But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9.
God gives men the light, but many are filled with a self-sufficient, masterly spirit; and they strive by carrying out their own ideas to reach a height where they will be as God. They place their mind first, as if God must serve with them. Herein lies the danger in this: Unless God shall in some way make these men understand that He is God, and that they are to serve Him, human inventions will be brought in that will lead away from Bible truth, notwithstanding all the cautions that have been given.
The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life, He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the word of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action, if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach….
God is not “worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing” (Acts 17:25). No magnificence of outward display can please God, when the heart is serving idols and the hands are polluted with iniquity. The Holy Spirit will unite with those in the church who, with contrition of heart, will walk humbly with God. To all who look to Him and walk in the footsteps of Christ, He gives sanctification, comfort, and victory over the world. The people of God, His chosen kingdom, are not as a stagnant pool. They are as a river, constantly flowing, and as it advances becoming deeper and wider, until its life-giving waters are spread over all the earth. Whenever the gospel of God is received, its grace heals the maladies that sin has produced. The Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in His beams. Light, strength, and refreshing come from the Lord, and the good fruit borne bears witness to a work of righteousness.—Manuscript 33, April 27, 1903, “God’s Purpose for His Church.”
The Upward Look p. 131
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for A who is very ill. B
—-Please pray for my cousin David who had a heart attack and is on a ventilator. Mike
—-Please pray earnestly for my friend Fran. She has cancer and is in a lot of pain. Rose
—-Please pray for me. I am so sick with pain in my gallbladder. Connie
—-Shawn was admitted to the burn center for burns to both knees and was told that he would be sedated and placed in the debridement tub to wash and medicate his wounds. Thank you for your prayers. Kathy
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Dear Friends,
When Eileen was a little girl, she did not like to go outside and play. I thought that it was so unusual for a child to feel this way. I questioned her. She had no good reason, so knowing that it was healthy for her to get fresh air and sunshine, I would force her to play outside for an hour or so despite her protests. Sometimes I would go outside with her, but some days I was just too busy.
One busy day, when she was three, I had sent her out to play and started vacuuming. Eileen decided that she would punish me for forcing her to go outside against her wishes. As I was vacuuming, a quick movement suddenly caught my eye. It startled me and I let out a gasp and a scream. Eileen got way too much pleasure from that.
As soon as I saw that it was only a large toad, I felt silly. I’m not afraid of amiphibians or reptiles or other creepy crawly things. I knew that toad could not have gotten into an upstairs bedroom without help. I called, “Eileen, you get this toad out of here right now!” In her three-year-old mind, she thought, “What fun! I punished Mommy! I have given her what she deserved.”
How often we take things into our own hands and decide to do some punishing just as Eileen did. How many times we judge someone’s motive, and later find we were so wrong. This only makes a situation worse. This is not our Dear Saviour’s way. He gently leads us as we are able to understand, as we are able to accept. He assures us, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3 Sometimes this takes years to change us, but He feels that it is well worth the effort. “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied” Isa 53:11
As David watched over his sheep so long ago, he meditated upon God’s care for His people. He sang, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Ps 23 What a beautiful description of our Dear Saviour’s care.
He declares of Himself, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:11-14 He feeds us both spiritually and physically as does a shepherd. He gathers us into his Great Arms of Love and gently leads us in the way that we should go. (Isa 40:11)
Our Great Redeemer is not impatient when He does not get immediate results in His leading. No! He bears long with us. “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” Isa 48:17 So, when dealing with our fellow man, we must have the same patience and longsuffering, gently teaching, lovingly unfolding the Word of God. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psa 119:130 As their understanding dawns, so their behaviour will change. As the light of God’s Holy Word takes root in their heart, it will result in a bountiful harvest.
Let us gently lead those about us into all the truth. Let us be patient with those who are erring. Let us make sure that we follow our Loving Shepherd’s example and ways in all things is my prayer.
Rose

God Has His Chosen People