Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Jude 24.
Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law. . . .
By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.
Through the plan of redemption, God has provided means for subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong.
The strongest temptation is no excuse for sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel any one to sin. The will must consent, the heart must yield, or passion cannot overbear reason, nor iniquity triumph over righteousness.
If you will stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel, faithfully doing His service, you need never yield to temptation; for One stands by your side who is able to keep you from falling.
We need not retain one sinful propensity. . . . [Ephesians 2:1-6 quoted.] . . .
As we partake of the divine nature, hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are cut away from the character, and we are made a living power for good. Ever learning of the divine Teacher, daily partaking of His nature, we cooperate with God in overcoming Satan’s temptations. God works, and man works, that man may be one with Christ as Christ is one with God. Then we sit together with Christ in heavenly places. The mind rests with peace and assurance in Jesus.
Maranatha p. 225
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Prayer Requests
—–My sister Patti is going to have carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists. Please pray for a quick recovery and that it will be successful. Marsha
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Dear Friends,
When Esther Marie was born, her big sister was delighted. She was given the privilege of naming this new baby. She loved to hold Esther and in a few months was able to help care for her. To Eileen, it was like having a living doll to play with, only she had to be very careful with this “doll.” One thing she enjoyed doing was dressing Esther up in different outfits. In fact, she did that so often that when Esther was two or three years old, she used to change clothes many times a day. We had to correct that bad habit in a hurry.
There is a change of clothes that we all need to obtain, however. This change of garments has eternal consequences. Jesus told a story of a young man who soiled his garments and needed a change of clothes. “A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” Luke 15:11-24
How often we are like that prodigal son, chafing under restraint, thinking that the world is much more exciting than our Father’s House. How many times we become covered with filth from wallowing in the mire of sin. We, like him, can return to our Father. We, like him, can ask for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Just like the father in the parable, our Heavenly Father is watching, longing, yearning to see come to ourself and take our first step homeward. Just like the father in the parable, our Heavenly Father runs to meet us, joyfully removes our filthy garments, wraps His Robe of Righteousness, and calls upon all Heaven to rejoice. He restores to us our place in the family. We are treated just as if we had always been faithful. What love! What wonderful love!
May we accept His great gift of righteousness and restoration. May we obey our Loving Father in Heaven because of the great love and forgiveness that He so freely offers. (1 John 4:19; Rev 21:7) May we continually “serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Amen! Psalm 100
Rose