Look at the Pattern

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105.
The worker for God is not left without a pattern. He is given an example which, if followed, will make him a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. He is bidden to glorify God by carrying out unselfish aims and purposes. The Lord understands man’s nature, and He holds up before him the laws of the kingdom of heaven, which he is to honor and obey. He places the Bible in his hands, as the guidebook that will show him what is truth, and what he must do in order to inherit eternal life. This book draws the attention from temporal interests to spiritual realities. It tells man, fallen and sinful though he is, that he can become a prince and a king in the heavenly courts, an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ.
God sees how strong man’s inclination is to accumulate earthly treasure, and in the highways and byways of life His voice is heard saying, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
God’s messengers are commissioned to take up the very work that Christ did while on this earth. They are to give themselves to every line of ministry that He carried on. With earnestness and sincerity they are to tell men of the unsearchable riches and the immortal treasures of heaven. They are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They are to repeat Heaven’s offers of peace and pardon. They are to point to the gates of the city of God, saying, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14). . . .
He expects everyone to work for Him according to his several ability. Man’s activity is not to be repressed, but sanctified and rightly directed.–Manuscript 27, Jan. 22, 1907, “The New England Sanitarium.”
This Day with God p. 30
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Prayer Requests
—– Please pray for a close friend of mine. She’s not much older than me & is in ICU right now. They think she has had a heart attack. Marion
——update on Jackie— This has been a very hard time for our family! My mom has a couple good days and then she has days that are absolutely horrible. It just kind of feels like a Rollercoaster ride. Your emotions one day are high and hopeful and then the next they plummet. We can’t thank everyone enough for the continued support and love! We serve a powerful amazing God that is capable of anything! I cling to that promise! But, I also cling to the promise that if my Mom passes the very next thing she sees will be her saviors face! What a promise!!! [Sent in by Wanangwa]
—– My poor little Garren has a small break in his right wrist. He and his brothers were launching each other off the couch and he landed wrong on his wrist. Laura [Pray for speedy healing.]
—–Please pray for Ronnie Jay as he will be getting loaded up to move across country. Brian and Esther will be helping him. Please pray for their safety and that they will have a pleasant trip. Rose
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Notice: Because of the Christmas holiday, this is the last devotional until Monday.
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Dear Friends,
When Ron and I were first married, we lived at Berrien Springs, Michigan. There were many fun things to do in the area at that time, and it seemed like Ron always wanted to do something in the evenings. Somehow he found out about a place where we could ride horses and decided that was going to be the entertainment for the evening. I wasn’t too excited about that because I’m allergic to horses and had not even been near a horse since I was about five. That didn’t matter. He had not been on a horse in years either.
Of course, we went. I managed to pull myself up on that huge animal which was not an easy task. As soon as I was in the saddle, that beast knew that I had no idea what I was doing. Animals can sense those things. Since I did not know how to control that horse, she decided that she would control me. We were supposed to follow the guide as he took us on a trail ride. My horse was tired of seeing the same scenery. She decided to stray from the path. I made an effort to get her back on the path, but she knew who was boss. She was! The guide came back to where I was and gave me a few instructions. Not too far down the path, that creature spied a delicious clump of tender grasses. Off the path she went to eat her delicacy. Since I was her captive, I went along too.
The guide was getting a little impatient. This trail ride was taking much longer than it was supposed to. Several times this happened and finally he just took the reigns away from me and led the horse the rest of the way. By that time I was beyond caring. My eyes itched, my nose was running, and I was miserable. Humiliation was the least of my worries.
How often we are attracted to sin that cause us to end up in worse condition than I was in that day. It may be just a small thing that we are sure we can try just once and never do again. At first it seems like it will give us the pleasure we are looking for, but soon we find that there is no controlling it. We try our best, but no matter what we do, we are held captive by it. The sin that looked so innocent becomes our master.
We realize our condition, but we are so helpless that we cannot do anything to change. We are taken wherever our sin carries us. We cry out in our helplessness for someone to help, for someone to save us from our condition. Praise God, there is Someone Who hears. He hears our voice and supplications. He inclines His ear unto us. He gives us the help that we need. He assures us, “Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee. Isa 41:10, 13 “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me.” 27:5 “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” 30:21 Precious Saviour! He is our Helper, our Comforter, our Guide, our Salvation!
Let us pray as did David, “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Ps 119:133 Let us reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us determine that by His power and grace, sin will not reign in us or have dominion over us, is my prayer.
Rose