Try It Again

Some years ago, the Kellogg company featured a catchy advertising slogan for its breakfast cereals. In an effort to win back customers who had migrated to other brands, it encouraged them to “taste them again for the very first time.” Might this saying also work for Seventh-day Adventists who have spent much time learning about the Bible and Ellen G. White and less time “tasting” her writings? Attending seminars about Ellen G. White will give you an idea about her life and ministry, but unless you “taste” for yourself, you will not be truly able to evaluate and experience the spiritual blessing of her prophetic messages. Only those who read her, especially in context, can fully appreciate what God has given us.

As we have noted throughout this quarter, Ellen G. White anchors us to Bible truth and connects us to God. There are certain blessings of reading her prophetic messages.

A survey done by Roger Dudley and Des Cummings Jr. reveals some fascinating facts. Those who regularly read Ellen G. White’s writings have a deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus than those who don’t read her; they have a stronger assurance of salvation, more regular family worship, and a desire to witness to others. “Seldom does a research study find the evidence so heavily weighted toward one conclusion,” the two researchers wrote. “In the church growth survey, on every single item that deals with personal attitudes or practices, the member who regularly studies Ellen G. White’s books tends to rank higher than does the member who reads them only occasionally or never. . . . Certainly the implication is that the regular reading of Ellen White’s material does make a positive difference in Christian life and witness.”—Dudley and Cummings, “Who Reads Ellen White?” Ministry, October 1982, p. 12.

During this quarter, we have learned that God communicates through His prophets. Their messages connect us to God and bring a holy and sanctifying influence into all aspects of human life, especially relating to the promise of salvation found in Jesus: “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8). They call us to holy action, life transformation, personal evangelism, and a life of service to others. This is essential preparation to fulfill our part in the last proclamation to the world as we look for the coming of Jesus.

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Additional Reading: Selected Quotes from Ellen G. White

Ye Shall Receive Power, “Still Loved Though We Err,” May 5, p. 134.
Prophets and Kings, “The Prophets of God Helping Them,” pp. 575–577.\