Sinners Are Taken Captive

It is a perilous thing to allow an unchristian trait to live in the heart. One cherished sin will, little by little, debase the character, bringing all its nobler powers into subjection to the evil desire. The removal of one safe-guard from the conscience, the indulgence of one evil habit, one neglect of the high claims of duty, breaks down the defenses of the soul, and opens the way for Satan to come in and lead us astray. The only safe course is to let our prayers go forth daily from a sincere heart, as did David, “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 452.

We are living in an atmosphere of satanic witchery. The enemy will weave a spell of licentiousness around every soul that is not barricaded by the grace of Christ. Temptations will come; but if we watch against the enemy, and maintain the balance of self-control and purity, the seducing spirits will have no influence over us. Those who do nothing to encourage temptation will have strength to withstand it when it comes; but those who keep themselves in an atmosphere of evil will have only themselves to blame if they are overcome and fall from their steadfastness…. We are to be guided by true theology and common sense. Our souls are to be surrounded by the atmosphere of heaven. Men and women are to watch themselves; they are to be constantly on guard, allowing no word or act that would cause their good to be evil spoken of. He who professes to be a follower of Christ is to watch himself, keeping himself pure and undefiled in thought, word, and deed. His influence upon others is to be uplifting.—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 257.
With God at Dawn p. 125
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Prayer Requests
—-I need you to pray for my dear cousin who is very sick right now. The doctor has given up on her, for there is nothing they can do. Helen
—-Please pray for Clyde. He is in the hospital because he has pneumonia in one of his lungs and the Dr said he is a very sick man. He is my son-in-law’s Dad. Kathy
—-Please, requesting prayers for my older brother, Norbert. He is in the hospital at this time due to kidney disease/failure complications. He was receiving treatment for an infection in one of his legs, but the infection is now in his other leg. He is not able to walk without assistance and is on a pain medication. He’s diabetic and is also on heart medication. Prayers so greatly appreciated. Aleyda
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Dear Friends,

One day, when my mother was a teenager, my grandmother sent her to the mailbox to mail a letter. The mailbox was three blocks away. VanAvery’s drug store was on that corner and my mother decided to take her change purse and buy some little treat as a reward for going. As she walked along, she began to daydream. Before long she had arrived at her destination and absentmindedly mailed the letter.

Just as she closed the mail chute, she realized that she had also mailed her purse. She went inside the drugstore and asked Mrs. Van Avery what she should do. My mother was very distraught, and the storekeeper tried to comfort her but had no suggestions. Finally, my mother went home.

When she told her mother what she had done, my grandmother was not pleased but had an idea. “Geneva,” she said, “You are just going to have to go back to the mailbox and wait for the mailman.”

When it was near the pickup time, my mother trudged back to the mailbox and stood beside it. She got very tired of standing there waiting. As she waited, she was tempted to go into the store and look around and talk to the boy behind the soda fountain, but she knew that she might miss the mailman if she did. Then she would never get her purse.

After what seemed like an eternity, the mailman arrived! Blushing with humiliation, my mother asked him to find her change purse amidst all the letters. He couldn’t help smiling at this teenage girl standing before him. He told her not to be embarrassed, because he often had to retrieve things a lot stranger than a change purse out of mailboxes.

We also are waiting for Someone to come. This Someone is far more important than that mailman of so long ago. Our waiting will bring a far greater reward. Just as she resisted the temptation to go in to the store and talk to the neighbor boy who worked there; so we should never allow the things of this world to get our mind off our ultimate goal.

Jesus is coming soon! He has promised, “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and, if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3 John proclaimed, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Rev 1:7 Paul adds, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess 4:16,17 “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be….And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors….Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” Matt 24:27,31-33,44-47

Our soon-coming King made a statement that causes us to think, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8 Let us determine that He will find us faithful, for He promises, “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev 2:10 Let us endure unto the end for He has said, “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matt 10:22 “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:35-37

Rose