Christ’s Representatives in the World

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:16, 17.

Jesus . . . says, “I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth” (John 17:19). “Thy word is truth.” We need, then, to become familiar with the Word of God, to study and to practice it in life. . . . We deny Jesus Christ as the One who taketh away the sins of the world if we do not, after accepting the truth, reveal to the world the sanctifying effects of the truth on our own characters. If we are not better men and women, if we are not more kindhearted, more pitiful, more courteous, more full of tenderness and love, if we do not manifest to others the love that led Jesus to the world on His mission of mercy, we are not witnesses to the world of the power of Jesus Christ.

Jesus lived not to please Himself. He gave Himself as a living, consuming sacrifice for the good of others. He came to elevate, to ennoble, to make happy all with whom He came in contact. Those who receive Christ will drop out all that is uncourteous, harsh, and rough, and will reveal the pleasantness, the kindness, that dwelt in Jesus, because Christ abides in the heart by faith. Christ was the light that shineth in darkness, and His followers are also to be the light of the world. They are to kindle their taper from the divine altar. The character that is sanctified through the truth adds the perfect polish.

Christ is our model, but unless we behold Him, unless we contemplate His character, we shall not reflect His character in our practical life. He was meek and lowly in heart. He never did a rude action, never spoke a discourteous word. The Lord is not pleased with our blunt, hard, unsympathetic ways toward others. All this selfishness must be purged away from our characters, and we must wear the yoke of Christ. Then we . . . shall be fitting up for the society of heavenly angels. We are to be in the world but not of the world. We are to be a representation of Jesus Christ. As the Lord of life and glory came to our world to represent the Father, so we are to go to the world to represent Jesus.

That I May Know Him p. 306

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Prayer Requests

—–Please pray for Peter, age 8 months, who has a sinus infection. Rose

—– Pray God will place his healing hand on Leon and heal his lung. Pray the problem will not be cancer. Pray God will be with Leon and his family and give them His peace. Fran

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Dear Friends,

When Ron and I got married, we determined to have daily worship. As children came along, we adapted family worship according to the age of the youngest child. During family worship a few years ago, we were discussing a text in James in relation to a certain Bible story we had just read. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10 Ronnie Jay commented how a certain sin, actually brought many sins along with it. As we thought more about it, we realized the truth of this statement. Just as it was true in the life of the Bible character we had just read about, so it is true in our life. Once we take the first step down the path of disobedience, we soon find ourselves taking other steps to justify the first. Before long, we are far from where we wish to be. We plan on accepting God’s Great Provision—tomorrow. How many times we allow a little sin to slip by because it seems to be so small and harmless. Yet, that sin grows bigger and stronger with the doing, and eventually it controls every aspect of our life. Solomon said, “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” ” His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” Ecc 10:1; Prov 5:22

Prophecy is being fulfilled rapidly showing us that we are living in the end times. Jesus will soon appear in the clouds and gather His followers to Him. We have no time to be careless. We have no time to put off getting ready for that final event. Now is the time to get serious about our standing with our Maker. God pleads with us, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11

Now, while the hours of probation linger, is the time to turn away from those “little” sins that plague us. “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor 6:2 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isa 55:6,7

Let us no longer put off running to our Dear Saviour’s outstretched arms that we may partake of His grace and mercy. Let us “learn to do well” by heeding God’s commands. Let us “give diligence to make (our) calling and election sure: for if (we) do these things, (we) shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto (us) abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10,11

Rose