The Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. Zechariah 14:9.
The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back the world into God’s favor. All that was lost by sin is restored. Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thousand years Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. Now God’s original purpose in its creation is accomplished. “The saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever” (Daniel 7:18).
“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3). “In that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.” “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9)…. “All His commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever” (Psalm 111:7, 8). The sacred statutes which Satan has hated and sought to destroy, will be honored throughout a sinless universe.
Through Christ’s redeeming work the government of God stands justified. The Omnipotent One is made known as the God of love. Satan’s charges are refuted, and his character unveiled. Rebellion can never again arise. Sin can never again enter the universe. Through eternal ages all are secure from apostasy. By love’s self-sacrifice, the inhabitants of earth and heaven are bound to their Creator in bonds of indissoluble union….
In the place where sin abounded, God’s grace much more abounds. The earth itself, the very field that Satan claims as his, is to be not only ransomed but exalted. Our little world, under the curse of sin the one dark blot in His glorious creation, will be honored above all other worlds in the universe of God. Here, where the Son of God tabernacled in humanity; where the King of glory lived and suffered and died—here, when He shall make all things new, the tabernacle of God shall be with men, “and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” And through endless ages as the redeemed walk in the light of the Lord, they will praise Him for His unspeakable Gift—Immanuel, “God with us.”; Maranatha p. 374
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for us as our life is in a lot of transition. A
—–Please pray for my mother-in-law as she is having cataract surgery today. Also thank you for praying for her when she had her other eye done. It turned out well. Eileen.
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Dear Friends,
Jasper Francisco, who was originally from Montana, lived next door to my grandparents. His name was Next to my grandfather, he had a very important place in my heart. He worked nights, so he was home during the day. I called Uncle Jap even though I knew he wasn’t really my uncle. While my grandfather was at work, I followed Uncle Jap around like a little puppy dog.
Uncle Jap had a workshop where he made all sorts of wooden items. I would watch him and ask all sorts of questions. If he was doing something in the barn, I was right there. Often he would let me pretend that I was a barber and comb his hair all kinds of ways. My favorite pastime, however, was playing train in the driveway. Uncle Jap and I would line up the old, wooden chairs that were stored in the barn and pretend that we were running the train. An broken chair back was the throttle. I was the engineer and he was the passenger. What fun!
The front yard of my grandparents’ house had about a two or three foot little slope down to the driveway. I called that my “hill” and had fun sliding down it in the winter on my little sled. Of course it was a very short ride, but I got great pleasure from it. One day Uncle Jap stood watching me. I told him how much I liked my “hill.” He laughed and said, “That’s not a hill, that’s a mole hill.”
I took him seriously. My grandparents didn’t joke, so I took everything anyone said literally. In my childish mind, I tried to imagine the mole that had made my “hill.” That spring, my mother saw me sitting very still on the grass watching my “hill.” She asked me what I was doing. I told her that Uncle Jap had told me that my hill was a mole hill and I was waiting for the mole to come out. I wanted to see it, so I was being very quiet so it would not know I was there. My mother tried very hard not to laugh. She explained to me what Uncle Jap really meant. I was so embarrassed.
Little children believe the people they love. They take have perfect trust and confidence. Jesus wants us to have that same trust in Him. “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:2,3 Of course, Jesus was speaking of an unspoiled little child. An unspoiled little child has a tender heart. He is completely trusting. A little child forgives easily. He might argue with a friend over a toy, but within a minute or two, all is forgiven and they are happily playing again.
How important little children are to our Dear Saviour. He says, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18:16,17 Unless we have a little child’s perfect trust in our Heavenly Father, we will fail to receive our goal. Unless we love Him completely, we will eventually turn away. Jesus bids us, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matt 22:37 That whole-hearted experience is what He desires for us to have, because it is that whole-hearted experience that gives us the perfect love, the perfect trust, the perfect heart that unites our heart with His Great Heart of Love.
How careful we should be when we speak to a child. We must never ridicule them, teach them false information, or lead them in the wrong path in any way. In fact, Jesus tells us, “whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matt 18:6 Very strong pronouncement! How important it is that we deal with these little ones wisely. How vital that we teach them of Jesus’ love and care for them and of their obligation to love and serve Him in return.
May we bring the little ones to their Compassionate Saviour. May we also have the perfect faith, perfect trust of a little child in our Loving Redeemer. May we, with them, take hold of His outstretched hand and walk in perfect love and confidence with Him on the path that leads to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose