If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23.
The sin which is indulged to the greatest extent, and which separates us from God and produces so many contagious spiritual disorders, is selfishness. There can be no returning to the Lord except by self-denial. Of ourselves we can do nothing; but, through God strengthening us, we can live to do good to others, and in this way shun the evil of selfishness. We need not go to heathen lands to manifest our desire to devote all to God in a useful, unselfish life. We should do this in the home circle, in the church, among those with whom we associate and with whom we do business. Right in the common walks of life is where self is to be denied and kept in subordination.
Paul could say: “I die daily.” It is the daily dying to self in the little transactions of life that makes us overcomers. We should forget self in the desire to do good to others. With many there is a decided lack of love for others. Instead of faithfully performing their duty, they seek rather their own pleasure.
God positively enjoins upon all His followers a duty to bless others with their influence and means, and to seek that wisdom of Him which will enable them to do all in their power to elevate the thoughts and affections of those who come within their influence. In doing for others, a sweet satisfaction will be experienced, an inward peace which will be a sufficient reward. When actuated by a high and noble desire to do others good, they will find true happiness in a faithful discharge of life’s manifold duties. This will bring more than an earthly reward; for every faithful, unselfish performance of duty is noticed by the angels and shines in the life record.
In heaven none will think of self, nor seek their own pleasure; but all, from pure, genuine love, will seek the happiness of the heavenly beings around them. If we wish to enjoy heavenly society in the earth made new, we must be governed by heavenly principles here.
The greatest work that can be done in our world is to glorify God by living the character of Christ.
Maranatha p. 109
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Prayer Requests
—– Steven’s 12 tear old daughter Alexis is having a rod put in her back tomorrow she has scoliosis. Prayers appreciated for JoAnn who will be travelling to be there for the surgery. Also a friend of ours whose husband passed away unexpectedly before my husband did. she is having back surgery today her name is Glenda thank you .M.
—–Please pray for Nok and Mat’s salvation. Lalitha
—– Please pray for the Landmarks of Prophecy meetings that begin tonight. A thousand things need go right for a satellite series to come off well. Praying the people come, the broadcast will be clean and people hear the power of the Spirit through the presentations. If you could pause now and pray we would be very grateful. “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:” Psalm 127
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Dear Friends,
My grandfather, Edwin Harmon, would often tell me about what his life was like when he was young. Winters were harsh in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The snow was often very deep and hard to walk through. Many time, he would tell me of driving a horse and cutter over the snow. (A cutter was like a wagon with no wheels: it had runners like huge ice skates.) His favorite times would be when the snow was so deep that it would cover even the fence posts. The sun would melt the top of the snow just enough to make a very hard crust. This crust was so hard that it would hold the weight of the horse and cutter. He was no longer confined to a road. He could drive over the fences and across the fields. He could save quite a bit of time that way. This was fun for him as well as a timesaver.
As a little girl, I tried to imagine a crust of snow so hard that it would hold such a heavy weight. As I would look at a single snowflake that would land upon my mitten, I was amazed that this delicate, nearly microscopic, beautifully designed, bit of frozen water could be so strong. There is a lesson in this for us; a lesson that I didn’t realize at the time. That tiny, delicate snowflake, united with countless numbers of other snowflakes, had a strength that it could never have alone.
Just so, our Dear Saviour’s command, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt 28:19,20, can seem overwhelming for one individual. We are like a tiny snowflake obscure in the field of humanity. How can we accomplish such a great task? However, Jesus’ command is not for just one individual, but for all who have accepted Him as their Saviour. If each of us are filled with a love and concern for our fellow man, if each follow His leading, if each do our part to speak a word in season to those around us, this task can be accomplished rather quickly. (2 Tim 4:2)
The early church understood this principle. Paul explained this to the Corinthian believers, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor 3:6-11 By each believer whole-heartedly doing the work God had given them to do, they brought the gospel to the then-known world. Their enemies declared, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” Acts 17:6
We, too, can turn the world “upside down” as did the disciples of old. We, too, can accomplish the Great Commission. If we are willing, God will give us the opportunity. But the messenger must have a message. The trumpet must give a certain sound. How shall we have a message unless we study His Great Message Book? How shall we give that “certain sound” unless we are in tune with Him.
May we dig deep within God’s Holy Word, that we may be so in tune with our Great Redeemer that we will recognize the opportunities to witness that He places before us. May we rightly represent our Loving Saviour no matter where He leads us. May we be united without compromising the truth is my prayer.
Rose