He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:6.
We have before us the highest, holiest example. In thought, word, and deed Jesus was sinless. Perfection marked all that He did. He points us to the path that He trod, saying, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24.1The Review and Herald, April 26, 1906.
Christ unites in His person the fullness and perfection of the Godhead and the fullness and perfection of sinless humanity. He met all the temptations by which Adam was assailed, and overcame these temptations because in His humanity He relied upon divine power. This subject demands far more contemplation than it receives. Christians strike too low. They are content with a superficial spiritual experience, and therefore they have only the glimmerings of light, when they might discern more clearly the wonderful perfection of Christ’s humanity, which rises far above all human greatness, all human power. Christ’s life is a revelation of what fallen human beings may become through union and fellowship with the divine nature….
Men and women frame many excuses for their proneness to sin. Sin is represented as a necessity, an evil that cannot be overcome. But sin is not a necessity. Christ lived in this world from infancy to manhood, and during that time He met and resisted all the temptations by which man is beset. He is a perfect pattern of childhood, of youth, of manhood.2Manuscript 31, 1911.
The life of Christ has shown what humanity can do by being partaker of the divine nature. All that Christ received from God we too may have. Then ask and receive…. Let your life be knit by hidden links to the life of Jesus.3Christ’s Object Lessons, 149.
The Faith I Live By p. 219
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Prayer Requests
—-We cannot find two very important papers that Ron needs in order to get a job. We have looked everywhere. Please pray that we can find at least one of them before Monday. Rose
—-Please pray for Ilene who was burned over 20% of her body Thursday evening. Rose
—-Please pray for Marcia who had a double mastectomy this past week. M
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Dear Friends,
This past week, someone I know was telling me about a friend who made a decision that was totally opposite what was thought he should have. This friend was being criticized for how he was handling a certain situation. This made me think of the many times I and my family members had been misunderstood and criticized and the effect that had had upon us. It made me wonder what would have happened if instead of criticism there had been understanding. Then I began to realize how many times I have done the same.
How often we lack understanding in our dealing with others. How many times we think that someone should be acting a certain way or doing certain things, but we don’t really realize what they are going through. If we were to live in the same circumstances, we might discover that we were doing as they do, or we might become overwhelmed and unable to bear their burdens at all.
Praise God! Our Loving Creator never misjudges us! “The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.” Ps 87:6 When He looks at our life, He takes into consideration our background, all that we have gone through in the past, what we are going through in the present, the opportunities that we have had, the sorrows, the cares, the burdens we bare; and judges us accordingly. Wonderful Saviour! How kind and tender He is toward us! He understands what we are going through; for He left all of the glories of Heaven to dwell with us, to live as we live, to walk as we walk.
He, Who sacrificed all for us, warns us, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. . . . And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.” “Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.” Luke 6:37-42;11:46
James tells us, “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. . . . who art thou that judgest another?” James 4:11, 12 Paul adds, “thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” Rom 2:1-3
May we “put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Col 3:12-15
Rose
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