These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:17.
Christ’s prayer [in John 17] … is an illustration of the intercession that He is offering for us before the Father.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth,” He prayed (Verse 17). “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (Verses 18-23).
Today the One who uttered this prayer is interceding before the Father in behalf of the human beings He has redeemed. He presents them to Jehovah, saying, “I have graven them upon the palms of My hands” (cf. Isaiah 49:16).
Sanctification is to come through the truth; oneness with Christ—this is God’s purpose for us. By their sanctification and their unity, Christians are to give evidence to the world that a perfect work has been done for them, in and through Christ. Thus they are to bear witness that God sent His Son to save sinners. Will you not let Christ carry on this work of sanctification in your hearts? You may all be complete in Him. You have the assurance that through the sanctification of the truth you may be made perfect in one….
The Saviour is acquainted with the mental suffering of His children. He knows how at times their hearts are wounded and bleeding. He would have the afflicted soothed and helped. He says to us, “Bear ye one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1). We are to relate ourselves rightly to one another, even though to do this demands sacrifice. Christ made an infinite sacrifice for us, and should we not be willing to sacrifice for others? We are to guard carefully against wounding or bruising the hearts of God’s children, for when we do this, we wound and bruise the heart of Christ.—Letter 31, January 17, 1904, to Elder and Mrs. J. A. Burden, and Dr. and Mrs. D. H. Kress.
The Upward Look p.31
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for a family of 2 who are facing my challenges at this moment. Becky
—-Prayer request for my sister who has Lymes disease. She just got the bulls eye. She is having symptoms. Debra
—-My husband’s brother ” Patrick” had a heart attack early yesterday morning he had emergency open-heart surgery he came through the surgery. The doctor said all heart attacks are bad but the one Patrick had is the worst heart attack a person can have. He is currently in ICU in stable condition but needs prayers for a healing recovery. Jo Ann
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Dear Friends,
A few months ago, Ronnie Jay and Wanangwa came for a visit. It was so very nice to see them! Shortly after they got home, we got a call from Ronnie Jay asking if we had seen his wife’s keys. It was doubly important since she had a ten-hour trip the next day for librarian meetings. We searched here while they searched there but to no avail. Esther, Eileen, and I came together to pray to the One Who knew where the keys were located.
As soon as Esther prayed “Please put it in our mind where the keys are if they are here or put it in their minds if they are there.” the phone rang.
Ronnie Jay said “We found them! All of a sudden I remembered that she had given me something to put in my backpack when we were hiking. I looked and there they were!”
We were praising God for His watchcare over even the smallest details of life. Think of it! The great King of the Universe, He, Who upholds “all things by the word of his power,” answered our prayer at the very moment we had asked! Indeed, He is interested in every aspect of the lives of all those whom He has redeemed. “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” Ps 116:1,2 “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Ps 107:1
Even though life is short and full of trials, God shows in a multitude of ways His great love for us. Indeed, He loves us with an everlasting love and draws us to Himself with His loving kindness. (Jer 31:3) David assures us, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” Ps 103:13-18
May we daily rejoice as we see evidence of our Dear Saviour’s love and care. May we “bless the LORD at all times: [and let His] praise… continually be in [our] mouth.” May we always recognize the blessings and goodness of God and “bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore” is my prayer. Ps 34:1;115:18
Rose

Love as Christ Loves