***** Place yourselves in the divine current, where you can receive the heavenly inspiration, for you may have it; then point the weary, the heavy-laden, the poor, the brokenhearted, the perplexed soul, to Jesus, the Source of all spiritual strength. Be faithful minutemen to show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Tell it with pen and voice that Jesus lives to make intercession for us. 6T 123.3 Chapter 16—Parable of the Straying Sheep The parable of the straying sheep should be treasured as a motto in every household. The divine Shepherd leaves the ninety and nine, and goes out into the wilderness to seek the one that is lost. There are thickets, quagmires, and dangerous crevices in the rocks, and the Shepherd knows that if the sheep is in any of these places, a friendly hand must help it out. As He hears its bleating afar off, He encounters any and every difficulty that He may save His sheep that is lost. When He discovers the lost on…
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
EGW directly quotes and alludes to 1 Peter 2:9, specifically the phrase 'called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.' This is a clear and intentional reference.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
EGW's passage directly mentions pointing 'the weary, the heavy-laden...to Jesus' and Matthew 11:28 is Jesus' invitation to 'all ye that labour and are heavy laden.' The connection is clear and intentional.
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
EGW's statement 'Jesus lives to make intercession for us' directly reflects the core message of Hebrews 7:25, which states that Jesus 'ever liveth to make intercession for them.' Both passages highlight Jesus' ongoing role as intercessor.
"The Sin Bearer carries the befouled sheep; yet so precious is His burden that He rejoices, singing: “I have found My sheep which was lost.” Luke 15:6 . Let every one of you consider that your individual self has thus been borne upon Christ's shoulders. Let none entertain a masterly spirit, a self-righteous, criticizing spirit; for not one sheep would ever have entered the fold if the Shepherd had not undertaken the painful search in the desert. The fact that one sheep was lost was enough to awaken the sympathy of the Shepherd and start Him on His quest. 6T 124.2"
"And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."
Ellen White directly references Luke 15:6 in this passage.
"How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?"
EGW explicitly references Luke 15:6 and the parable of the lost sheep, directly quoting 'I have found My sheep which was lost.' She then expands on the implications of this parable, making the connection undeniable.
"worlds unfallen, but He came to this world, all seared and marred with the curse. The outlook was not favorable, but most discouraging. Yet “He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth.” Isaiah 42:4 . We must bear in mind the great joy manifested by the Shepherd at the recovery of the lost. He calls upon His neighbors: “Rejoice with Me; for I have found My sheep which was lost.” And all heaven echoes the note of joy. The Father Himself joys over the rescued one with singing. What a holy ecstasy of joy is expressed in this parable! That joy it is your privilege to share. 6T 124.3"
"He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law."
Ellen White directly references Isaiah 42:4 in this passage.
"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
Both passages discuss joy in heaven over the repentance/recovery of the lost. EGW directly references the parable of the lost sheep, amplifying the theme of divine joy.