Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood. Colossians 1:13, 14.
No matter who you are or what your life has been, you can be saved only in God’s appointed way. You must repent; you must fall helpless on the Rock, Christ Jesus. You must feel your need of a physician and of the only remedy for sin, the blood of Christ. This remedy can be secured only by repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . The blood of Christ will avail for none but those who feel their need of its cleansing power.
What surpassing love and condescension, that when we had no claim upon divine mercy, Christ was willing to undertake our redemption! But our great Physician requires of every soul unquestioning submission. We are never to prescribe for our own case. Christ must have the entire management of will and action. . . .
We may flatter ourselves . . . that our moral character has been correct and we need not humble ourselves before God like the common sinner. But we must be content to enter into life in the very same way as the chief of sinners. We must renounce our own righteousness and plead for the righteousness of Christ to be imputed to us. We must depend wholly upon Christ for our strength. Self must die. We must acknowledge that all we have is from the exceeding riches of divine grace. Let this be the language of our hearts: “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”
Genuine faith is followed by love, and love by obedience. All the powers and passions of the converted man are brought under the control of Christ. His Spirit is a renewing power, transforming to the divine image all who will receive it. . . .
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” He feels that he is the purchase of the blood of Christ and bound by the most solemn vows to glorify God in his body and in his spirit, which are God’s. The love of sin and the love of self are subdued in him. He daily asks: “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”
Maranatha p. 73
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Prayer Requests
—– Please keep Melissa in prayer – she has serious post birth issues after her 3 rd child was born. Thank you, her dad
—– Please pray for my friends nephew…..Andrew. He had a bad fall and hit his head a couple of weeks ago. Knocked him out and put him in hospital. He was released as the bleeding had stopped. But yesterday he started vomiting and was rushed to hospital. Pray also for my brother-in-law, Dan and the rest of the family as they are very worried. Pray also for the doctors to know what is best to do for Andrew. Marilene
—–Today I will be admitted to _____ hospital to undergo a bone marrow transplant. I expect to be in the hospital for around 30 days. When I am discharged I will be living in an apartment near the the hospital for about 2 more months while I am monitored by the transplant team and continue to recover. Estimated 100 days for initial recovery time . Six months to a year for total recovery. Please pray all will go well. Lois
—– My heart is breaking for my Dear friend who lost her father today in a terrible accident. Please pray for her! Jane
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Dear Friends,
When we lived in Washington state, we often took a drive on the weekend. Our favorite places to go were north of Spokane , into northern Idaho, or northwest Montana. It was thrilling to see the beauties that our Great Creator has lavished upon this part of the planet. On one such drive, we took a little hike down a path in the mountains. It was a dark and thickly wooded area and no one else was on the trail. This was just to our liking. As we gazed at all the beauty surrounding us, it seemed it could not get better. Just then, the narrow path widened a little and there before us was a lake sparkling in the sunshine. The leaves of the trees were so thick above us that the trail was very dark, but there on the water, it was bright and sunny. In the coolness of the shade, we sat on some logs and looked out over the water. Ron and I talked for a few minutes while our children waded in the water. It seemed like all the cares of life had evaporated and all was happiness and peace.
When we started to walk back down the path to the realities of life, we smelled the distinctive smell that a mountain lion makes when marking his territory. That smell had not been there when we had passed that spot not long before. Remembering the recent stories we had heard of mountain lion attacks even in more populated areas, we felt just a tinge of fear knowing that while we had been sitting by the water, blissfully enjoying the beauties of the place, a mountain lion had probably been watching our every move and thinking what a great meal Esther Marie or Ronnie Jay would make. We were thankful that our Great Creator had made the animal keep his distance.
There is a “lion” who is stalking each one of us in our home, at work or school, whatever we do, wherever we go. Peter warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 Paul explains, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph 6:12 John heard a voice proclaim, “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev 12:12
Yet, if the word of God abides in us, we do not have to be devoured by the wicked one. (1John 2:14) “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Ps 119:9-11 Paul urges us, “take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.” Eph 6:13-18
May we resist the lion’s onslaughts by enduring steadfast in the faith all the way to the end. (Matt 10:22; 1 Peter 5:9) May we “study to show [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” that we may overcome as Christ overcame with an “it is written.” 2 Tim 2:15; Matt 4:4, 7, 10 May it be said of us, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb” is my prayer. Rev 12:11
Rose