And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20.
Ever since Adam yielded his mind to Satan’s device, the conflict has raged between right and wrong, between God and Satan. Connected with the doing of right there is a power that Satan cannot overcome. Righteousness has a vitality that is divine. Truth will triumph at last over falsehood, and God will vanquish the enemy.26Manuscript 82, 1900.
Christ conquered Satan in our behalf…. He is mightier than Satan, and He will shortly bruise him under our feet.27Testimonies for the Church 3:526.
In mercy to the universe … God will finally destroy the rejecters of His grace.28The Great Controversy, 543.
“Upon the wicked he shall rain quick burning coals, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” Psalm 11:6 (margin).29The Great Controversy, 672.
While life is the inheritance of the righteous, death is the portion of the wicked. Moses declared to Israel, “I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil.” Deuteronomy 30:15. The death referred to in these scriptures is not that pronounced upon Adam, for all mankind suffer the penalty of his transgression. It is the “second death” that is placed in contrast with everlasting life.30The Great Controversy, 544.
In the cleansing flames the wicked are at last destroyed, root and branch—Satan the root, his followers the branches. The full penalty of the law has been visited; the demands of justice have been met; and heaven and earth, beholding, declare the righteousness of Jehovah.
Satan’s work of ruin is forever ended. For six thousand years he has wrought his will, filling the earth with woe, and causing grief throughout the universe. The whole creation has groaned and travailed together in pain. Now God’s creatures are forever delivered from his presence and temptations.31The Great Controversy, 673.
It should be the aim of your life to fit yourself for association with the redeemed, with holy angels, and with Jesus, the world’s Redeemer.32The Signs of the Times, April 8, 1889.
The Faith I Live By p. 72
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Lori who is having surgery for kidney stones Monday morning at 6:30 AM. Eileen
—-Please pray for E and children. A situation has come up that could be serious. Pray for guidance and protection. R
—-Please pray for Carol and her family. Rose
—-I request your prayers for several individuals today.
Firstly, my granddaughter is currently in labor and delivery, awaiting the arrival of my new great-grandchild into our chaotic world. Your prayers for a smooth and safe delivery would be deeply appreciated.
Secondly, our friend Marvin, who is courageously battling cancer and a brain disorder that causes his veins and arteries to collapse and bleed, requires prayers for recovery, healing, and a successful treatment outcome.
Thirdly, please take a moment to pray for Christy (Marvin’s wife) for strength, hope, and comfort as her 92-year-old grandmother, who suffered a fall yesterday and fractured her femur. Pray for the grandmother’s healing and a swift recovery. Brian P.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
When Esther was five years old, she had long, beautiful reddish-brown hair. It was so pretty. She did not like it, however, and wanted it cut short. Ron and I explained to her that once her hair was cut it would take a long time to grow back. That didn’t change her mind but said nothing more.
One Sunday morning, while Ron and I were still in bed, she talked her brother into being her barber. When we woke up, what a sight met our eyes! Ronnie Jay did not have the skill to cut hair and knew it. He cut off just a tiny bit. Esther was not happy with him, so she grabbed the scissors and made quite a mess of things. As she looked into the mirror, she was very sorry that she had wanted a haircut. I evened it up as best I could, but it still looked pretty bad. She had to learn to live with her decision. It was not a lasting problem, thankfully. Hair grows; and within months, her hair was presentable again.
Sometimes the decisions we make in life are not so easily rectified. Sometimes in a moment of weakness we make a decision that changes the course of our life. Pilate had heard of Jesus. He had opportunity to accept Him when Jesus talked with him during His trial. God even sent a dream to Pilate’s wife to help him to make the right decision. The governor wavered. He knew that the Jews had delivered Jesus up to be crucified because they were jealous of Him. He knew they were afraid of losing their influence over the people. Pilate had the power to let Jesus go, but he wavered. The people saw this indecision and acted upon it. “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat.” John 19:12,13 For worldly honor, Pilate allowed the King of Glory to be taken and crucified. To keep his job he compromised his convictions. He knew Jesus was innocent. He knew that he should not condemn Him to death, but he did it to please the people. In that moment of compromise, he lost a far greater position than just an earthly one. He lost a place in Heaven for a few years of worldly honor. But, he did not keep his job long. History tells us that soon after, he was stripped of his position and eventually died a broken man.
May we firmly decide for Christ no matter how much we are ridiculed or shunned. May we stand for the right to please our dear Saviour. May we determine to serve Him first and last and always is my prayer.
Rose