For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14.
It is the sophistry of Satan that the death of Christ brought in grace to take the place of the law. The death of Jesus did not change, or annul, or lessen in the slightest degree, the law of ten commandments. That precious grace offered to men through a Saviour’s blood, establishes the law of God. Since the fall of man, God’s moral government and His grace are inseparable. They go hand in hand through all dispensations. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10.
Each law of God is an enactment of mercy, love, and saving power. These laws, obeyed, are our life, our salvation, our happiness, our peace.
Obedience to His statutes and laws is the life and prosperity of His people.
The influence of a gospel hope will not lead the sinner to look upon the salvation of Christ as a matter of free grace, while he continues to live in transgression of the law of God…. He will reform his ways, become loyal to God through the strength obtained from his Saviour, and lead a new and purer life.
As the sacrifice in our behalf was complete, so our restoration from the defilement of sin is to be complete. No act of wickedness will the law of God excuse; no unrighteousness can escape its condemnation. The ethics of the gospel acknowledge no standard but the perfection of the divine character. The life of Christ was a perfect fulfillment of every precept of the law. He said, “I have kept my Father’s commandments.” John 15:10. His life is our example of obedience and service. God alone can renew the heart. “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” But we are bidden, “Work out your own salvation.” Philippians 2:13, 12.
To the obedient child of God, the commandments are a delight.
the Faith I Live By p. 89
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Prayer Requests
—-Requesting prayer for a church members son who is in a coma. Ann
—-Special prayers for family of 19 year old girl with brain tumor. She passed away last night. Joyce
—-Please pray for Larry. Rose
—-Please pray for Sammy. She’s a 4 year old with leukemia currently going through chemo. Jesse
—-Prayers for my youngest brother Peter . He is a member of the Savannah, Ga church. He is 63 and recently diagnosed with Stage 2 Colorectal Cancer. He has started radiation and low dose chemotherapy. Once radiation is complete he will have surgery and permanent colostomy due to the location of the two tumors. He then will continue Chemotherapy aggressively via the port in his chest . Margerie
—-Prayers for Aunt Kathy. She is in her 90’s bedridden and in pain. Jacqueline
—-A coworker’s 10 month old baby is having complications from the flu. Please pray for full recovery. Ronnie Jay
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Dear friends,
As we near springtime, we begin to wonder what the weather will be like. Will this be the year when we have tornadoes or will it be like the last few years where the weather was calm? That reminded me of the time a friend of mine was under a tornado warning. Even before the sirens sounded, she could feel that distinctive feeling in the air. She was not the only one. Their dog was running in circles and barking strangely.
My friend hurried to fill bottles of water, get the flashlight, and a few other items and she and the family hurried down into the storm shelter. When they got down there, her son became worried about their dog and asked if the dog could come down with them. Even though the sirens were sounding by this time, his father went back up out of the storm shelter and called the dog. She came to the entrance gladly, but getting her to go down the steep stairs was not easy. Finally she was with them and they waited for the storm to pass.
Thankfully, the tornado did not touch down and soon the storm was over. The family climbed back up out of the shelter, but the dog would not come. She was afraid of the stairs. They were steep, the shelter dark, She was completely terrified. My friend’s husband went back down into the shelter to help her out. No matter how much he coaxed, she would not cooperate. Finally he picked that large and heavy dog up with the intention of carrying her easily up those steep and ladder-like steps. This panicked her even more. As they were ascending, she stiffened out her legs until she was just like a statue. That made it almost impossible to get her up. Finally he decided that by putting each of her paws on a step one at a time, he could walk her up. That worked and they finally got to the top, but it was an exhausting climb. It would have been so easy, if the dog would have just relaxed and let herself be carried up and out of that pit.
How often we are like that dog. We want out of the pit of sin, but we fight our Good Shepherd all the way. We desire to be set free from our iniquities, yet we will not cooperate with the only One Who can help us. We want to be led on the path to Heaven, but we go kicking and screaming all the way.
May we declare as did David, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Ps 23 May we allow the Good Shepherd to guide us all the way to the Heavenly Fold is my prayer.
Rose

Abundant Grace for Obedience