And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. Leviticus 20:26.
I also saw many do not realize what they must be in order to live in the sight of the Lord without a high priest in the sanctuary through the time of trouble. Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully.
I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of “refreshing” and the “latter rain” to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God. Those who . . . fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth . . . will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building. But there will be . . . no Mediator to plead their cause before the Father. Before this time the awfully solemn declaration has gone forth, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
I saw that none could share the “refreshing” unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. Let all remember that God is holy and that none but holy beings can ever dwell in His presence.
We are today to watch that we offend not in word or deed. . . . We must today seek God and be determined that we will not rest satisfied without His presence. We should watch and work and pray as though this were the last day that would be granted us. How intensely earnest, then, would be our life. How closely would we follow Jesus in all our words and deeds.
Maranatha p. 41
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Prayer Requests
—–update— Mom left for surgery in high spirits, giving a little thumbs up saying “let’s get this thing out so I can eat again!” The surgeon let us know that amazingly there is no obvious metastasis of the cancer. I’ll be so happy to be on the other side of it. With her indomitable spirit, it’ll be good. …. The surgeon just came in and the surgery is over. She said she got it all and hopefully all will be well. Thank you for so many prayers for her! Debbie
—–Please continue to pray for Mary who is having a hard time with life without Tom. Pray also for Lou who is having troubles with the meds they are giving her for the cellulitis. Rose
—–Please pray. My daughter was granted full custody of the children and we still have not heard from the kids’ attorney whether or not we will be granted visitations. We feel that this would be the best situation for the kids since they have bonded with us and Alex (2 years old) looks to Ben and I as his parents. He must be very confused and wondering where we are. We would like to pray that my daughter will co-operate with us and allow us to have visitations on a monthly basis, but after our conversation yesterday, it doesn’t appear that she will do that. We plan to ask this week after praying about it. We will be seeking legal representation if she doesn’t as it will be the only way we will be able to see the kids. Thank you for your prayers. I do trust “all things work together for good to those that love Him. To those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. Praise God for His perfect wisdom in all this. Carla
—–Please pray for an important meeting that D has tomorrow. L
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Dear Friends,
A few years ago, Ron suggested that I read a little book entitled, “A Call to Stand Apart.” One of its chapters deals with a parable that so truly illustrates our Heavenly Father’s great love and care for us. It is found in Luke 15:11 and onward. Often, as we read this parable, we think of this for the overt sinner and fail to realize that we, ourselves, are that prodigal son. While we may outwardly comply, how often we rebel inwardly against our loving Heavenly Father’s commands. How many times we want our own way even though it leads us far from home. We soon find ourselves in the same condition as the prodigal son. Yet, even when we are so far from our Loving Redeemer, He is seeking us. He is watching with longing desire for the first indication that we are sorry and want to come back to Him.
Even while we are still a long way off, He runs to us, embraces us, removes our filthy garments from us and wraps us in the pure spotless robe of His righteousness. Praise God! “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18, 19
Think of it! No matter what the sin, we can return to our Loving Heavenly Father. He will wrap us in His loving arms and lead us Homeward. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:9-2:2
Our Loving Heavenly Father does not scold us about our former waywardness. Instead, He rejoices when we come to Him. He assures us, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37 He greatly desires a closeness with us that is “closer than a brother.” (Prov 18:24) Indeed, He longs to fellowship with us every moment. He is pleading with us now, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 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.” Rev 3:20
Moreover, if we open our heart’s door to Him, He will develop within us His own perfect character, that we may be like Him and show His glory to others. He promises, ” A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27
May we open our heart’s-door to our Loving Saviour. May our prayer be the words of a song Esther Marie wrote many years ago. “Lord, give me a clean heart, A kind and a true heart. Lord, through me please show, Others that You care. Lord, give me a new heart, A loving and pure heart, So others may find You And know that You care. Though this world is rough and dirty, A new heart is waiting for you. Though your sins may be many, Jesus is waiting for you. Lord, give me a new heart And keep me in Your care.”
Rose