Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8.
Those who walk in the narrow way must follow the directions of the Guidebook. Thus only can they reach the gates of the City of God….
God has put men and women in possession of precious gifts. To different ones He has given different gifts. Not all have the same strength of character or the same depth of knowledge. But each one is to use his gifts in the Master’s service, however small this gift may seem to be. The faithful steward trades wisely on the goods entrusted to him.
The endowments of mind and body are to be carefully guarded. Our gifts are not to be weakened by self-indulgence. Every power is to be carefully preserved, that it may always be ready for instant use. No part of the physical organism is to be weakened by misuse. Each part, however small, has an influence on the whole. The abuse of one nerve or muscle lessens the usefulness of the whole body. Those for whom Christ has given His life should bring their habits and practices into conformity to His will.
God’s Word declares, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). But God does not desire the death of anyone. At infinite cost He provided for man a second probation. He “so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Should not those to whom the light of truth for this time has come place themselves in close connection with God, using their capabilities to advance the work of soul saving? Should not the one who possesses an understanding of the Scriptures impart the knowledge given him to those who know not the truth?
Upon every believer in present truth rests the responsibility of working for sinners. God points them to their special work—the proclamation of the third angel’s message. They are to show their appreciation of God’s great gift by consecrating themselves to the work for which Christ gave His life. They are to be stewards of the grace of God, dispensing to others the blessings bestowed on them.
e who has found comfort in the Word of God is to share this comfort with others. Thus only can he continue to receive comfort.—Manuscript 147, December 31, 1903, “The Narrow Way.”
The Upward Look p. 379
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for a dear dear friend deep in a custody battle. I can’t give specifics, but I know God will be the victor and I ask for your prayers for the children especially. Tanya
—-The doctor called and dad pulled out his feeding tube again and ended up puncturing his lung. They are giving him oxygen to see if the lung puncture will heal in his on. If that does not work then they will have to give him a chest tube to help drain the air from his lungs. Also since he keeps pulling out his feeding tube and he cant swallow food on his own they might need to put the tube in his stomach for him to get nutrition. This is crazy. Please continue to pray for him. Tony
—-Please pray for Andy who has an important meeting. Also pray for David’s mind and emotions. Buck
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Dear Friends,
On this last day of 2020, many will reflect upon the happenings of the year and what a crazy year it has been. Even the most careless among us will take a few moments to ponder what changes this year has brought. However, there will also be those cherished memories that we will never forget. There will be pleasant remembrances of victories won. As we think back over the year, we can also see the many times we have failed our Loving Redeemer. We will have many regrets, many sorrows, much pain.
This coming year does not have to be a repeat of the past for us spiritually even though some of the mandates of 2020 will be continuing in 2021. Praise God, we can have a new start in our personal life! Paul tells of a “beginning again” that can be ours. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” Phil 3:12-16
John tells us the way to a new start. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 1:9-2:6
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Ps 103:8-14The Great Forgiver of Sins promises to heal our backsliding and to love us freely. (Hosea 14:4) “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.” Eze 33:11,14-16
Let us break off our sins by righteousness and our iniquities by showing mercy to those around us. Let us pray as did David, “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Ps 51:9-13 Let us exclaim as did Isaiah, “Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day.” Isa 38:17-19
Rose
Stewards of God’s Grace