And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:17.
The influence of grace is to soften the heart, to refine and purify the feelings, giving a heaven-born delicacy and sense of propriety. A Christian cannot be self-exalted, for this is not Christlike. The world’s Redeemer, the sinner’s substitute and surety, says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)….
But let us continually bear in mind that the meek and lowly Jesus has the spirit and the ambition of a conqueror. The vast dominions over which earthly potentates hold sway form no adequate theater for the exercise of His grace, the expression of His love, and the manifestation of His glory. He who loves the Lord Jesus Christ in truth and sincerity will love those whom Christ died to save, and will eagerly embrace every opportunity to minister to Christ in the person of His disciples.
We must look at our lives as sons and daughters of God, as laborers with Jesus Christ, living for a noble purpose. We are representatives of Jesus Christ in character, and are to serve Him with our undivided affections. Not only will we reveal the fact that we love God, but will, in accordance with His holy character, live a pure, perfect life. We must live perfection, because in looking at Jesus we see in Him the embodiment of perfection; and the great Center upon whom our hope of eternal life and happiness is centered will lead us to unity and harmony….
The life we now live must be by faith in Jesus Christ. If we are Christ’s followers our lives will not be as pieced out by little cheap spasmodic actions according to circumstances and surroundings—jerking actions, revealing feelings to be our master, indulging in little frettings, envious faultfindings, jealousies, and selfish vanity. These put us all out of harmony with the harmonious life of Jesus Christ, and we cannot be overcomers if we retain these defects….
When exposed to varied scenes in life, and words are spoken that are calculated to cut and bruise the soul, speak to yourself: “I am a child of God, an heir with Jesus Christ, a colaborer with God. I must not therefore have a cheap mind, easily to take offense, always thinking of myself, for this will naturally produce an inharmonious character. It is unworthy of my noble calling. The heavenly Father has given me my work to do; let me be worthy of the trust.”—Letter 78, January 22, 1893, to E. J. Waggoner, a prominent minister.
The Upward Look p. 36
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Prayer Requests
—-I need your continued prayers for my little preemie granddaughter. Ann
—-Please pray for me. My husband is being so mean to me. He is not physically hurting me but he is very verbally abusive and emotionally abusive. I can hardly take any more. Connie
—-Please continue to pray for David. Things are no better. Buck
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Dear Friends,
Someone near and dear to my heart is going through some very difficult trials. She has been tempted to feel stressed and overwhelmed. Yet, God has been there to help her in so many ways. He has sent comfort through family and friends who are giving her guidance and support. God is good and will give her a clear path through her distresses!
How often, as perplexities surround us, as trials and uncertainties threaten to overwhelm us, we are tempted to say “The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.” Isa 49:14 Yet, He is with each one of us in those trials we all face that threaten to overwhelm us.
He, Who gave His only Son for us, assures us, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” Isa 43:2;49:15
Paul declared, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?… Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:35-39
Praise God! Because of His love and grace, we can declare with assurance, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed….For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor 4:8,9,17,18 Through God’s Holy Word, we can look beyond this present moment and see what is happening behind the scenes. We can, as did Moses, choose “to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures” of this world which are soon to perish. Heb 11:25,26 As did Abraham, we can look “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” vs 10
A song by Ira Stanphill called I Don’t Know about Tomorrow illustrates the attitude and faith that we should have in our day-to-day experience:
I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day;
I don’t borrow from it’s sunshine, for it’s skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said;
And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead.
Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.
I don’t know about tomorrow, it may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow, is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion, may be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me, and I’m covered with His blood.
Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.
May we trust in our Loving Saviour no matter what the future holds. May we rely upon Him in whatever circumstance we find ourself. May we, when overwhelmed and perplexed, “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16
Rose

I am a Child of God