Restoring the Image of God - Seventh Day Adventist Reform

386 Pages·2008·1.05 MB·English

Restoring the Image of God

Compiled from the writings of
Ellen G. White
“The Lord gave His only begotten Son in order that
the most sinful, the most degraded, need not perish,
but, by believing on Jesus Christ, may be reclaimed,
regenerated, and restored to the image of God, and
thus have eternal life.”
—The Signs of the Times, November 20, 1893.
REFORMATION HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
ROANOKE, VA 24019
Restoring the Image of God
Copyright © 2008 by Reformation Herald Publishing Association
Unless indicated otherwise, the texts of Scripture quoted in this book are
from the King James Version.
Reformation Herald Cataloging Service
White, Ellen Gould Harmon, 1827–1915.
Restoring the Image of God
1. Daily Devotionals—Adventists. 2. Christian Prayers and Meditations
for Daily Use. 3. Devotional Literature—Christian I. Reformation
Herald Publishing. II. title.
242.3
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
ISBN 1-934308-03-X
ISBN 13: 978-1-934308-03-5
FOREWORD
These days, nearly everywhere one can see blatant evidence of the
painful, fallen condition of the human race. Yet, thousands of years
ago, when the Creator formed the first man and woman, all that He
made “was very good” (Genesis 1:31).
Isn’t it time to see the beautiful image of God restored? This
requires an entire process involving the body, mind, and spirit. It is
certainly a worthwhile goal and will contribute greatly to our happi-
ness.
“What can impart true nobility to the fallen men and women like
the restoration to the image of God? The religion of Christ elevates the
receiver, refines his taste, sanctifies his judgment, strengthens his
intellect, and prepares him for the society of the pure and holy angels.
Is it position and honor that you desire? To be acknowledged mem-
bers of the Lord’s family is the highest honor that can be bestowed
upon man. Is it gold that you are seeking? You will find it in the city
of God. Its streets are paved with gold. It is not the worldly wealthy
who bear the heavenly credentials. Not many great men, not many
mighty, are chosen. But God has chosen the poor of this world, rich in
faith, and heirs of the kingdom.
“The followers of Christ have a cross to lift in separating them-
selves from the world. Their names do not stand among the great
ones of earth, but they are written in the Lamb’s book of life. They
confessed Christ and stood in defense of the truth through conflict,
through trial, through evil as well as through good report; ‘and they
shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my
jewels’ (Malachi 3:17). Truly, we have every reason to love and serve
God; for the love that He has manifested for us is without a parallel.”
—The Review and Herald, October 27, 1885.
In view of such great love, this devotional book, Restoring the
Image of God, has been carefully compiled from the Holy Bible and the
writings of Ellen G. White. Since most of the readings are extracted
from sources not frequently read by most people, this book provides
a fresh perspective on a very timely topic. That these inspired read-
ings may bring a rich blessing to your spiritual life is the earnest
prayer of
The Publishers
If God withheld not
His only begotten Son,
but gave Him up to death,
that we might be restored to
the image of the Creator,
how much more will He, with Him,
freely give us all things?
—The Review and Herald, March 22, 1898.
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Monthly Topics
JANUARY
Our Creator and Saviour
FEBRUARY
Worship in Spirit and Truth
MARCH
Seeking a Clean, New Heart
APRIL
God’s Liberating Law
MAY
Marriage: Designed for Our Good
JUNE
The Family Circle
JULY
The Delightful Day of Rest
AUGUST
Matters of Mind and Money
SEPTEMBER
Our Live Machinery
OCTOBER
Walking in the Light
NOVEMBER
Humble Vessels Emptied of Self
DECEMBER
Spread the Word!
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The heavenly host are
filled with an intense desire to work
through human agencies to restore in man
the image of God.
They are ready and waiting to do this work.
The combined power of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost is
pledged to uplift man
from his fallen state.
—The Workers’ Bulletin, September 9, 1902.
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Our Creator and Saviour January 1
Christ and Creation
“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).
All things were created by the Son of God.1
When this earth was created by Christ, it was holy and beautiful.
God pronounced it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Every flower, every
shrub every tree, answered the purpose of its Creator.2
The Lord Jesus was the maker of the things in heaven and earth,
and the expositor of His own truth, and He called upon nature to
reflect the light of the glory of God. The birds of the heaven, the flow-
ers of the field, the trees of the forest, the fruitful fields, the barren
land, the grain ripe for the sickle, the fruitless tree, the goings forth of
the morning, the setting of the sun, the sowing of the seed, the gath-
ering in of the harvest—all were employed as emblems of divine
truth. He connected the visible works of the Creator with the words
of life, and led the mind up from nature to nature's God. Every hum-
ble shrub and delicate flower bears testimony to the heart of the love
of God. If the eye is not closed, if the ear is not heavy, if the heart is
open to receive the impressions of the divine Spirit, nature will speak
of the harmony of the natural with the spiritual. Through illustrations
drawn from the natural world, Christ has taught lessons of vast
importance to the soul; and in thinking of His words while contem-
plating the object with which He associated His lessons, the divine
significance becomes clearer to the mind.3
Through Jesus Christ, God—not a perfume, not something intan-
gible, but a personal God—created man, and endowed him with
intelligence and power.4
The heart that has not become hardened through error, and has
not been perverted through false theories—the heart that honestly
desires to know what is truth, will joyfully accept the message which
Christ brings to the soul.5
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