p. 51 | THE MIND OF CHRIST by M. E. Steward

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 9, 1869

THE MIND OF CHRIST.

By M. E. Steward

WHILE reading Spiritual Gifts, Vol. i, a short time ago, I was forcibly impressed with Sr. White's description of Jesus under trial. What so remarkably sustained him? The apostle says, Heb. xii, 2, “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.” As has been shown, the joy set before him was the salvation of man. Jesus knew, while in the judgment hall and on Mt. Calvary, what salvation would be to man; he could comprehend its priceless value, and was so impressed with the vast importance of the work that his soul was lifted above all the shame and suffering he was compelled to endure in order to accomplish his part of the plan. It was not because he had an unfeeling heart that he seemed so indifferent to abuse, or that his body was so organized as to be insensible to pain. Oh, no! but he was doing too glorious, too mighty, a work to notice the insults offered him, though the most trying to the natural man, and though he spoke not one murmuring word, he could not help groaning in physical agony.

Oh, what a spirit! Raised above everything with a deep, earnest love, in calm dignity he suffers. His persecutors can crucify the body but they can never bring that noble spirit down from its exalted position. Was ever love like this? No pretense of good will could have kept him on the cross those six terrible hours of keenest agony (for no one can deny that he could have come down any moment). No, no; self found not the least place in his feelings. What excellence! What moral courage and firmness! Bleeding Jesus! Blessed Saviour! My heart melts at the limited view I am only capable of taking of such perfection.

And this, brethren and sisters, is our pattern. Oh! if we had all the time a little more of the same spirit that sustained our Saviour, how insignificant would the little trials of life be to us, and how much more capable should we be of glorifying God and blessing the world and comforting Jesus while he pleads for us day after day. Evil angels could not so often throw our inconsistencies into the faces of the holy beings who are constantly waiting and watching to do us good. I will try, by the help of God, to follow the exhortation of 1 Pet. iv, 1: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind.” Those whom Jesus finds ready when he comes, will have so long borne this very mind that it will have left its peculiar impress of solemnity and decision on their features. See Testimonies.

Dear brethren and sisters, heirs of immortality, it is time for us to fully awake and watch every moment to work out our salvation, in the strength of God, with fear and trembling. Our minute duties each beats up a thread in the web of life. Unless exceedingly cautious these little threads will not be fair and strong and even. A beautiful stripe, large faithfully performed duties, will not redeem the imperfection of the web and make it acceptable in that day when every man's work shall be tried. God helping me I will earnestly try to be faithful. I realize that word embraces much. Do pray for me.

M. E. STEWARD.

Rockton, Ill., Jan. 20, 1869.