Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13.
One of the most solemn and yet most glorious truths revealed in the Bible is that of Christ’s second coming, to complete the great work of redemption…. The doctrine of the Second Advent is the very keynote of the Sacred Scriptures….
The coming of the Lord has been in all ages the hope of His true followers.
The patriarch Job in the night of his affliction exclaimed with unshaken trust: “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: … in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.” Job 19:25-27…. FLB 348.4
The Saviour’s parting promise upon Olivet, that He would come again, lighted up the future for His disciples, filling their hearts with joy and hope that sorrow could not quench nor trials dim. Amid suffering and persecution, the “appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” was the “blessed hope.” …
On rocky Patmos the beloved disciple hears the promise, “Surely I come quickly,” and his longing response voices the prayer of the church in all her pilgrimage, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20….
“This aged world is not far from its end,” said Melanchthon. Calvin bids Christians “not to hesitate, ardently desiring the day of Christ’s coming as of all events most auspicious.” … “The thoughts of the coming of the Lord,” said Baxter, “are most sweet and joyful to me.” “It is the work of faith and the character of His saints to love His appearing.” …
“This is the day that all believers should long, and hope, and wait for, as being the accomplishment of all the work of their redemption, and all the desires and endeavors of their souls.” “Hasten, O Lord, this blessed day!”
The Faith I Live By p. 348
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for baby Amara (age three months) who has a spinal tap this morning to see what is the cause of her problems. Esther
—-My husband is going to have surgery this morning. Please pray that the doctors, RN’s , anesthesiologists and technicians will do each detail of their jobs to perfection and not miss a thing. . . . Please pray that all of the equipment will work perfectly, that there will be no strep, c-diff or MRSHA present in the room or the hospital. Please pray that he will wake up on his own in recovery, there will be no complications and that he will have a quick recovery. Jean
—-Please pray Kyle in Catholic school they gave him devil book to read. He needs the Lord. Marty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Robbie always hated to wear shoes. She went barefoot everywhere that she dared. One day she stepped on a toothpick that had gotten caught in the carpet in such a way that it was sticking upright. It was not one of those easily broken kind: it was the round, heavy duty type. That toothpick went into her foot just like a nail. Robbie pulled it out and went about her housework.
Her foot was sore, but that was to be expected and she thought little of it. A few days later, she went swimming in one of the local lakes despite the open hole in her foot. She had a very enjoyable swim and all seemed well. A day or two later, however, all was not well. Her foot was swollen and red. She had a hard time walking on it. Within a short time, it became unbearable. She felt sick all over and was running a fever. She was hurried to the emergency room.
After examining Robbie’s foot, the doctor admitted her into the hospital. Finally, they decided that there was still a piece of that toothpick inside and had to operate to remove it. Once that offending piece of wood was removed, her foot could begin to mend. It took time, however. She was in the hospital for quite a few days being treated for the infection that was raging through her body. She was a very sick girl. At last, the infection was under control and she could go home. She still had a very swollen and painful foot and felt weak, but she was happy that the worst was over.
That piece of toothpick is like the sin that we cling to. How often we hold on to some little momentary pleasure that weakens us spiritually until we are as Isaiah described, “”the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 1:5,6 We might tell ourselves that it is such a little thing that it doesn’t really matter and that everything is ok, but that cherished sin festers and grows within us until we suddenly realize that we are in trouble.
Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matt 6:24 James explains, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10 When we cling to sin, knowing it is wrong, but doing it anyway, we soon find that we are drifting into other sins until we are so caught in the devil’s snare, that we cannot escape. Sin is raging within us just as thoroughly as was that infection raging through Robbie.
Sinsick and weary, we find ourselves in need of a Saviour, a Spiritual Physician. Praise God there is a Saviour from our sin! Praise God there is a Great Physician Who is longing to heal us from all iniquity! ”
He promises, I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD.” Jer 30:17 Paul exclaimed, “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14
Because of Jesus’ great sacrifice for us, we can be cleansed from all sin, even those sins that lie beneath the surface and fester and spread poison throughout the soul. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness….My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 1:9-2:1
May we ask our Dear Saviour to cleanse us from all sin praying as did David, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight….Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow….Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” “Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Ps 51:1-13; 19:13 ,14 May we allow Him to remove from us those “darling sins” to which we so often cling. May we daily pray for that new heart that He promises to give us is my prayer.
Rose

“Even so, Come, Lord Jesus”