For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:21.
God committed the preparation of His divinely inspired Word to finite man. This Word, arranged into books, the Old and New Testaments, is the guidebook to the inhabitants of a fallen world, bequeathed to them that, by studying and obeying the directions, not one soul would lose its way to heaven.15Selected Messages 1:16.
The Bible points to God as its author; yet it was written by human hands; and in the varied style of its different books it presents the characteristics of the several writers. The truths revealed are all “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16); yet they are expressed in the words of men. The Infinite One by His Holy Spirit has shed light into the minds and hearts of His servants. He has given dreams and visions, symbols and figures; and those to whom the truth was thus revealed, have themselves embodied the thought in human language.16The Great Controversy, v, vi.
The Lord speaks to human beings in imperfect speech, in order that the degenerate senses, the dull, earthly perception, of earthly beings may comprehend His words. Thus is shown God’s condescension. He meets fallen human beings where they are. The Bible, perfect as it is in its simplicity, does not answer to the great ideas of God; for infinite ideas cannot be perfectly embodied in finite vehicles of thought. Instead of the expressions of the Bible being exaggerated, as many people suppose, the strong expressions break down before the magnificence of the thought, though the penman selected the most expressive language through which to convey the truths of higher education.17Selected Messages 1:22.
God designed the Bible to be a lesson-book to all mankind, in childhood, youth, and manhood, and to be studied through all time. He gave His Word to men as a revelation of Himself…. It is the medium of communication between God and man.18The Great Controversy, 69.
The Faith I Live By p. 10
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Prayer Requests
—-Please keep my nephew Jared in your prayers. He is 36. He has Moya Moya disease and has possibly had another stroke. Sherry
—-Pray that my abusive narcissist husband whom abandoned me recently who Acts like he is near to God, can see the error of his ways. Kendra
—-Pray that I can get a PT job and where I am not required to work on Sabbath. Peggy
—-Asking for prayer for my friend Malvin he hasn’t been himself for the last week or so he’s withdrawn from his friends doesn’t want to talk hasn’t been on social media at all not like him at all. Erik
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Dear Friends,
My dad had been married before he married my mother. He and his first wife had two children. I met my half-sister once when I was seventeen and a couple of other times I saw her after we were adults, but it was not until after our dad died that we got back in touch with each other. One time as we were talking on the phone she shared an experience that she had when she was about twelve. She was walking down the main street of Kalamazoo, Michigan where she lived. The traffic light turned red, so she stopped at the corner to wait for it to turn green. As soon as she saw the green light, she started to step into the street, but as she did so, she felt a hand on her shoulder holding her back. She was startled and tried to get away but could not. Just then a speeding car turned the corner right where she would have been if someone were not holding her. She turned to thank her protector, but there was no one there! In fact, she could see no one within many yards of her. Her heart filled with gratitude for God’s protecting care in sending an angel to keep her from being killed! She has always remembered that incident with a thankful heart.
This old world is full of dangers on every hand and it is only by God’s grace and protecting care that we survive. We have an enemy who desires nothing less than our destruction. Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, Satan became the god of this world. ( 2 Cor 4:4) He delights in our misery and heartache. Paul warns us, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph 6:12 Peter also speaks of this unseen enemy. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8, 9
Praise God, the evil one does not have full control! Because of the great love of God, the evil one cannot go beyond a certain point. Our Dear Saviour assures us, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13
Our Great Redeemer sends His angels to protect us just as surely as He did for my half-sister that long-ago day. We can trust His watchcare over us. We can have the same assurance as did David when he said, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Ps 4:8 Just as God sent His angels to surround Daniel in the lion’s den, so He places a hedge of protection about us.
Psalm 91 is full of promises of God’s protecting care and the conditions for receiving it. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”
May we so live, that we may claim these precious promises is my prayer.
Rose