Addressed to Me Personally
I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me; thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Psalm 40:17
Do not let your great need discourage you. The Saviour of sinners, the Friend of the friendless, with compassion infinitely greater than that of a tender mother for a loved and afflicted child, is inviting, “Look unto me, and be ye saved” (Isaiah 45:22). “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). . . .
There is danger of not making Christ’s teachings a personal matter, of not receiving them as though they were addressed to us personally. In His words of instruction Jesus means me. I may appropriate to myself His merits, His death, His cleansing blood, as fully as though there were not another sinner in the world for whom Christ died….
There are toils and conflicts and self-denials for us all. Not one will escape them. We must tread the path where Jesus leads the way. It may be in tears, in trials, in bereavements, in sorrow for sins, or in seeking for the mastery over depraved desires, unbalanced characters, and unholy tempers. It requires earnest effort to present ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. It takes the entire being. There is no chamber of the mind where Satan can hold sway and carry out his devices. Self must be crucified. Consecration, submission, and sacrifices must be made that will seem like taking the very lifeblood from the heart.
Will it make you sad to be buffeted, despised, derided, maligned of the world? It ought not, for Jesus told us just how it would be. “If the world hate you,” He says, “ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). The apostle Paul, the great hero of faith, testifies: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18). “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
That I May Know Him p. 280
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Prayer Requests
—– well my grandson jojo is home the meds they are giving him are working his platelet count is back up to where it should be but will be monitored once a week thank you for all the prayer. Larry
—- Pray for Angela and that her Mom, Sherry will recover from the gallbladder quickly. Fran [see below] “Angela is in the hospital without me (She just went in middle of night….not sure what her pain is) cuz I am in another hospital having gallbladder surgery Sherry”
—— my cousins son has kidney disease had a transplant about ten years ago now this kidney is giving out please pray for a miracle his name is Jason he is 39. Mary
—– thank you for all your prayers. My friend is out of ICU and much improved, but still needs all your continued prayers. JC
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Dear Friends,
One morning some years ago, I had gotten up a little late so I was in more of a hurry when writing the devotional. Just as I was typing “Rose” at the end of the “Dear Friends” part of the devotional, I heaved a sigh of relief. I had finished on time. Then, for some unknown reason, I did something I should never have done. I clicked the “Back” button at the top of the page. To my horror, it took me to the last time I had saved my work. Normally, I save after every paragraph, but that day, I hadn’t. There was very little of the “Dear Friends” part of the devotional left. Frantically, I looked to see if I could press “Forward” and all would be well. I couldn’t. All that work was gone. It had vanished, disappeared. I had to start over again.
Just as so much of the “Dear Friends” part of the devotional had vanished that morning, so that record of our sins can be blotted out just as completely. Our Great Redeemer promises ” I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isa 43:25; 1:18; 44:22 Micah exclaims, “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 John assures us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 We are bidden as Peter bade the people on the day of Pentecost, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19 Think of it! The Great King of the Universe loves us so much that He is willing to forgive and forget all of our transgressions, iniquities, and sins, if we will ask Him to do so. He, Who “gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” is anxiously awaiting to hear our prayer of repentance. John 3:16 Even more, the great “goodness of God leadeth [us] to repentance.” Ro 2:4
*Marvelous grace of our Loving Lord! Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured—There, where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold, Threaten the soul with infinite loss; Grace that is greater—yea, grace untold—Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive? Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!”
May we accept His Great Grace today while the door of mercy is still open. May we pray as did David, “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD. For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.” Ps 25:10,11 And, because of His great love and forgiveness, may we “go and sin no more”, that we may be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit, “whom God hath given to them that obey him.” John 8:11; Acts 5:32
Rose
*Marvelous Grace by Julia Johnston