Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Hebrews 5:8, 9.
Christ came to our world, and lived in the home of a peasant. He wore the best garments His parents could provide, but they were the humble garments of the peasants. He walked the rough paths, and climbed the steeps of the hillsides and mountains. When He walked the streets He was apparently alone, for human eyes did not behold His heavenly attendants. He learned the trade of a carpenter, that He might stamp all honest labor as honorable and ennobling to all who work with an eye single to the glory of God….
Christ, the Lord of the whole earth, was a humble artisan. He was unrecognized, neglected, and despised. But He held His commission and authority from the highest power, the Sovereign of heaven. Angels were His attendants, for Christ was doing His Father’s business just as much when toiling at the bench as a carpenter, as when working miracles for the multitude. But He concealed the secret from the world. He attached no high titles to His name, to make His position understood, but He lived the royal law of God. His work must begin in consecrating the humble trade of the craftsmen who have toiled for their daily bread. Had Christ passed His life among the grand and the rich, the world of toilers would have been deprived of the inspiration which the Lord intended they should have.
Meek and lowly was the life of Christ. He chose this life that He might help the human family. He did not take His place upon a throne as Commander of the whole earth. He laid aside His royal robe, He laid off His kingly crown, that He might be made one of the human family. He took not on Him the nature of angels. His work was not the priestly office after the appointments of men. It was impossible for man to understand His exalted position, unless the Holy Spirit should make it known. For our sake, He clothed His divinity with humanity, and stepped down from the royal throne. He resigned His position as Commander in the heavenly courts, and for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. Thus, He hid His glory under the guise of humanity, that He might touch humanity with His divine, transforming power….
Those to whom Christ has given a probation in which to form characters for the mansions He has gone to prepare are to enter into His life example.—Manuscript 24, February 22, 1898, “Christ’s Life on Earth.”
The Upward Look p. 67
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Prayer Requests
—-I have the job interview today at 1:00 PM after all. Please pray that if it is God’s will that I get it. JT
—-Please pray for my sister Pat they are moving her into a care home. and hospice will be taking care of her. her mind is going from all the drugs they are giving her for pain. pray that she ill accept the Lord as her Savior and that she will not have to suffer long. M
—-Also pray for a dear friend of mine .we have known each other since the 80’s.she has walking pneumonia and bronchitis . she is like a sister to me. more so since I am losing my younger sister. thanks. M.
—-Please pray for my friend, she in the hospital. She has just lost her daughter. Loretta
—-Need prayers please, lost my precious sister yesterday, please pray for all the family. Patti
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Dear Friends,
Yesterday, I was reading a poem by my great-great-aunt, Aletha Phillips-Spoor called Making a Garden. I’d like to share it with you.
Father plowed the garden
And Mother sowed the seeds,
Twas Johnnyʼs work to tend it
And keep out all the weeds.
Each side the garden path
Some white-washed stones were laidʼ
Now Johnny was kept busy
With his hoe and rake and spade.
Nearly half the garden
Was planted with potatoes,
And next to these grew carrots,
Cucumbers and tomatoes.
Ten peas and beans and radishes
Grew up in long, straight rows,
Spinach and beets were plentiful,
These were favorites, I suppose.
I most forgot the melon patch,
A splendid one they had;
ʽTwas this part of the garden
That made Johnnyʼs heart so glad.
For when the luscious fruit was ripe,
He really felt repaid
For tending to the garden
That Dad and Mother made.
Our Dear Saviour used farming many times as an illustration of spreading the gospel. “Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. . . .Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. . . .He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matt 13:3-43
Paul also speaks of gardening with the seed of the gospel. “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God.” 1 Cor 3:6-9 Isaiah also exclaims, “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” ” How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation.” Amen! Isa 55:10, 11; 61:11; 52:7
May we do our part in gardening for the Lord. May we work diligently to sow the gospel seed. May we reap a harvest of souls for the Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose