"Life is mysterious and sacred. It is the manifestation of God Himself, the source of all life. Precious are its opportunities, and earnestly should they be improved. Once lost, they are gone forever. MH 397.2"
"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
Both passages emphasize God as the source of life and our dependence on Him. The EGW quote directly echoes the sentiment of Acts 17:28, elaborating on the idea that life is a manifestation of God.
"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
Both passages discuss the fleeting nature of life. While the EGW quote focuses on the preciousness of life's opportunities, James 4:14 highlights its brevity. They share a common theme about the importance of how we use our time.
"Before us God places eternity, with its solemn realities, and gives us a grasp on immortal, imperishable themes. He presents valuable, ennobling truth, that we may advance in a safe and sure path, in pursuit of an object worthy of the earnest engagement of all our capabilities. MH 397.3"
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Both passages contrast temporal and eternal realities. EGW speaks of eternity and imperishable themes, while 2 Corinthians 4:18 contrasts seen and unseen things, the latter being eternal. The connection is strong and relevant.
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Both passages discuss pursuing a worthy goal. EGW speaks of advancing in a safe path toward a worthy object, while Philippians 3:14 describes pressing toward the mark for the prize. The connection is present, though not as direct as other pairs.
"God looks into the tiny seed that He Himself has formed, and sees wrapped within it the beautiful flower, the shrub, or the lofty, wide-spreading tree. So does He see the possibilities in every human being. We are here for a purpose. God has given us His plan for our life, and He desires us to reach the highest standard of development. MH 397.4"
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Both passages highlight God's purpose and plan for each individual. Ephesians 2:10 states that we are created for good works ordained by God, while EGW speaks of God's plan for our lives and our potential for development. The idea of God having a specific purpose for each person is central to both.