Qualifications of Heavenly Citizenship
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.
“Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). I want to sow for time and eternity. My heart hungers and thirsts after righteousness. I want my life hid in Christ Jesus, that my sowing shall bring me the right kind of a harvest. I feel deeply in regard to my own self, for every day, in words or in actions, I am sowing either tares or wheat. I want to sow for time or eternity. I have lived nearly the period of my allotted time, and what shall the harvest be? I want a quiet and unwavering trust in the Most High. I have experienced His protecting care in a remarkable manner when following the path of duty. I want to go down to the grave as a shock of corn fully ripe. I want no complaining in my heart; only gratitude should abide there. God’s mercy and His loving-kindness are to be kept, not as a thing out of mind, but as something so precious as never to be forgotten. As eyewitnesses of His majesty we may exalt and praise His holy name. We are with Him in the holy mount.
Every moment of time is precious and weighty with eternal consequences. We are in a world of appearances which mock and deceive like the apples of Sodom. O how the Lord looks upon the double-dealing and the duplicity which is in our world! If we could not get a glimpse above and beyond the clouds to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness we might well be downcast, but Jesus lives. . . .
The discipline in the school of Christ will cause the church to lean upon the arm of her Beloved. The redeemed of the Lord shall at last come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, in victorious triumph. All the angelic hosts will rejoice over them with singing. But what are the qualifications of our citizenship? “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.”
That I May Know Him p. 353
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for my friend Alice who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Esther
—– Please pray that Tom’s insurance will give their consent for him to have the shot in his back. they okayed the surgery this is safer and cheaper. his DR. said they can’t make a move without permission. Second prayer request is for Margaret who was given a new kind of medicine and it has caused her to have all kinds of bad side effects. Mary
—–Please pray for the family of Jesse who passed away this week. Rose
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Dear Friends,
When Esther was living in another state about ten years ago, I received a call from her doctor telling me that I needed to come stay with her as she was very sick. I knew that it had to be very serious because doctors just don’t make phone calls like that. Eileen and I dropped everything and rushed up to be with her (a drive of twelve hours). For the next two weeks my whole focus was getting my younger daughter well. When she was out of danger and I had to leave to get back to work, I left Eileen there to continue to watch over her until she had fully recovered.
As I was thinking about how our whole focus was on helping Esther to get well, it made me think of our Dear Heavenly Father’s whole focus on curing us from our sin-sickness. When our first parents sinned, the great plan of salvation, which had been planned before the foundation of the earth was laid, went into effect. (Eph 1:3, 4; Rev 13:8) Jesus promised them, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Gen 3:15 Think of it! The Great God of the Universe left all of the glories of Heaven, the worship of all of the the angels and unfallen beings on all of the worlds in space, and came to this dark, sinful, old planet to receive all of the abuse that sinful man ureged on by demons could afflict upon Him in order to rescue us from the evil one who is “going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 What love! What wondrous love!
How quickly He comes to our aid when we need Him. He bids us, “call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Ps 50:15 He promises, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3 Praise God! He is always there watching over us, tenderly caring for us in our great need even though at times we may not realize it. Jesus gave us a parable to give us courage when there seems to be a delay in His answering our prayer. “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.” Luke 18:1-8 We can safely trust the One Who loves us so to answer at the very best time and way.
May we cast all of our care upon Him Who cares for us trusting fully in His love. (1 Peter 5:7) May we cling to our Precious Redeemer in good times as well as in bad knowing that He is holding our hand. May we soon joyously meet our Saviour face to face when He comes to rescue us is my prayer.
Rose