Be Honorable

Life is disciplinary. While in the world, the Christian will meet with adverse influences. There will be provocations to test the temper; and it is by meeting these in a right spirit that the Christian graces are developed. If injuries and insults are meekly borne, if insulting words are responded to by gentle answers, and oppressive acts by kindness, this is evidence that the Spirit of Christ dwells in the heart, that sap from the Living Vine is flowing to the branches. We are in the school of Christ in this life, where we are to learn to be meek and lowly of heart; and in the day of final accounts we shall see that all the obstacles we meet, all the hardships and annoyances that we are called to bear, are practical lessons in the application of principles of Christian life. If well endured, they develop the Christlike in the character, and distinguish the Christian from the worldling.

There is a high standard to which we are to attain if we would be children of God, noble, pure, holy, and undefiled; and a pruning process is necessary if we would reach this standard. How would this pruning be accomplished if there were no difficulties to meet, no obstacles to surmount, nothing to call out patience and endurance? These trials are not the smallest blessings in our experience. They are designed to nerve us to determination to succeed. We are to use them as God’s means to gain decided victories over self, instead of allowing them to hinder, oppress, and destroy us. Testimonies for the Church 5:344.

If honesty is an essential principle of business life, must we not recognize our obligation to God—the obligation that underlies every other?—Education, 139
With God at Dawn p. 114
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-My wife has a job interview this afternoon. Please pray that she gets the job if God sees that she would be happy with it. JT
—-Please continue to pray for David. Buck
—-Please pray for my aunt Maria she fell down and fractured her hip she will have surgery on Monday May 3,pray also that they get the blood that she might need that day of her surgery, she is 89 yrs old . Becky
—-Maurice needs prayers. He went to the hospital on Monday. They told him nothing was wrong but they would keep him overnight and let him go home Tuesday. Then yesterday they told him he would be going home this morning. This morning they are telling him he needs open heart surgery. All prayers are greatly appreciated. Donna
—-Please pray for one of my sons safety. This morning when I got up I looked at my phone and found a HORRIBLE DEATH THREAT written to him but sent to my phone accidently. I am so afraid for him and now for myself also. Please pray for God to put a hedge of protection around him and for God to save his soul for eternity. AND PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. TOO BUT ESPECIALLY FOR HIM. Connie
—-Please pray for my husband Charles he keeps getting fluid in his lung and has bladder cancer. They had to postpone the surgery 2 time because of the fluid. Debbie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,

One day, when I was about four or five, I walked into the dining room just as my grandmother was putting the finishing touches on a beautiful centerpiece. On the large, dark, highly-polished dining room table was a narrow, maroon cloth. Sitting on the cloth was a basket shaped like a horn which she called a cornucopia. In this basket and spilling out from it were all types of fruits and vegetables. My grandmother told me to leave it alone. Then she walked back into the kitchen. I knelt on the chair and visually examined this new centerpiece. The fruit looked so good. It made me so hungry.

Day after day I looked at that tempting display. Day after day I obeyed and kept my hands off from it. Then one day, when no one was around, I decided that I just could not wait another moment. I reached out and picked up a shiny, red apple. As soon as I took a bite, I knew something was wrong. Instead of a sweet, juicy taste, there was no taste at all. It was hard and dry and my teeth could not penetrate very deep. That apple was made of wax. I was so disappointed. I put it back into the display, but it did not look right. I had to adjust the apple in such a way that the tooth marks did not show. Even so, it was not long before my grandmother discovered what I had done. You can imagine what happened next…..

How much like the pleasures of this world that centerpiece was. The world’s pleasures look so inviting, but they do not give us the happiness that we seek. They leave us with an empty feeling after the initial “high” is gone. They do not satisfy. We are like the seed that fell among the thorns in Jesus’ parable of the sower. Jesus says of them, “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” Luke 8:14 As the wise man said, “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.” Prov 21:17 The pleasures of this world leave us spiritually poor, fruitless, twice dead.

Praise God we do not have to be content with the “wax fruit” this world has to offer. David declares, “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Ps 16:11 Paul adds, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14

May we find our true happiness by turning away from the things of this world and keeping our eyes focused on our Dear Saviour and those things which He is preparing for us in His glorious kingdom above is my prayer. (2 Cor 2:9)

Rose