Page 8 - What Shall I Do - eBook

and he was not overcoming!!! He still had a 17-year-old boy at home, born twelve
years after the other children, who was aggravating him more than all the other
ten children put together. Now, weighed down by the realization of his problem, he
cried out, “Margaret, help me!”
“Everywhere there are hearts crying out for something which they have not.
They long for a power that will give them mastery over sin, a power that will
deliver them from the bondage of evil, a power that will give health and life and

peace.” MH 143
As I looked into my Father’s pleading eyes, it suddenly dawned on me that I
had nothing to offer a sinner. I could have said, “Try a little harder, Dad!” But he
had been trying all his life, and in that moment I knew it was not the right answer.
So I said nothing.
I went home, determined to do something to help my father. I started to search

diligently to discover what it really meant to be a Christian. At first this was
boring, but I kept on and gradually the Bible became living water and living bread
to my soul.
“As they feed upon His word, they find that it is spirit and life. The word
destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus.”
DA 391
As I studied, I found answers, and for the first time I realized I had only a form

of godliness, but not the power of the gospel. I could seemingly keep the outward
law but I had not known how to yield my spirit to be controlled by God’s Spirit so
that I could have the obedience of faith.
“Many who call themselves Christians are mere human moralists. The
work of the Holy Spirit is to them a strange work.” COL 315
Because I was naturally inclined to be cooperative, and because I was taught

by my parents to obey them and also God, I came unwittingly to trust in my
obedience. I thought I was a successful Christian.
“The people are more ignorant in regard to the plan of salvation and need more
instruction upon this all-important subject than upon any other.” 4T 394
“I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to
knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about

to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the
righteousness of God.” Rom. 10:2, 3
“Genuine faith appropriates the righteousness of Christ, and the sinner is made
an overcomer with Christ; for he is made a partaker of the divine nature, and thus
divinity and humanity are combined.

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