Christ's Adherence to Principle

In the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy
will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Ps. 40:7, 8

The life of Christ was distinguished from the generality of
children. His strength of moral character and His firmness ever led Him
to be true to His sense of duty and to adhere to the principles of
right, from which no motive, however powerful, could move Him. Money or
pleasure, applause or censure, could not purchase or flatter Him to
consent to a wrong action. He was strong to resist temptation, wise to
discover evil, and firm to abide faithful to His convictions.

The wicked and unprincipled would flatter and portray the pleasures
of sinful indulgences, but His strength of principle was strong to
resist the suggestions of Satan. His penetration had been cultivated,
that He could discern the voice of the tempter. He would not swerve from
duty to obtain the favor of any. He would not sell His principles for
human praise or to avoid reproach and the envy and hatred of those who
were enemies of righteousness and true goodness.

He took pleasure in discharging His obligations to His parents and
to society, without yielding His principles or being contaminated with
the impure influence surrounding Him at Nazareth.

Never did Christ deviate from loyalty to the principles of God's
law. Never did He do anything contrary to the will of His Father.

Jesus does not, after giving us general directions, leave us to
guess the way amid bypaths and dangerous passes. He leads us in a
straight path, and while we follow Him our footsteps will not slide.

Each soul must live in hourly communion with Christ; for he says,
"Without me ye can do nothing." His principles are to be our principles;
for these principles are the everlasting truth, proclaimed in
righteousness, goodness, mercy, and love.

His principles are the only steadfast things our world knows.

From "My Life Today" by Ellen G. White - Page 74