Have you a sense of want in your soul? Do you hunger

and

thirst after righteousness? Then this is an evidence that Christ has wrought upon your heart,

and

created this sense of need, in order that He may be sought after to do those things for you through the endowment of His Holy Spirit which it is impossible for you to do for yourself.

The Lord specifies no conditions except that you hunger for His mercy, desiring His counsel,

and

long for His love.

“Ask!” The asking makes it manifest that you realize your necessity,

and

if you ask in faith, you will receive. The Lord has pledged His word,

and

it cannot fail. That you feel

and

know that you are a sinner is sufficient argument in asking for His mercy

and

compassion. The condition upon which you may come to God is not that you shall be holy, but that you shall ask God to cleanse you from all sin

and

purify you from all iniquity. Then why wait longer? Why not take God at His word,

and

say:

“Here, Lord, I give myself to Thee,

‘Tis all that I can do”?

If Satan comes to cast his shadow between you

and

God, accusing you of sin, tempting you to distrust God

and

doubt His mercy, say: I cannot allow my weakness to come between me

and

God; for He is my strength. My sins, which are many, are laid upon Jesus, my divine Substitute

and

Sacrifice.

“Nothing in my hand I bring.

Simply to thy cross I cling.”

No man can look within himself

and

find anything in his character that will recommend him to God, or make his acceptance sure. It is only through Jesus, whom the Father gave for the life of the world, that the sinner may find access to God. Jesus alone is our Redeemer, our Advocate

and

Mediator; in Him is our only hope for pardon, peace,

and

righteousness. It is by virtue of the blood of Christ that the sin-stricken soul can be restored to soundness. Christ is the fragrance, the holy incense which makes your petition acceptable to the Father. Then can you not say:

“Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And

that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come.”

Coming to Christ does not require severe mental effort

and

agony; it is simply accepting the terms of salvation that God has made plain in His Word.

The blessing is free to all.

The invitation is, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,

and

he that hath no money; come ye, buy,

and

eat; yea, come, buy wine

and

milk without money

and

without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?

and

your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me,

and

eat ye that which is good,

and

let your soul delight itself in fatness” (

Isaiah 55:1, 2

[Ellen White, "Come and Seek and Find,"

1 Selected Messages

, 332-333. First appeared as an article in the

Signs of the Times,

December 19, 1982.]

moves and removes