With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Romans 12:1, Phillips.
The Lord has been calling the attention of His people to health reform. This is one of the great branches of the work of preparation for the coming of the Son of man. John the Baptist went forth in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord….
John separated himself from friends and from the luxuries of life. The simplicity of his dress, a garment woven of camel’s hair, was a standing rebuke to the extravagance and display of the Jewish priests, and of the people generally. His diet, purely vegetable, of locusts and wild honey, was a rebuke to the indulgence of appetite and the gluttony that everywhere prevailed…. Those who are to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ are represented by faithful Elijah, as John came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ’s first advent. The great subject of reform is to be agitated…. Temperance in all things is to be connected with the message, to turn the people of God from their idolatry, their gluttony, and their extravagance in dress and other things.
The self-denial, humility, and temperance required of the righteous, whom God especially leads and blesses, is to be presented to the people in contrast to the extravagant, health-destroying habits of those who live in this degenerate age…. There is nowhere to be found so great a cause of physical and moral degeneracy as a neglect of this important subject. Those who indulge appetite and passion, and close their eyes to the light for fear they will see sinful indulgences which they are unwilling to forsake, are guilty before God. Whoever turns from the light in one instance hardens his heart to disregard the light upon other matters. Whoever violates moral obligations in the matter of eating and dressing prepares the way to violate the claims of God in regard to eternal interests. Our bodies are not our own. God has claims upon us to take care of the habitation He has given us, that we may present our bodies to Him a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable.
Conflict and Courage p. 273
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Prayer Requests
—–update—Larry is home. The doctors could not find why he is in so much pain. Please pray that the doctor will order a PET scan to see if his bladder cancer (which is in remission) has spread. Rose
—–Requesting prayers for the surgeons to let Jesus take the wheel on my heart surgery tomorrow. MP
—–I have a very sick family member I’m petitioning for healing prayers. Lorrie
—–I need prayers of healing from asthma attack that is severe for the past 8 days and showing little sign of lessening. Heidi
—–Asking for prayers as we make some difficult decisions. Aaron
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Dear Friends,
When I was seven, my mother took me to Wisconsin Dells for a vacation. There were many things to see and do, that I had a wonderful time and wanted to stay there forever. My favorite activity was the several boat tours down the river that we went on viewing the beautiful rock formations on the cliffs along the way. Occasionally the boat pulled up to a dock and everyone got out and followed our guide through some cool, damp, narrow canyon.
We visited many gift shops and brought back lots of souvenirs. Most were lost or ruined within a short time, but one souvenir I had until it was destroyed when we lost everything in a fire in 1979. As we were walking along the street, we saw something like an old telephone booth only bigger. A sign on the outside of the booth read, “Record your own record.” We went inside. There was recording equipment as well as a little slot to put the money into that would start the machine. My mother whispered what I should say, and in a childish voice I repeated every word.
My mother mailed that little record to my grandparents, who listened to it for awhile, and then gave it to my mother. She kept it until I was a teenager. Then she gave it to me. That record was very special to me. It brought back memories of the wonderful time I had had. I loved to hear that seven year old voice even though I couldn’t say my “r’s” right and it sounded really funny. Throughout the years, I would sometimes listen to that little record until I nearly had it memorized. The equipment had also recorded my mother’s whispered voice, giving me the words to say. That always brought a smile to my face. Eileen was the only one of my children who got to listen to that little record. It amazed her that I had ever sounded like that.
God’s Holy Word is a record of the lives of many of God’s followers throughout the time span of more than four-thousand years. It was written over a period of more than 1500 years by over forty men. Throughout the centuries, beginning at Moses and ending with John, the Scriptures were written similarly to that little record my mother and I recorded in 1952. Peter explains how the Bible was written. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20,21 Paul adds, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 1 Tim 3:16-17
As we read the stories of God’s dealings with the Patriarchs and Prophets of old, we can recognize His dealings with us. Through meditating upon their lives, we can follow their example in the good things and avoid making the same mistakes that they did. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor 10:11 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4
Our Great and Loving Creator gave us a record, a record that we would do well to read daily. We do not have to be in darkness, for He has given us Great Light. From Genesis to Revelation, His voice is recorded, that we may know the Way to Life Eternal. Without it we would fall off into the dark and wicked world. David reminds us, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The entrance of thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple. Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.” “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORDis clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Ps 119:105,130,11, 19:7-11
Let us take God’s Holy Word as our only rule of faith. Let us “study to show approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 Let us daily study the Scriptures with a heart that is receptive to His Spirit, that same Holy Spirit that moved upon man to write it in the long ago.
Rose