God is displeased with the lack of self-denial in some of His servants. They have not the burden of the work upon them. They seem to be in a deathlike stupor. Angels of God stand amazed and ashamed of this lack of self-denial and perseverance. While the Author of our salvation was laboring and suffering for us, He denied Himself, and His whole life was one continued scene of toil and privation. He could have passed His days on earth in ease and plenty, and appropriated to Himself the pleasures of this life; but He considered not His own convenience. He lived to do others good. He suffered to save others from suffering. He endured to the end and finished the work which was given Him to do. All this was to save us from ruin. And now, can it be that we, the unworthy objects of so great love, will seek a better position in this life than was given to our Lord? Every moment of our lives we have been partakers of the blessings of His great love, and for this very reason we cannot fully realize the depths of ignorance and misery from which we have been saved. Can we look upon Him whom our sins have pierced and not be willing to drink with Him the bitter cup of humiliation and sorrow? Can we look upon Christ crucified and wish to enter His kingdom in any other way than through much tribulation? {1T 370.1}

Gud er mishaget ved manglende selvfornægtelse hos nogle af hans tjenere. De har ikke arbejdets byrde på sig. De er som i en død bedøvelsestilstand. Guds engle står forbløffede og skamfulde over den mangel på selvfornægtelse og udholdenhed. Selv om vor frelses Ophav arbejdede og led for os, fornægtede han sig selv og hele hans liv var et langt slid og afsavn på fornødenheder. Han kunne have overstået sine dage på jorden i bekvemmelighed og overflod og givet sig selv hen med dette livs fornøjelser; men han tog ikke hensyn til sin egen bekvemmelighed. Han levede for at gøre andre godt. Han led for at redde andre fra lidelse. Han holdt ud til enden og fuldførte det arbejde han havde fået. Alt dette var for at frelse os fra ødelæggelse. Og kan vi så, værdiløse genstande for så stor kærlighed, søge en bedre position i dette liv, end det var givet af vor Herre? Hvert øjeblik i vort liv har vi taget del i hans store kærligheds velsignelser og af netop den grund kan vi ikke helt indse dybderne i at vi er frelst fra uvidenhed og elendighed. Kan vi se på ham hvem vore synder har boret sig ind i og vil så ikke drikke ydmygelsens og sorgens bitre bæger sammen med ham? Kan vi se på den korsfæstede Kristus og ønske at komme ind i hans rige på nogen andre måder end ved megen trængsel?