Christ’s Work Specified

He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by Satan. There were whole villages where there was not a moan of sickness in any house; for He had passed through them, and healed all their sick. His work gave evidence of His divine anointing. Love, mercy, and compassion were revealed in every act of His life; His heart went out in tender sympathy to the children of men. He took man’s nature, that He might reach man’s wants. The poorest and humblest were not afraid to approach Him. Even little children were attracted to Him. They loved to climb upon His knees, and gaze into the pensive face, benignant with love. Jesus did not suppress one word of truth, but He uttered it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact, and thoughtful, kind attention, in His intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He spoke the truth, but always in love. He denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity; but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes. He wept over Jerusalem, the city He loved, which refused to receive Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. They had rejected Him, the Saviour, but He regarded them with pitying tenderness. His life was one of self-denial and thoughtful care for others. Every soul was precious in His eyes. While He ever bore Himself with divine dignity, He bowed with the tenderest regard to every member of the family of God.—Steps to Christ, 11, 12.
With God at Dawn p. 293
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Prayer Requests
—-My daughter injured her hand at work last week and went to have it looked at and she’s rescheduled to go back tomorrow. She has to have surgery. Please pray for her healing and salvation along with my wife. Also, I have an old and dear friend that is in the hospital and struggling with Covid. His name is Shane and needs prayers for healing too. David
—-I have a private prayer request for my son, Samuel. God knows his needs and areas of struggle. Please pray for a healing and redirection of life that is healthy and brings fulfillment and purpose. Cora
—-There is a crisis situation with some friends of my daughter and son-in-law and their circle of friends. . . . My understanding is that he has been in counseling for PTSD from his service in the Marines. Something snapped today and he started posting some really bizarre and horrific things on his Facebook feed, alarming church members and his friends. I have read the posts. He is threatening to kill various people including his friends and his wife. She is in hiding with their little boy. Other friends have had to go into hiding also to protect themselves and their children, because of the threats. My heart goes out to them all. This young man is not himself; it’s like another power has taken him over. Please pray for him and all involved. They are trying to get him to get the help he needs. The police will not arrest him, even though he has threatened people’s lives. They say someone has to press charges first. And everyone is reticent to do that because of the repercussions to their families and themselves. He is vindictive and dangerous. The VA is involved and says his counselor and wife need to have him committed. She doesn’t want to do that. She wants to help him. She is a very gentle, kind-hearted person. Please pray that God will guide all involved to make the right choices for Jason, and for his family and friends — and church. And please pray, as I am, that evil will be cast out of this young man and his mind and heart set free. Kathy
—-Please be in prayer for my friend Jenny and her family. Her daughter Maya is doing better in the hospital. They think it may have been the beginnings of a mucus plug, which Maya deals with frequently. They think they’ve caught it in time, and possibly their protocol and machine settings may need to be adjusted as Maya has grown (she’s 4, and as she grows thing must be adjusted on the machines to accommodate her increase growth). With sadness, she found out that her father, who was Covid positive and having heart complications, had passed away sometime either Thursday or Friday and she just found out today (as she has been busy dealing with Maya in the hospital). Her mom is still sick, but praise Jesus she has been able to avoid the ventilator and is showing signs of improvements. Prayers for continued healing and prayers for the family as they are dealing with this unexpected passing. Jennifer
—-Please pray for the Christian missionaries who were recently kidnapped in Haiti. Jonathan
—-Please Pray for Christopher, 16, he was diagnosis of Leukemia. Karen
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Dear Friends,
This morning, I woke up before five AM. Now it is almost eight-thirty and I am so tired, I can’t think. For some reason to my sleep deprived mind, I thought of a devotional I had written years ago when I had overslept. (I guess I was wishing I had overslept this morning instead of “undersleeping.”) I did a search and found it, so I’m sharing it with you today.
“This morning, I overslept. Jesus told a story in Matthew 25 about some young girls who overslept. In fact, they were sleeping when they should have been awake and watching for the bridegroom. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt 25:1-13
How easy it is for us to be sleeping when we should be awake and watching and making “calling and election sure” 2 Peter 1:10 How vital that we have the extra oil of the Holy Spirit overflowing from within us. How easy it is for us to think that all is well, when in reality we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” Rev 3:18 Our Dear Saviour bids us, “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.” Luke 12:35-38
Jesus is coming soon! “May we not be found oversleeping when we should be alert and watching for His appearing. May we spend our time gathering precious souls for His kingdom. May we and they, when we see our Loving Saviour coming in the clouds, look up and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
Rose