross that we can live a life of holiness; this life is received as we receive His word and yield to the Spirit John 6:54-57DA 660.4.

• The Holy Spirit’s Agency: The Holy Spirit takes the truth concerning Jesus and applies it to the understanding, preparing the mind to grasp the grand truths conveyed in the symbols of the bread and wineHM June 1, 1897, Art. A, par. 13+1.

• A Living Presence: At the communion table, Christ meets His people and energizes them by His presence, changing the current of thoughts from selfish channels to those of divine loveHLv 437.6+1.

• Cleansing Power: The salvation of men depends upon a continual application to their hearts of the cleansing blood of Christ, a reality kept vivid by the frequent celebration of this ordinance 1 John 1:76BC 1090.9.

The Results of Partaking in Faith

• Spiritual Refreshment: Those who come to the service with hearts open to the influences of the Spirit will find the sunshine of Christ’s righteousness filling the soul templeRH July 5, 1898, par. 7+1.

• Union with the Divine: By faith, the believer contemplates the sacrifice of the Lord, and the soul assimilates His spiritual nature, becoming one with Him 2 Peter 1:4DA 660.4.

• A Hopeful Anticipation: This service not only looks back to the cross but points forward to the second coming of Christ, keeping the hope of His return vivid in the minds of His disciples 1 Corinthians 11:26DA 659.1.

• Transformation of Character: As the soul is uplifted through this preparatory and sacramental service, it is brought into a state of humility and love, reflecting the image of the One who served His brethren18LtMs, Ms 106, 1903, par. 23+1.

The statement beautifully captures the profound spiritual reality that the unfermented wine represents the life-giving blood of Christ, which establishes a living connection between dependent human beings and GodCCh 301.3+1. While the term "transfusion" is a modern metaphor, it aligns with the truth that as faith contemplates our Lord’s great sacrifice, the soul assimilates His spiritual life and is bound up in a mystical union with HimCCh 301.3+1.

The Wine as a Divine Connection

• Restoring the Connection: The Communion service forms a living connection by which the believer is bound up with Christ and, through Him, with the FatherCCh 301.3+1.

• Symbol of Life Poured Out: The wine is a symbol of Christ's blood, shed for the cleansing of sins and the redemption of fallen man1SP 203.1+1.

• Oneness with the Creator: By receiving the life poured out on Calvary, we become one with Him; as Christ lived by the Father, so those who partake of Him shall live by HimDA 660.4+1.

• Guarantee of Eternal Life: Christ explicitly declared, "Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life," a promise that applies in a special sense to the holy Communion John 6:54DA 660.4.

The Importance of the Emblem

• Unfermented Juice Only: Only the pure juice of the grape—the "new wine in the cluster"—should be used, as nothing corrupted by fermentation can represent the unblemished blood of the Lamb Isaiah 65:8DA 652.3+1.

• Soul-Refreshing Efficacy: In this cup, there is to those who drink in faith a peace-making and soul-cleansing efficacy, acting as the "balm of Gilead" to restore health to the sin-stricken soul5BC 1102.6.

• Frequent Celebration: Because our salvation depends on the continual application of this cleansing blood to the heart, the Lord's Supper was intended to be celebrated frequently to keep this dependence fresh in our memory6BC 1090.9+1.

Spiritual Nutrition vs. Literal Consumption

• Eating the Words of Christ: While the ordinance is a sacred privilege, we also "drink His blood" by receiving and obeying His word, which is spirit and life John 6:6310LtMs, Ms 72, 1895, par. 12+1.

• Strength for the Soul: Every Communion is intended to impart spiritual strength to the soul that comes with a humble and clean heartCCh 301.3+1.

• Sacredness of Daily Life: The light from this service even makes our daily provisions sacred, reminding us that every meal is nourished by the body and blood of ChristHLv 442.4.

...lates the spiritual life of Christ. That soul will receive spiritual strength from every Communion. The service forms a living connection by which the believer is bound up with Christ, and thus bound up with the Father. In a special sense it forms a connection between dependent human beings and God. The Communion serv...— CCh 301.3 (1991)

And how much more are Christ's words true of our spiritual nature. He declares, “Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life.” It is by receiving the life for us ...— DA 660.4 (1898)

... blood, which was shed for many for the remission of sins. This Christ declared at the last supper. In this cup there is to those who drink in faith, peace-making, soul-cleansing efficacy. It is the balm of Gilead, which God has provided to restore health and soundness to the sin-stricke...— 5BC 1102.6 (1956)

Here our Saviour instituted the Lord's supper, to be often celebrated, to keep fresh in the memory of his followers the solemn scenes of his betrayal and crucifixion for the sins of the world. He would have his fol...— 1SP 203.1 (1870)

...s full of the promise of eternal life. We know that Jesus and heavenly angels were in the assembly, binding up souls in the mystical union with Himself, their lives hid with Christ in God. Every one is dear to Him, and He has declared in John 17 that the Father loveth them as He loved ...— 6LtMs, Ms 51, 1890, par. 29 (1889)

The risk of Christ failing in His mission was a terrifying reality, for had He yielded to temptation in the slightest degree, the plan of redemption would have been frustrated and the human race would have been left in hopeless ruinCon 18.1+1. Christ took upon Himself the fallen nature of man, which meant He was subject to the same infirmities and weaknesses as those He came to save, and His success was not guaranteed by His divine nature aloneCon 18.1+2.

