Christ Is Our Pattern

To follow Christ is not freedom from conflict. It is not child’s play. It is not spiritual idleness. All the enjoyment in Christ’s service means sacred obligations in meeting oft stern conflicts. To follow Christ means stern battles, active labor, warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Our enjoyment is the victories gained for Christ in earnest, hard warfare. Think of this.

“We are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Christ engaged in the great work for which He lived and died. We are to be instant in season and out of season. And why? “For ye are bought with a price,” and have enlisted under the banner of Prince Emmanuel. We are enlisted for labor, “not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life” (John 6:27). We are to work out our own salvation with fear and with trembling. We are not our own. We are bought with a price, to glorify God with our bodies and spirits, which are His. A work is to be done. There is a faithful work to do in His vineyard. And to every man is given his work. If we are privileged with the bread of life, we must work in the Lord’s vineyard. A charge comes to us to deny ourselves and take up the cross and follow Christ. We are to run the race set before us with persevering earnestness. This oft requires energetic movements. We cannot be idlers. We are urged, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” …

We must keep constantly before the ones who are pledged to the service of Christ that it means diligence. It means to be faithful workers, to do all possible to win souls to Christ. It is a constant watchfulness to be faithful unto death, to fight the good fight of faith until the warfare is ended and as overcomers we shall receive the crown of life.

This means much more than we take in. Christ is our example. The Christian warfare is not a life of indulgence to eat and drink and dress as self-indulgent worldlings. The Lord Jesus came in human nature to our world to give His precious life as an example of what our life should be. He is the specimen, not of spiritual indulgence, but of a life constantly before us of self-denial, self-sacrifice. We have the correct view that Christ our Pattern came to give us. There is before us the Prince of heaven, the Son of God. He laid aside the royal crown and the princely robe and came to take His position in our world as a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. How few take it in!—Manuscript 156, July 22, 1907, “Diary Fragments.”
The Upward Look p. 217
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for travelling mercies for Mike and Eileen. Rose
—-Please pray for my friend’s little girl Maya. I asked for prayer a few weeks ago when she was having surgery. She was doing well btu right now she’s having respiratory issues and multiple seizures. They have flown her via helicopter to a bigger hospital in Sioux Falls. Pray for wisdom for the medical team, pray for peace and strength for Maya’s family. Jennifer
—-My son just got taken to the hospital, he is septic so this is very serious please everybody pray. Kristine
—-Please pray for KYra as her mother died.
—-Please pray for my friend Bonnie,she’s positive for covid. Emmerson
—-I need your prayer I have an orphan child was born with HIV. Jose
—-Please pray for Aailyah age 7 who was shot in the head and is on life support. Connie
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Dear Friends,
Occasionally, when I was a little girl, my grandmother would let me look at a small songbook for children that was very precious to her. It was written by Aletha Phillips-Spoor, her aunt Allie. Aunt Allie was a school teacher and had a gift for music. She wrote many little songs for her students and published them for others to enjoy.
My grandmother must have taken that songbook with her when they moved to Florida. When she died, my mother went down there and got rid of everything my grandparents owned—including, no doubt, that songbook. I would have liked to have had it for my children, but it is gone. All of Aunt Allie’s hard work no longer exists. Her “labor of love” is no more. The music she wrote will never again be sung.
Solomon asks, “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?” Ecc 1:3 Jesus tells us, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27
Peter warns, “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:10-14
“The word of the Lord endureth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:25 The Word of the Lord is the one thing that we can count on. From generation to generation it stands firm. God has watched over His Word and kept it pure and safe thoughout the millenia. It is the most precious Book on earth. Many were martyred for reading it during the Dark Ages. Many have been exiled for obeying its truth. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Mark 13:13 Many have been changed because of it’s message. (2 Cor 3:18) Many have built their life upon its principles. Their work endures forever for it is founded upon the Rock.
David tells us, “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 LORD is 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.” “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psa 19:8-11;119:160
May we remember that the things of this world will pass away. May we fix our eyes upon the Place our Dear Saviour has gone to prepare for us. (John 14:1-3) May we measure all of our words, all of our thoughts, all of our actions, and all of our work by God’s Enduring Word is my prayer.

Rose