And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3:17.
Christians are Christ’s jewels, bought with an infinite price. They are to shine brightly for Him, shedding forth the light of His loveliness. And ever they are to remember that all the luster that Christian character possesses is received from the Sun of Righteousness.
The luster of Christ’s jewels depends on the polishing that they receive. God does not compel us to be polished. We are left free to choose to be polished or to remain unpolished. But everyone who is pronounced worthy of a place in the Lord’s temple must submit to the polishing process. He must consent to have the sharp edges cut away from his character, that it may be shapely and beautiful, fitted to represent the perfection of Christ’s character….
The divine Worker spends little time on worthless material. Only the precious jewels does He polish after the similitude of a palace. With hammer and chisel He cuts away the rough edges, preparing us for a place in God’s temple. The process is severe and trying. It hurts human pride. Christ cuts deep into the experience that man in his self-sufficiency regarded as complete, and takes away self-uplifting from the character. He cuts away the surplus surface, and putting the stone to the polishing wheel, presses it close, that all roughness may be worn off. Then holding the jewel up to the light the Master sees in it a reflection of His own image, and it is pronounced worthy of a place in His temple.
Blessed be the experience, however severe, that gives new value to the stone, enabling it to shine with living brightness! …
[The Lord] has workers whom He will call forth from poverty and obscurity. Engaged in the common duties of life, and clothed with coarse raiment, they are looked upon by men as of little value. But Christ sees in them infinite possibilities, and in His hands they will become precious jewels, to shine brightly in the kingdom of God. “They shall be mine, saith the Lord of Host, in that day when I make up my jewels.” (Malachi 3:17).
Christ’s perfect knowledge of human character fits Him to deal with minds. God knows just how to treat each soul. He judges not as man judges. He knows the real value of the material upon which He is working in fitting men and women for positions of trust.—Manuscript 168, December 24, 1902, “The Sin of Evil-speaking.”
The Upward Look p. 371
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Ken and Jamie and family as they travel here this weekend. Rose
—-I’m desperately asking for prayers for my sister Hazel, she has thyroid cancer. Angie
—-I Am asking for Prayer.I am having a very Rough Recovery from Colon Resection Surgery W/ a Colostomy for one, & I have an open Wound next to it where I have to do Wound Care… I am Really Super Nervous about getting Infection’ Cheryl
—-Will you please pray for my grandson Landyn? He tested positive for covid, he’s 8 years old. Gina
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Dear Friends,
Today, we watched a Christmas program on SUM.tv. No doubt we will be listening to more Christmas music.Singing or listening to Christmas carols seem so special because they are sung only at this time of year. Although we know that December 25 is not the actual birthday of Jesus, the most important fact is that He was born. On that eventful day, God the Father, the Great King of the Universe proclaimed of His Son, this tiny Babe Who was lying in a roughly hewn feed trough, “let all the angels of God worship him.” Heb 1:6 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9,10
When the time was right, “the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” Surprised at this announcement, Mary wondered what the angel meant. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS” “for he shall save his people from their sins.” Luke 1:27-31; Matt 1:21 Matthew tells us “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” vs 22,23 (Isa 7:14)
I’d like to share the words of my favorite Christmas carol with you, as it is so full of meaning. *O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who orderest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, great Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height In ancient times once gave the law In cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree, An ensign of Thy people be; Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
May we, during this holiday season, keep our focus upon our Dear Saviour Who left all the glories of Heaven, became a helpless babe born into a poor family, suffered all the hatred that the evil one could heap upon Him, and gave His Own Life to redeem us from all sin; that we might dwell with Him forevermore. May we ever make “melody in [our] heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” “for His unspeakable Gift.” Eph 5:19,20; 2 Cor 9:15 May “Christ dwell in [our] hearts by faith; that [we], being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Eph 3:17-21
Rose
* O come, O come, Emmanuel
Author unknown