And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3.
Many, very many, will be terribly surprised when the Lord shall come suddenly as a thief in the night. Let us watch and pray, lest coming suddenly He find us sleeping. My soul is deeply stirred as I consider how much we ought to do for perishing souls. The prediction of Daniel, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4), is to be fulfilled in our giving of the warning message; many are to be enlightened regarding the sure word of prophecy….
The salvation of souls should be our first consideration. I am troubled when I see many rejoicing in temporal prosperity, for those who possess worldly treasure seldom seek earnestly to secure the heavenly. They are in danger of falling into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown man in destruction….
We need a more firm reliance upon a “Thus saith the Lord.” If we have this, we shall not trust to feeling, and be ruled by feeling. God asks us to rest in His love. It is our privilege to know the Word of God as a sure and tried guide, an infallible assurance. Let us work on the faith side of the question. Let us believe and trust, and talk faith and hope and courage. Let the praise of God be in our hearts and on our lips oftener than it is. “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me” (Psalm 50:23). Keep the mind stayed upon God, and know the love of Christ as the Word of God reveals it. This Word is life. Talk of Christ; call others to behold Him as your Redeemer.
It is our privilege to rest in an active, living faith in Christ as the Life-giver. It is our privilege to comprehend with all saints, what is the length and depth and height, and to know the love of God which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fullness of God. Let us contemplate Christ as the One in whom all fullness dwells. Beholding Him as our personal Saviour, we shall appreciate the value of His saving grace. We should think about Jesus more than we do. We should let His praise be in our hearts. We should speak of the love that has been so abundantly expressed for us. We certainly have every reason to praise God with heart and soul and voice, saying, I will praise the Lord for His great love wherewith He hath loved me….
Lift Him up, the Christ of Calvary; lift Him up, that the world may behold Him. Talk of His goodness, sing of His love, and give Him the grateful thanks of your hearts.—Letter 12, January 23, 1907, to “Brother and Sister Nicola.”
The Upward Look p. 37
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my dear 85 year old mother. She has an awful cough and she may have bronchitis or pneumonia. Please pray God will spare her life again. Connie
—-I just got an email from my sister that her mentally and verbally abusive husband left this morning and is threatening to take their adopted son who he doesn’t even seem to care much for, please pray for them. My sister’s name is Daniella, David
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Dear Friends,
When Ron and I were newly married, we celebrated our anniversary every week. We had gotten married on a Thursday, so every Thursday after work, we did something fun. Most of the time, we went miniature golfing, but Ron was growing tired of it and decided that we should do something new and different. To my dismay, he decided that we should go horseback riding at a nearby stables.
Horseback riding brought out two problems that Ron was about to learn that I had. 1. I’m allergic to horses. 2. I didn’t know how to ride. Not wanting to put a damper on Ron’s enthusiasm, however, I put on a forced smile determined that I would not spoil his fun. When we got to the stables, my nose began to itch. I tried not to sneeze. We mounted our horses and off we went. We had not gotten very far down the trail before I began to be very miserable. My nose was running like a faucet and my horse had figured out that she was in control. If a horse could smile, that one was grinning. She saw some tender plant a little ways off the path and trotted over and began to eat. No matter how many times I pulled on the reigns, she kept eating. The others were getting farther down the path. I had visions of being left at the mercy of this creature that was making me so sick.
The guide noticed my predicament and rescued me. Giving me a few instructions, she rode back up to the front of the group. Her instructions did not help a bit. That horse was not going to give up control so easily. Soon she had spied a nice delicacy farther from the trail. Off she trotted carrying me along with her.
The leader again came to my rescue. Even though I tried to gain control, that horse was my master. I was not having a good time and neither were any of the others in the group. Everyone was glaring at me for ruining their ride. Several more times that horse took me where I did not want to go. I was humiliated, that is true, but mostly I just wanted off from that beast so I could go home and take an allergy pill.
Finally the leader rode back past the group, found where my horse had taken me, and took the reins. My horse was not happy and I was embarrassed, but at least we were now going in the right direction. We trotted by all the group and led the way.
How often it is the same in our life. If we do not allow Jesus to lead us, the evil one takes control just as did that beast I was attempting to ride. Before long we have find ourselves far from the narrow path and unable to get back to where we should be. (Matt 7:13, 14) We try and try our hardest, but without success. We become an embarrassment to ourselves and to others. Try as we might, we are trapped in the snares of the evil one. What at one time seemed like a pleasure, now binds us with strong chains and we are helpless to break free.
We feel as did David when he prayed, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.” “O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.” Ps 69:1-3;25:20 We cry out as did Paul, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Rom 7:24
He then answers his own question, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Praise God we have a Heavenly Guide, Who will rescue us from our strayings! We only need to ask and He will deliver us. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.” 2 Peter 2:9 “The LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.” Isa 33:22 Indeed, He has given His own life to ransom us from all evil. He “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14
May we allow Jesus to take hold of the reins of our life and lead us in the way we should go. May we pray as did Jeremiah, “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” Jer 17:16 May the Lord “deliver (us) from every evil work, and preserve (us) unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 2 Tim 4:18
Rose

Infallible Assurance