With God at Dawn: The Burden of Sin Is Too Heavy, August 6

Conviction of Sin

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. Psalm 38:4.

When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, and cannot hope to receive blessing from God, tell him that Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; but the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition, that makes His redeeming power a necessity. Renouncing all self-dependence, we may look to the cross of Calvary and say,—

“In my hand no price I bring;

Simply to Thy cross I cling.” ...

Satan cannot hold the dead in his grasp when the Son of God bids them live. He cannot hold in spiritual death one soul who in faith receives Christ’s Word of power. God is saying to all who are dead in sin, “Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead.” That Word is eternal life.... If we receive the Word, we have the deliverance.—The Desire of Ages, 317-320.

Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness. He presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinner’s place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me. Does Satan plead loudly against our souls, accusing of sin, and claiming us as his prey, the blood of Christ pleads with greater power.—Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 8.