Right Living Brings Honor

The world today is in crying need of a revelation of Christ Jesus in the person of His saints. God desires that His people shall stand before the world a holy people.—Testimonies to Ministers, 458.

In the history of Joseph, Daniel, and his fellows, we see how the golden chain of truth may bind the youth to the throne of God. They could not be tempted to turn aside from their course of integrity. They valued the favor of God above the favor and praise of princes, and God loved them and spread His shield over them. Because of their faithful integrity, because of their determination to honor God above every human power, the Lord signally honored them before men…. These youth were not ashamed to display their true colors. Even in the court of the king, in their words, their habits, their practices, they confessed their faith in the Lord God of heaven. They refused to bow to any earthly mandate that detracted from the honor of God. They had strength from heaven to confess their allegiance to God. You should be prepared to follow the example of these noble youth. Never be ashamed of your colors; put them on, unfurl them to the gaze of men and angels. Do not be controlled by false modesty, by false prudence which suggests to you a course of action contrary to this advice. By your choice words and a consistent course of action, by your propriety, your earnest piety, make a telling confession of your faith, determined that Christ shall occupy the throne in the soul temple; and lay your talents without reserve at His feet to be employed in His service.—Messages to Young People, 27, 28.
With God at Dawn p. 267
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Prayer Requests
—-May I ask your prayers for a friend, Don who is now in the hospital for bleeding due to flu. Pray this not to be Covid again. Sally
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Dear Friends,

Some years ago, a friend was telling me about their neighbor. The man is a rich doctor and his wife spends her time lounging around the house watching the shopping channel on TV and spending his money. She is very spoiled and self-centered and feels as if everyone should serve her.

My friend was half laughing-half disgusted at the woman’s attitude and how the woman’s husband treats her. When the doctor asked my friend’s husband, who cares his and other’s lawns as a side business, if the grass seeds he had just planted would grow this time, he responded, “If you have your wife turn on the sprinklers, it will.”

Shocked that anyone would expect his wife to do such a menial task, the doctor said, “Oh, my wife couldn’t do that. She doesn’t feel well. She is going through menopause.”

It’s hard to believe that there are people in this world that are so pampered that they cannot even turn a knob. We shake our head in disgust. Yet, how often we are like that woman living a self-centered life as if we deserve all of God’s good gifts which He daily showers upon us. How seldom we give Him thanks for all He has done for us? How rarely do we put aside our desire for ease and work for Him? How unlike our Dear Saviour we are!

Think of it! The Great King of the Universe, the Creator of all things, the One Whom all Heaven adores, came down to this sinful, rebellious world and humbled Himself living a life of service to others. He “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” He equipped His disciples for a life of service as well. “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Matt 20:28; 9:35-10:1

In view of all that Jesus has done for us, how can we sit in self-centered idleness? May we serve as He served. May we respond with the attitude in this poem by Ralph Atwood.

To fill a need as best I can
To see the worth in broken man
To break the hold of guilt and pain
And restore dignity again
To see a smile where there were tears
To offer hope that shatters fears
To love the unloved while there’s time
And make his heavy burden mine
To look a lost soul in the eye
And tell him Jesus came to die
And follow through with word and deed
And never quit while there’s still need
To recognize my Master’s voice
And serve with love This is my choice

Rose