Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29.
Those who would at last be received into heaven as members of the royal family must here give themselves, body, soul, and spirit, to the service of Him who paid the price of their redemption. All that we have and are belongs to the Lord. “Ye are not your own,” the apostle declares. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20)….
Have you consecrated yourself wholly to the Lord? Can He use you as a vessel unto honor? Are you faithfully acting your part in His cause? To every man God has given his work. He expects every believer to cooperate with Him in the work of soul-saving. When His cause is suffering for means, how can anyone set a price on his services, refusing to take up the cross daily, and practice self-denial for Christ’s sake?
The fulfillment of the promise that we shall be joint-heirs with Christ rests upon our willingness to deny self. When Christ takes possession of His kingdom, it will be those who on this earth have followed Him in self-denial and sacrifice who will receive the reward of everlasting life.
Christ’s call to sacrifice and unreserved surrender means crucifixion of self. In order to obey this call, we must have unquestioning faith in Him as the perfect Example, and we must have a clear realization that we are to represent Him to the world. Those who work for Christ are to work in His lines. They are to live His life. His call to unreserved surrender is to be to them supreme. They are to allow no earthly tie or interest to prevent them from giving Him the homage of their hearts and the service of their lives. Earnestly and untiringly they are to labor with God to save perishing souls from the power of the tempter.
Those who are thus connected with Christ learn constantly of Him, passing through the successive stages of progress in Christian experience. Difficulty and perplexity come to them, that they may learn more perfectly the will and way of Christ. But they pray and believe, and by exercise their faith increases.
“Take my yoke upon you,” Christ said, as in human nature He lived and worked upon this earth. Constantly He wore the yoke of submission, meeting the difficulties that human beings must meet, bearing the trials that they must bear. The enemy will continually assault us as he assaulted Christ, bringing against us strong temptation. But for everyone there is a way of escape.—Manuscript 88, August 9, 1903, “Be Not Weary in Well-doing.”
The Upward Look p. 235
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Prayer Requests
—-Please add Makayla to your prayer list. She needs to understand who God is. She is blaming Him for the evils in this world and is very angry with Him. My prayer for her is that she will open her heart to Truth. I pray she will get to know God and accept Him as her Lord and Saviour. Amanda
—-May I ask for some prayers. Im sick now, difficulty in urinating. I don’t know if its UTI or kidney stones. Sally
—-My nephew, Sean, a police officer in Washington State, was injured last night (Thursday, Aug 6) in a search and rescue operation ..down a steep embankment. Sean was hit in the head by falling rocks while attempting the rescue. He has been medevaced to a hospital with a “severe” head injury..where was he is undergoing emergency treatment. An officer who “broke” Sean’s fall after being hit was also injured. Linda
—-Please pray for a very dear friend, her name is Denia, she has breast cancer and on chemo for several years, now suffering from pneumonia and in worst condition, confined in the hospital. Vilma
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Dear Friends,
David’s words are so applicable to our various life situations, that they seem written especially for us.
David’s many years of hardship, running from his father-in-law, hunted like an animal, living in caves or in some secluded spot in countryside brought him so close to God, that when the Great King of the Universe sought for a replacement for King Saul, He chose David for he was “a man after His own heart.” 1 Sam 13:14 He declared this of him, because David continually looked to the Good Shepherd for guidance and protection. No matter what his situation, he kept his focus on his Mighty Helper. His heart was not on the things of this world, but his treasure, his desires were upon Heaven. David longed for the time when all trials will be over and sin and sinners will be no more, when he would see his Lord face to face. We look forward to the same.
Sometimes we, like David did at time, become overwhelmed with trials and troubles. It seems to us in a moment of discouragement like there is no deliverance, no end in sight. During those times, David’s words are such comfort to us, “the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” Ps 37:20 God will not allow evil to reign forever. He will soon put an end to sin and sinners. Malachi assures us, “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.” Mal 4:1-3
Peter explains why our Dear Saviour has borne so long with the evil of this world, “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:7-14
When our Dear Saviour shall come in the clouds to take us to His Heavenly Home, all the desires of our heart will be fulfilled. What a day of rejoicing that will be! John gives us a glimpse of the joys that await us. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is 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 God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful…. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” “And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels… And the wall of the city had twelve foundations….And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones….and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass….And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true….Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city….And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev 21:1-5; 10-22:17
May we “make (our) calling and election sure,” that we may dwell with Him forevermore. (2 Peter 1:10) May we “love the LORD (our) God with all (our) heart, and with all (our) soul, and with all (our) might.” Deut 6:5 May we someday very soon look up with joy 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