For Everyone

Throughout his ministry Isaiah bore a plain testimony concerning God’s purpose for the heathen. Other prophets had made mention of the divine plan, but their language was not always understood. To Isaiah it was given to make very plain to Judah the truth that among the Israel of God were to be numbered many who were not descendants of Abraham after the flesh. This teaching was not in harmony with the theology of his age, yet he fearlessly proclaimed the messages given him of God and brought hope to many a longing heart reaching out after the spiritual blessings promised to the seed of Abraham….

Often the Israelites seemed unable or unwilling to understand God’s purpose for the heathen. Yet it was this very purpose that had made them a separate people and had established them as an independent nation among the nations of the earth. Abraham, their father, to whom the covenant promise was first given, had been called to go forth from his kindred, to the regions beyond, that he might be a light bearer to the heathen. Although the promise to him included a posterity as numerous as the sand by the sea, yet it was for no selfish purpose that he was to become the founder of a great nation…. “I will bless thee,” Jehovah declared, “and make thy name great; … in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” …

No distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste, is recognized by God…. Christ came to demolish every wall of partition, to throw open every compartment of the temple courts, that every soul may have free access to God. His love is so broad, so deep, so full, that it penetrates everywhere. It lifts out of Satan’s influence those who have been deluded by his deceptions, and places them within reach of the throne of God, the throne encircled by the rainbow of promise. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free.
Conflict and Courage p. 236
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Brittany. She has three weeks to prove herself or else she will be let go from her teaching position. Jennifer.
—–Pray for God’s leading. Rose
—–Please put MaryJane on your prayer list. She has had a stroke on fri. Non responsive. MaryJane is a wonderful faithful Christian lady. Faye Ann
—–We need prayers for Jim’s mom, this is the third time in the last four weeks we have had to take her to the hospital. She was in the Hospital just last week, only to end up back this morning, she vomited all night, she can’t go to the bathroom, Sounds like they are going to do exploritory surgery tomorrow to try and get to the bottom of what is going on. Ann is a tiny person, and doesn’t weight very much so being 81 she can’t keep losing weight. Kelly
—–Please pray for my son who has serious mental issues and is facing criminal charges. Connie
—–Please pray for my dear friend’s mom, Marla. She is in the hospital right now. She had a couple seizures, and currently non-responsive. Please pray for wisdom of the doctors, and for complete restoration. Jackie
—–My son is having sezours. Please pray.Marilynn
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, we watched an interesting program about the bugs and parasites on and within the human body. It was pretty disgusting and made me feel like things were creeping around inside me.

As I watched that disturbing program, a Bible story came to mind that always made me shudder. “And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon : but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace, because their country was nourished by the king’s country. And upon a set day Herod , arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.” Acts 12:20-24

Herod was not ignorant of the truth but had deliberately set himself against Christianity. He had had ample opportunity to give his heart to God, but he was full of pride and sinfulness. How much he enjoyed the people’s worship as they proclaimed that he was not a mortal man, but a god. Indeed, Herod must have begun to think of himself as someone worthy of worship. As he drew himself up to his full height in the glory of the moment, a sudden overwhelming pain coupled with a black fear swept over him. The parasitic worms, that had peacefully inhabited his body for years, suddenly became his attackers. Under the hand of the destroying angel, those tiny creatures changed their eating habits. Instead of eating whatever Herod ate, they ate Herod. What agony He felt! What a horrible death! Yet he did not turn to God in repentance. He had given the followers of God’s Son no mercy, and he expected no mercy from God.

Cherished sin is like those parasitic worms. How often we allow that “darling sin” a place within our hearts. We nourish it, enjoy it, cherish it and it continues to grow and strengthen until it takes over our lives and neutralizes any good within us. Even when we realize that we must give up that which separates us from our Loving Redeemer, we attempt to rationalize our actions. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jer 17:9,10 We become trapped by the enemy, chained by the cords of our iniquities. “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.” Prov5:22,23

Paul urges us, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God.” Rom 6:12 ,13 Our Great Redeemer pleads, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die.” Eze 33:11 “Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. ” Joel 2:12,13 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa 1:18

Our Dear Saviour loves us “with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness” He draws us to Himself. Jer 31:3 Praise God! He has provided the way of escape for us! “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I Cor 10:13 He is the “way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 He “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever.” Gal 1:4,5

May we open our heart’s door to our Wonderful Redeemer! May we allow Him to cleanse us from all sin, even the sin we cherish the most. May we serve the Lord Jesus Christ with our whole heart every moment of every day is my prayer.

Rose