"Abstract meditation is not enough; busy action is not enough; both are essential to the formation of Christian character. Strength acquired in earnest, secret prayer prepares us to withstand the allurements of society. And yet we should not exclude ourselves from the world, for our Christian experience is to be the light of the world. The society of unbelievers will do us no harm if we mingle with them for the purpose of connecting them with God and are strong enough spiritually to withstand their influence. 5T 113.1"
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
EGW directly uses the phrase 'light of the world' from Matthew 5:14, indicating a clear allusion. She builds upon this idea by explaining how Christians should interact with the world.
"Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world."
The EGW passage reflects the principle found in 1 Corinthians 5:10, which addresses the need to interact with the world without being corrupted by it. Both passages acknowledge the necessity of engaging with unbelievers while maintaining spiritual integrity.
"Christ came into the world to save it, to connect fallen man with the infinite God. Christ's followers are to be channels of light. Maintaining communion with God, they are to transmit to those in darkness and error the choice blessings which they receive of heaven. Enoch did not become polluted with the iniquities existing in his day; why need we in our day? But we may, like our Master, have compassion for suffering humanity, pity for the unfortunate, and a generous consideration for the feelings and necessities of the needy, the troubled, and the despairing. 5T 113.2"
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
The EGW passage directly references the concept of being 'channels of light' and connects it to transmitting blessings, which is a clear echo and amplification of Matthew 5:14's 'Ye are the light of the world.'
"Those who are Christians indeed will seek to do good to others and at the same time will so order their conversation and deportment as to maintain a calm, hallowed peace of mind. God's word requires that we should be like our Saviour, that we should bear His image, imitate His example, live His life. Selfishness and worldliness are not fruits of a Christian tree. No man can live for himself and yet enjoy the approbation of God. 5T 113.3"
"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
The EGW passage explicitly states that Christians should 'be like our Saviour...imitate His example, live His life,' which directly reflects the principle in 1 John 2:6 that those who abide in Him should walk as He walked.