Perfect in all His Ways

God’s work is perfect as a whole because it is perfect in every part, however minute. He fashions the tiny spear of grass with as much care as He would exercise in making a world. If we desire to be perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect, we must be faithful in doing little things. That which is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach…. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning.

The tempter’s agency is not to be accounted an excuse for one wrong act. Satan is jubilant when he hears the professed followers of Christ making excuses for their deformity of character. It is these excuses that lead to sin. There is no excuse for sinning. A holy temper, a Christlike life, is accessible to every repenting, believing child of God.

The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. As the Son of man was perfect in His life, so His followers are to be perfect in their life…. He bids us by faith in Him attain to the glory of the character of God.

A well-balanced character is formed by single acts well performed. One defect, cultivated instead of being overcome, makes the man imperfect, and closes against him the gate of the Holy City…. In all the redeemed host not one defect will be seen….

Whatever your work may be, do it faithfully…. As you work in this way, God will place His approval on you, and Christ will one day say to you. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:21.
The Faith I Live By p. 44
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Prayer Requests
—–please pray for my son who constantly has severe lower back pain. We do all test necessary and so far nothing… he’s only 17. Joan
—–Requesting prayer for my daughter. Ann
—–please keep praying I keep my current full time job until at least March. THANKS ANN
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Dear Friends,

When we lived in southern Alabama, Ron and I decided to visit our parents. He went to visit his and I took Eileen, age 5, and drove to Florida to see my mother. Since we were both going to be gone for about two weeks, I took the food that was in the refrigerator to eat along the way. I did not want it to spoil. Unfortunately, we didn’t have an ice chest, so I decided to make one. I took a cardboard box, lined it with newspapers, put the food inside, and closed the box.

All went well for awhile, but somewhere in the panhandle of Florida, the car began to act strangely. It began to hesitate and sputter whenever it went up even the smallest hill and finally lost power altogether. I pulled the coasting car to the side of the road. It was like an oven inside the car, but we were afraid to get out because of some dogs nearby.

We began praying and eventually a man stopped to see if we were having trouble. I thought that he would take me to the next town, but he only promised to stop at the next garage and tell the mechanic about me. Perhaps he was afraid that someone would see him with a woman in the car and tell his wife. I began to think we were going to cook in that car, but still we could not get out. At long last, the mechanic came, towed us into town, and fixed the cracked distributor cap. It was only a minor problem and we soon were on our way.

When I reached my mother’s house, she was at work. I found the key she had hidden for me to use, let myself in, and unloaded the car. I carried the food inside and examined it carefully to make sure it was still OK. I had some lemon yogurt that still seemed to be cool, so I thought it would be OK to eat. Not long afterwards, I got very sick—sicker than I had ever been. I really needed help, but I didn’t know where my mother worked. I was too sick to get to the phone anyway. I sent Eileen over to Mary Esther’s house next door. She was not home. I felt like I was going to die. I was praying that I would not because Eileen needed me. Eventually, I began to feel a little better, but for the two weeks that I was there, I felt weak and poisoned and stayed in bed most of the time.

There is a way that is like that yogurt. It looks innocent enough and is even pleasurable, but it is full of poison to the soul. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov 16:25 The evil one has a counterfeit way and many find themselves on that path. Jesus pleads, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13-15

Jesus continues to explain, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” vs 16-20 So by their fruits we will be able to know if the messenger is true. What are these fruits? Jesus continues, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” vs 21-23 Often the messenger himself is deceived! How then can we know?

Isaiah gives us the answer. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:20 Here is the test. Here is the safeguard so we do not have to experience the broad way that leads to death. Everything must be tested by the Bible. We cannot always believe what we see. We cannot always believe what we hear. But we can believe God’s Word. And that Word will keep us on the right path which leads to eternal life. That Word tests the fruits, the doctrines, the actions, everything.

May we hide God’s Word deep within our heart that we may be able to discern truth from error. May we daily choose to follow Jesus on the rugged path that leads to Heaven. May we test everything by the Book of books, God’s Holy Word, that when Jesus comes in the clouds we can look up and say, “Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9

Rose