My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. Psalm 34:2.
I was about to write some words of encouragement to one who had helped in the work … at a time when it was going very hard. A hand was placed upon the paper, forbidding me to write, and a voice said, “These words of commendation will do harm to the one you are addressing. God is the Master Worker. Glorify Him, not man.” …
Let us be very careful not to praise or flatter any human being. Do not place before the Lord’s servants the temptation of human praise. It is God who enables men and women to accomplish good. He is behind every worker. Without His power, man is helpless….
There are those who by self-denial and self-sacrifice have prepared the way for a good work, yet who have not the capabilities that enable them to carry this work forward successfully when it has reached a certain stage of advancement….
Brother S_____ has been greatly blessed by God. The Lord used him to start the work at H_____. But he is not to think, because of this, that he is fitted to carry the school work forward on the broad, elevated place on which it must be carried. Others, whose education and training fit them for it, must take up the work in its advanced stages, and carry it onward and upward. But the Lord does not value the less those who in self-sacrifice and self-denial prepared the way for the work to advance.
The Lord’s workers must not think that they must be their own judges of the position they should fill. Let all remember that there are many different lines of work, and that all these lines of work are necessary. The hewers of wood and drawers of water do acceptable service, and make a success where others would certainly make a failure….
Look to Jesus. Do not spoil your record by giving way to despondency and distrust. Make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way…. The man who is nearest the Lord is the man who waits for Him as one who waits for the morning, the man who has the least confidence in self and the strongest confidence in God as the One who can save to the uttermost all who come to Him….
The Lord has an interest in all the work you are trying to do for Him. Do not worry. The day of trust is in our hands. The day of reckoning will bear the faithful witness as to how we have done our work. Let us do our best. If the Lord is with us, we shall be prospered.—Letter 64, April 24, 1902, to J. E. White, who was working among the blacks in the South.
The Upward Look p. 128
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Prayer Requests
—-I’m asking for prayers for God to intervene and me. I’ve been married to my husband for 20 yrs now. He is an alcoholic. Things are getting very bad for me. I’m turning 68 on the 23rd and It’s getting very hard on me taking care of him. He’s drunk every night. I have to keep him from getting hurt all the time. He falls in floor and it takes me forever to get him up. I love him but I’m getting worn out. Can’t sleep at night I’m at the end of my rope. Jimmie
—-Please pray for one of my sons. He is going through a real hard time right now with his wife and I am afraid he may become suicidal. He has tried in the past but God intervened greatly. Please pray for him that God will help him get back together with his wife and work all their problems out and give their hearts to God. Connie
—-Marie France is in the process of burying her daughter it is very painful for her and she needs prayer. Therese
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, because of bad weather, we stayed home and watched a religious television station for our church service. One of the speakers we watched called a young boy of about eight to the platform. The evangelist handed him a dollar bill. The boy reached out, took it gladly, and thanked the man. The evangelist then told the boy he could go back to his seat. Clutching his dollar, the boy happily obeyed.
Then the man told the audience that he had tried to use adults for this illustration but they always stood there looking at him skeptically and asked, “What’s the catch?”
Even so, we can reach out and grasp the Great Gift of Salvation as did that little boy. It is ours for the asking. When the Philippian jailer asked, ” Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 16:30, 31 Was this belief a mere mental assent? No! True belief is a wholehearted belief that changes the life.
Yes, salvation is a free gift, yet it costs us everything. Jesus explains, “the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matt 13:44-46
Isaiah urges, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isa 55:6,7 Paul adds, “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Heb 11:6
May we give diligence to make our calling and election sure. (1 Peter 1:10) May we allow nothing to hinder us from obtaining the Gift of Salvation. May we seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; for we have the promise that if we do, all these things shall be added unto us. (Matt 6:33)
Rose
Glorify God, Not Man