Sweet Music in Heaven
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40.
Christ says to His redeemed people, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me” (Matthew 25:34-36). . . .
Prayers, exhortation, and talk are cheap fruits, which are frequently tied on, but fruits that are manifested in good works, in caring for the needy, the fatherless, and widows, are genuine fruits, and grow naturally upon a good tree. . . . When hearts sympathize with hearts burdened with discouragement and grief, when the hand dispenses to the needy, when the naked are clothed, the stranger made welcome to a seat at your fireside and to a place in your heart, angels are coming very near, and an answering strain is responded to in heaven. Every act, every deed of justice and mercy and benevolence, makes sweet music ring in heaven. The Father from His throne beholds and numbers them with His most precious treasures. “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, when I make up my jewels.” …
Our heavenly Father lays blessings disguised in our pathway, which some will not touch for fear they will detract from their enjoyment. Angels are waiting to see if we embrace opportunities within our reach of doing good–waiting to see if we will bless others, that they in turn may bless us. The Lord Himself has made us to differ–some poor, some rich, some afflicted–that all may have an opportunity to develop a character. The poor are purposely permitted of God to be thus, that we might be tested and proved, and develop what is in our hearts.
Every merciful act done to the needy, the suffering, is counted as though it were done to Jesus Himself. When you succor the poor, sympathize with the afflicted and oppressed, and befriend the orphan, you bring yourselves into a closer relationship to Jesus.
That I May Know Him p. 335
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for LS who may be having Sabbath problems soon. Barney
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Dear Friends,
When I worked at the courthouse, I was daily reminded of the effects of sin upon a person’s life. Sometimes it is a person who had a good education but lost everything because of their addiction. That always seemed so sad to me.
Often it is the person’s face that shows sin’s effect: sometimes it is their actions. One such example was a pleasant-looking, polite, young man of 23 came in a few years ago and said that he was to meet his lawyer in order to fill out paperwork. On the side of his hand was tattooed the word “Forgiven.” As I noticed that I felt that he had put his old ways behind him and was starting a better way of life. He asked if he could get started on the form right away as he had to get to work. I let him. All was going well until it came time for me to schedule him for an alcohol evaluation. Suddenly, his demeanor changed. He became argumentative and cocky. He accused me of singling him out and picking on him. I was shocked! After explaining that all people who are convicted of driving while drunk have to have this evaluation. I had expected that he would calm down when I explained, but he did not. When his lawyer came, he complained of my “unfairness” to him. Of course, it got him nowhere. His attorney sided with me.
How many Christians there are who are as this young man. They appear to be Christians until their will is crossed. Jesus speaks of them, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt 7:21-23 Paul’s list of mankind’s condition just before Jesus comes is so true. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Tim 3:1-5
Truly this list shows the cause of all the crimes that are committed, all the heartache in this world, all the strained relationships within or without the family circle. Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, there have always been some people who have committed these sins, but never before have these character traits been so strong or so widespread. Of all this list, however, the most dangerous is “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Sadly, there are many people claiming to be Christians but do not do the works of Christ.
A powerless Christian does more to turn others away from our Dear Saviour, than does the worst profligate. They are no better than the Scribes and Pharisees who persecuted Jesus. These men had an outward appearance of being righteous, but on the inside they were full of pride and selfishness. He, Who weighs the thoughts of the heart pronounced a woe upon them. “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. . . . Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.” Luke 11:13-31 Tears must have been in His voice as He uttered those scathing rebukes. How His Great Heart of Love was breaking at their spiritual conditon. How His Great Heart of Love breaks when we are as they were.
May we always do our Heavenly Father’s will, not to be seen of men, but from a heart filled with love. May we allow His Spirit to dwell within us, to mold us into the image of the divine. May we stay so close to our Loving Redeemer, that others will take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus is my prayer. (Acts 4:13)
Rose