The Consequences of a Single Sin

• Failure of the Plan of Redemption: The entire plan for man's recovery depended on Christ remaining a lamb without blemish or spot; a single sin would have made the sacrifice insufficient to pay the penalty of a holy lawSSW November 1, 1895, par. 3+1.

• The Loss of the Human Race: If the Savior had failed to endure the test—which was a hundredfold greater than that brought upon Adam—the world would have remained under the dominion of Satan forever4LtMs, Ms 11, 1886, par. 3.

• A Reflection on God’s Character: Had Christ yielded, it would have cast a reflection upon God’s wisdom and supported Satan's claim that the law was arbitrary and impossible to obeyMessenger June 7, 1893, par. 5+1.

• Eternal Separation: Without a perfect substitute, the gulf made by sin could never have been bridged, and man would have remained eternally divorced from his Maker1888 74.2+1.

The Intensity of the Conflict

• Real Temptation: Jesus engaged in a mysterious and real conflict with the prince of this earth, and it was only through a life of constant dependence on His Father that He was able to preserve His purityRH February 1, 1898, par. 1+1.

• Satan's Determined Effort: The adversary worked with all his bewitching power to lead Christ to act from selfish motives or to deviate from the path of strict obedience to the Father's willRH February 1, 1898, par. 1+1.

• Mental and Physical Agony: The weight of the sins of the whole world was so great that it caused Christ mental agony that bodily suffering could in no wise be compared to, yet He chose to endure it to ensure man’s second trial1SP 45.2+1.

The Result of His Victory

• The Law Magnified: Because Christ did not sin, He demonstrated that the law of God is immutable and that human agents, through His grace, can return to their loyaltyPH086 8.1+1.

• Satan’s Final Defeat: The death of a sinless Savior ensured the final destruction of the one who had the power of death and the eventual eradication of sin from the universePP 65.1+1.

• A Perfect Pattern: By passing through every stage of human life without falling, Christ sanctified the path for the fallen human family, showing that there is no necessity for man to continue in sin14LtMs, Lt 150, 1899, par. 7.

• Eternal Security: The victory Christ won ensures a restored creation and a redeemed race that, having conquered sin through His strength, will never fall againDA 769.2.

It is a depth of love that finite minds can never fully fathom—that the Son of God would risk His own eternal existence and the glory of heaven to take man's place and suffer the penalty of justicePH148 5.3+1. He stood as our substitute and surety, knowing that if He proved disloyal, all would be lost; but He remained faithful unto death, exclaiming "It is finished," and thus making our salvation secure6BC 1070.4+1.

John 6:63

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

This statement reflects a profound understanding of the truth, as the Word of God is indeed the very presence of Christ and a vessel of the same creative energy that brought the world into existenceST April 11, 1906, par. 7+1. It aligns perfectly with the reality that the words of Christ are not merely informative but are spirit and life, possessing the power to transform the nature and recreate the soul in the divine image John 6:63ST April 11, 1906, par. 7.

The Nature of the Living Word

• Creative Energy: The same creative energy that called the worlds into existence is present in the Word of GodTEd 75.4. This Word does not merely describe power; it imparts power and begets life in the soul of the receiverTEd 75.4+1.

• A Living Presence: It is the living presence of Christ that makes the living Word17LtMs, Lt 42, 1902, par. 5. When we receive His words, we are essentially eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, which sustains our spiritual life just as food sustains our physical bodies13MR 191.1+1.

• The Nature of Christ's Words: Jesus was describing the essential nature of His communications when He stated that His words are spirit and life John 6:63. They are fresh and beautiful, acting as the "bread of life" that never grows old13MR 191.1+1.

The Role of the Sacred Text

• Divine and Human Union: While the Word is a living force, it is also expressed through the medium of a book—the BibleT33 275.1. The union of the divine and the human manifest in Christ exists also in the Bible; the truths are given by inspiration of God but expressed in the words of men5T 747.1.

• The Infallible Guide: The Bible is the only foundation upon which God's people can stand securely, especially in the final conflictCCh 39.5+1. It is a mistake to view it as "just a book among books," but it is nonetheless the "Book of books" and the only guide to the paradise of GodSWk 46.1+1.

• Protection Against Delusion: Taking a stand on the living Word—"It is written"—is the only safety against the miracles and deceptions of Satan in the last daysCCh 39.5+1.

Practical Application of the Word

• Implicit Faith Required: We are cautioned not to dissect the Word to decide what is inspired and what is not, as no finite man is authorized to pick and choose in God's Word1SAT 73.2+1.

• Transforming Power: When the Word is accepted by the will and received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite OneST April 11, 1906, par. 7. It is the great instrumentality in the transformation of character, working with a power sharper than any two-edged swordRH July 25, 1899, Art. A, par. 5.

• The Seed of Truth: Every command in the Scriptures is a promiseTEd 75.4. As a seed carries the potential of a tree, the Word of God, when sowed in the heart, brings forth fruit unto righteousness18MR 149.1+1.

A Divine Communication

The Bible is a divine communication, as verily a message to the soul as though a voice from heaven were heard speaking to usST September 18, 1893, par. 7. While it is a collection of writings and a document of divine origin, treating it as a "dead letter" is a catastrophic errorCSA 46.5+1. It is when the Holy Spirit unites with the human understanding that the living words of God make decided changes in the mind and heart12MR 257.2+1. Therefore, one should indeed "drink" from these pure, holy, heavenly streams to find the vitality and vigor necessary for a religious life4LtMs, Ms 4a, 1885, par. 24+1.