The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Titus 2:11.
I am watching and waiting for the coming of my Lord. I have not only to wait and watch and pray, but must work most diligently as well. Every action of our lives, in our business transactions with our fellow men, is to be regulated by the law of God, and we cannot then swerve from right and justice toward our fellow men under any circumstance; for the Lord will not serve with any man’s sins that would injure his neighbor. With our faces heavenward, breathing out our petitions to God, developing an unselfish love for our fellow men, because we have supreme love for Jesus Christ, who has bought them with His own blood, we rise superior to the most grievous, subtle temptations. Humble dependence upon God is our surety and our power. “My soul, wait thou upon God, who is the light of my countenance and my God” (cf. Psalm 62:5; 43:5)….
In every instance those with whom we associate are to be treated, if in humble circumstances with great deference and respect, because they have so little to make life happy, and because they need help. Souls are too precious to be trifled with. They are God’s purchased possession. Those who are passed by as inferior, the Lord will see set in high places, if they trust in Him.
The grace of God takes men as they are, and works as an educator, using every principle on which an all-sided education depends. The steady influence of the grace of God trains the soul after Christ’s methods, and every fierce passion, every defective trait of character is worked upon by the molding influence of the spirit of Christ, until new motive power becomes filled with the Holy Spirit of God, after the likeness of the divine similitude.
Never forget that thoughts work out actions. Repeated actions form habits, and habits form character. Then in giving attention to the little things, there is no fear that the larger things will become stained and corrupted.
The Bible is to be the rule of life. It is marvelous in the eyes of the universe of heaven that men who teach the Word do not always practice the truth. Few realize what it means to be complete in Christ Jesus, the revealed will of God. His Word is not dishonored by being brought into practical life to form habits which will develop character.—Letter 85, March 16, 1896, to O. A. Olsen, General Conference president.
The Upward Look p. 89
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Laurel who has given up on life and wants to die before Christmas. Rose
—-Please pray for my work situation. Ron
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Dear Friends,
A number of years ago, I received an e-mail with a link to a website where just by clicking a little square, the sponsoring merchants donate money to be used for breast cancer research. I thought that was a great idea and added the site to my “favorites.” Every day for weeks, I visited the site and clicked on the appropriate square. How good it felt to help with that cancer that had destroyed my friend Darlene’s life.
Gradually, however, I visited the site less and less until one day, I completely forgot about it altogether. It was not because I didn’t feel the same about the disease. It wasn’t because I intended to neglect such a simple way to help. Other interests, other duties just crowded it to the back of my mind until now I can’t even remember the website address. (My old computer crashed wiping them and a lot of other data out.)
How often we do the same in a spiritual sense. When we first hear the Good News of Salvation, our heart is thrilled. We determine to follow our Lord for the rest of our life. We vow to let nothing to get in the way, but as time goes by, our “first love” (Rev 2:4) begins to dim, other interests creep in, old habits begin to return, old desires strengthen until we settle down into a routine of “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Tim 3:5
Our Dear Saviour spoke concerning this tendency we all have: “Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” Later, He explained this parable to His disciples, “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matt 13:3-8, 18-23
Jesus declared, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt 24:13 Paul speaks of this enduring, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Cor 9:24-27
May we be “good ground” hearers allowing nothing to come between us and our Redeemer. May we “give diligence to make [our] calling and election sure” always asking ourselves the question, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” 2 Peter 1:10; Heb 2:3 May we ” lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 12:1,2
Rose