A Fond Mother’s Request

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:21.
James and John presented through their mother a petition requesting that they might be permitted to occupy the highest positions of honor in Christ’s kingdom. Notwithstanding Christ’s repeated instruction concerning the nature of His kingdom, these young disciples still cherished the hope for a Messiah who would take His throne and kingly power in accordance with the desires of men….
But the Saviour answered, “Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They recalled His mysterious words pointing to trial and suffering, yet answered confidently, “We are able.” They would count it highest honor to prove their loyalty by sharing all that was to befall their Lord.
“Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with,” Christ declared…. James and John were to be sharers with their Master in suffering—the one, destined to swift-coming death by the sword; the other, longest of all the disciples to follow his Master in labor and reproach and persecution. “But to sit on my right hand, and on my left,” He continued, “is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.” …
In the kingdom of God, position is not gained through favoritism. It is not earned, nor is it received through an arbitrary bestowal. It is the result of character. The crown and the throne are the tokens of a condition attained—tokens of self-conquest through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ….
The one who stands nearest to Christ will be he who has drunk most deeply of His spirit of self-sacrificing love,—love that “vaunteth not itself, … seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil,”—love that moves the disciple, as it moved our Lord, to give all, to live and labor and sacrifice even unto death, for the saving of humanity.
Conflict and Courage p. 314
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Prayer Requests
—–I need prayer for my self and my neighbor. Margaret. she is in the hospital she fell over the weekend she will be 89 this month. I take care of her when her family needs to go out of town. . . . I need prayer for my self the enemy is trying to bring depression on me being I am on fire for helping the homeless and sharing God’s love with them. etc. thanks. M.
—–Pray for a positive outcome for Emily’s back pain after her MRI today. It doesn’t seem normal for a 16 year old to deal with such extreme pain everyday. Stephanie
—–Please pray for my husband. He has had so many medical issues the last 3 years, on dialysis and this morning having a procedure to rule out bladder cancer. Kimberly
—–Joe has not woken up after induced coma …we were told today that there’s nothing they can do medically for my brother anymore he is still on a ventilator… and his children and wife have decided to let him rest….there was to much damage to his Brain. Please pray. Jenny
—–Please pray for my sister in law Sharon as she is having surgery today for a small cancerous tumor. My family is praising Our Heavenly Father it has been caught at this very early stage, that the doctors know it will all be removed in this minor surgery (relatively speaking), and she will not need any treatments afterwards! What an amazing God we have. Nancy
—–Please continue to pray for Uncle Art who had a heart attack yesterday. He is still in the hospital and I’m not sure whether he will be having surgery or not. Mike
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Dear Friends,
When we still lived in Washington state, we took a vacation to the Olympic Peninsula. One of the areas we visited while there was the Ho Rain Forest. It was surprising to see how very different the rain forest was from other parts of Washington. An abundance of rain combined with mild temperatures along with few other conditions makes the Ho rain forest a place of wonder. It was so beautiful—like stepping into a whole different world! Everything was lush and green. Its moss-covered trees grew huge and thick. Countless varieties of ferns grew everywhere. Flowers and strange plants were scattered throughout the area.
As we walked along, we took the time to examine each marvel of creation. We marveled as we saw giant tree trunks lying on the forest floor with young trees growing on them. These young trees were not growing from the fallen tree, but from seeds that fell from a still living one. As the dead tree decayed, seeds that had fallen onto them had germinated and taken root. One of the beauties we had seen in nature films was the lowly banana slug. It was so interesting to get to see one crawling on an old tree stump. Its yellow body contrasted beautifully with the purple-black glistening eggs she was laying. They looked like jewels encrusting the wood.
Just as the rainfall made the Ho Rain Forest as special place, so the “rain” that comes into our lives helps us to develop into a special creation for our Maker. Yet, how often we want to live only in the sunshine without the “rain” of troubles and trials. We do not understand why things go so terribly wrong in our life. It seems that if we had no cares we could grow and prosper, but that is not the case. Our Great Creator allows just the right amount of rain in our lives to develop us into His likeness, “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10 Trials and troubles, both great and small, have a part of His instructing, teaching process. “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb 12:5-11 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7
Through the “rain” in our life, the Master Gardener assures us, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8 He calls, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30 “And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” Isa 58:11
May we recognize His Loving Hand in the “rain” that comes to our lives. May we allow Him to work in us and through us that we may be a glorious garden for His glory. May we bear fruit for the Master is my prayer.
Rose