"Do not, through impatience, cut the knot of difficulty, making matters hopeless. Let God untangle the snarled-up threads for you. He is wise enough to manage the complications of our lives. He has skill and tact. We cannot always see His plans; we must wait patiently their unfolding and not mar and destroy them. He will reveal them to us in His own good time. Seek for unity; cultivate love and conformity to Christ in all things. He is the source of unity and strength; but you have not sought for Christian unity that you might knit hearts together in love. 5T 348.1"
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
The EGW passage shares the theme of trusting God to resolve difficulties and not taking matters into one's own hands, which aligns with the principle of leaving vengeance to God in Romans 12:19.
"There is work for you to do in the church and out of the church. “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” The fruit we bear is the only test of the character of the tree before the world. This is the proof of our discipleship. If our works are of such a character that as branches of the living Vine we bear rich clusters of precious fruit, then we wear before the world God's own badge as His sons and daughters. We are living epistles, known and read of all men. 5T 348.2"
"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."
The EGW passage directly quotes and expands upon John 15:8, emphasizing the importance of bearing fruit as evidence of discipleship.
"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:"
Both passages discuss being known and read by others, reflecting one's character or faith. EGW uses the concept of 'living epistles' to illustrate the impact of a Christian's life on those around them, echoing the sentiment in 2 Corinthians 3:2.
"bearing branches. If you do as God would have you, His blessing will come into the church. You have not yet been humble enough to make thorough work and meet the mind of the Spirit of God. There has been self- justification, self-pleasing, self-vindication, when there should have been humiliation, contrition, and repentance. You should remove every stumbling block and make “straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way.” It is not too late for wrongs to be righted; but you must not feel that you are whole and have no need of a physician, for you need help. When you come to Jesus with a broken heart, He will help and bless you, and you will go forth in the Master's work with courage and energy. The best evidence that you are in Christ is the fruit you bear. If you are not truly united to Him, your light and privileges will condemn and ruin you. 5T 348.3"
"And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."
EGW directly quotes "make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way" from Hebrews 12:13, applying it to the need for removing stumbling blocks and correcting wrongs.