If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:17.
Man was created a free moral agent. Like the inhabitants of all other worlds, he must be subjected to the test of obedience; but he is never brought into such a position that yielding to evil becomes a matter of necessity. No temptation or trial is permitted to come to him which he is unable to resist. God made such ample provision that man need never have been defeated in the conflict with Satan.
Satan is the great originator of sin; yet this does not excuse any man for sinning; for he cannot force men to do evil. He tempts them to it, and makes sin look enticing and pleasant; but he has to leave it to their own wills whether they will do it or not…. Man is a free moral agent to accept or refuse.
Conversion is a work that most do not appreciate. It is not a small matter to transform an earthly, sin-loving mind and bring it to understand the unspeakable love of Christ, the charms of His grace, and the excellency of God, so that the soul shall be imbued with divine love.
Every provision has been made; everything in God’s plan has been arranged so that man should not be left to his own impulses, to his own finite powers, to carry on the warfare against the powers of darkness in his own finite strength; because he would certainly fail if he were thus left to himself.
As a redeemed, free moral agent, ransomed by an infinite price, God calls upon you to assert your liberty, and employ your God-given powers as a free subject of the kingdom of heaven…. You are to refuse to be in subjection to the power of evil.
Let a solemn, unalterable purpose take possession of you, and resolve in the strength and grace of God, that henceforth you will live for Him, and that no earthly consideration shall persuade you to disown the divine law of ten commandments.
The Faith I Live By p. 82
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—–Please pray for Esther as she has the flu now. Ron is in the beginning stages or has a light case. I think Eileen and I have a very light case or just fighting it. Pray that flu doesn’t win the battle. Rose
—-Please pray for my safety and for my cats. Also salvation for my neighbors. And a job for me full-time. Ann
—-please pray for my step daughter and her 2children. They are homeless! Pray they can get housing soon! Debbie
—-Please pray for my Grandson, he is supposed to be born in six weeks, but he may be born today or tomorrow. Hoping it’s just false contractions my daughter in law is having. Leslie
—-Please pray for Samantha and all the other victims of this latest school shooting. Alexandra
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Dear Friends,
Freddie was my grandfather’s friend. He lived alone about three houses from us. He was quite lonely and often came to supper or just to visit my grandfather. When he would come, he would always bring me a candy bar or some other little surprise. Because of this, I really liked to have Freddie come despite the fact that he would talk to me about spirits and other scary things every time we were alone.
One day when he rang the doorbell, I ran to the door in anticipation of some treat. The first words out of my mouth when I opened the door were, “What did you bring me?” Freddie was as shocked and surprised and hurt as if I had reached out and slapped him. He suddenly realized the his presents meant more to me than he did. He handed me the candy, but he did not get any pleasure from giving it.
Freddie told my grandparents how deeply hurt he was that his gifts were more important to me than he was. He had decided that from then on, he would only occasionally bring me some little treat. It was never the same for him even on those occasions when he did so.
How often we treat our Best Friend the same way. Think of it! Our Loving Redeemer left all of the glories of Heaven to come to this sinful and wicked world that we might be saved. He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:7, 8 “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isa 53:5 Are we thankful for His Great Gift? Does our heart swell with gratitude for His sacrifice?
One of the signs of the last generation is its unthankfulness. (2 Tim 3:2) How well that describes this generation. Daily our Great Creator and Sustainer showers us with His blessings, yet how often do we thank Him for them? Paul urges us, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thes 5:18 How many times we accept His gifts as something due us. How foolish we are! There is nothing that we can do to deserve even one of His blessings. They are not a reward for our goodness. Indeed, if we were rewarded for that, how different our life would be for “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isa 64:6
The book of Psalms is full of praises to the Most High. David often sang of God’s goodness and blessings. These were written down for our benefit, that we may also praise the Great Giver of all good things. “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.” Psalm 107
“Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Heb 13:15
Rose