lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving, jealous, or envious heart! For God’s grace has been revealed and been granted to all of us in abundance in every possible way, but we must avail ourselves of it so that it is not in vain for any of us. 1 Cor. 15:2; 2 Cor. 6:1. Even if we have profited much from it until now by having begun in the race in Jesus Christ’s steps, and have to a certain extent partaken of divine nature through the obedience of faith, it is all the more important to abide in that simple faithfulness, clinging to the Lord, so that we are not deceived by Satan’s numerous and wily devices and some bitter root spring up in our heart, so that we are ruined and many are defiled by it. Every one of us should have this thought in his heart: “As far as I am concerned, I will serve the Lord without distraction until the end. I will not depart from the cross. I will be a lamb that is led to the slaughter. God will give me abundant grace to that end. I will bear everyone’s burdens with joy. This is how I will please God and all those to whom this is pleasing! God will also truly strengthen me with all power by His Spirit, unto all patience and longsuffering, so that I can endure and show all longsuffering and goodness to everyone until we have come to the end of the dispensation of grace for us. If others have the same desire, we will remain standing together as one soul, namely: Nailed to the cross!” Peace be to each and every one who proceeds in this way!Elias Aslaksen