For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17.
The promises are, “A new heart will I give you”; “I will put my Spirit within you.” This provision is made for us through the merit of Christ’s righteousness: “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” Isaiah 32:17. Those who experience the change spoken of in these words will find that their restlessness and disquietude are all taken away, and they will find rest unto their souls in Christ. His merit, His righteousness, are imputed to the believing soul, and the believer has inward peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
The Lord would have all His sons and daughters happy, peaceful, and obedient….
Happiness that is sought from selfish motives, outside of the path of duty, is ill-balanced, fitful, and transitory; it passes away, and the soul is filled with loneliness and sorrow; but there is joy and satisfaction in the service of God; the Christian is not left to walk in uncertain paths; he is not left to vain regrets and disappointments. If we do not have the pleasures of this life, we may still be joyful in looking to the life beyond.
But even here Christians may have the joy of communion with Christ; they may have the light of His love, the perpetual comfort of His presence. Every step in life may bring us closer to Jesus, may give us a deeper experience of His love, and may bring us one step nearer to the blessed home of peace.
There is peace in believing, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Believing brings peace, and trusting in God brings joy. Believe, believe! my soul says, believe. Rest in God. He is able to keep that which you have committed to His trust. He will bring you off more than conqueror through Him who hath loved you.
The Faith I Live By p. 121
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that God will supply all my children’s needs. Buck
—-Update on my Dad: He’s still in the hospital battling pneumonia. This morning was rough, this afternoon was better where his fever actually broke for the first time in 5 days, then tonight it’s back. So there is no hope in going home for awhile yet & he still feels crummy so I know he must be feeling a little discouraged. Thankfully he has great nurses & Drs keeping a close eye on him. Keep the prayers coming! Marion
—-Requesting prayers for my son-in-law Jimmy his lung collapsed while he was sleeping last night. Donna
—-My mother has developed an irregular heartbeat and mild temp tonight. She’s still in the hospital recovering from major surgery.
Please keep her in your prayers as well as her medical team. Sylvia
—-A friend of mine’s mother is in the hospital with shortness of breath, chest pain and on medication until a cardiologist can see her. I was hoping that some of you could join me in prayer for her mom, that if God wills, whatever is wrong that the Lord can keep her alive and renew her and she will be able to spend more time with her family and still continue to do work for the Lord for the remainder of her time. Brent
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Dear Friends,
Years ago, Ronnie Jay bought some guppies one day to add to his many pets. Soon his new fish had a nice environment in which to live. Before long, that pair of guppies had some little ones. A few of them survived, and Ronnie Jay got great enjoyment discovering those tiny baby guppies’ hiding places. Although he liked his new pets, he did not like the fact that the adult fish ate the younger ones. This cruelty spoiled his joy at seeing these tiny specks of life.
How often it is the same with us. How many times we do the very thing the Apostle Paul warned against when he said, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” Gal 5:15 How easy it is to destroy someone with our words just as surely as did those adult guppies destroyed the babies. Cruel words bite like a serpent causing wounds that cannot be healed. How we deal with the little ones in our life (whether young in years or babes in Christ, the application is the same) will bear fruit as they mature. If we have turned them away from God because of our biting, devouring words or example, woe unto us. Our Dear Saviour warns, “whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matt 18:6 Fearful words! Indeed, our treatment of others largely determines where not only they but where we will spend eternity.
James tells us, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. . . .Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 1:26; 3:2-15
May we be very careful in our treatment of others. May we, by our loving words and ways, lead those around us to the Kingdom of Heaven. May we pray as did David, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Ps 19:14
Rose
Joy and Peace in the Holy Ghost