I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:14.
Every one of us will be sorely tempted; our faith will be tried to the uttermost.
We need to be anchored in Christ, rooted and grounded in the faith. Satan works through agents. He selects those who have not been drinking of the living waters, whose souls are athirst for something new and strange, and who are ever ready to drink at any fountain that may present itself. Voices will be heard, saying, “Lo, here is Christ,” or “Lo, there;” but we must believe them not. We have unmistakable evidence of the voice of the True Shepherd, and He is calling upon us to follow Him. He says, “I have kept my Father’s commandments.” He leads His sheep in the path of humble obedience to the law of God….
“The voice of a stranger” is the voice of one who neither respects nor obeys God’s holy, just, and good law. Many make great pretensions to holiness, and boast of the wonders they perform in healing the sick, when they do not regard this great standard of righteousness. But through whose power are these cures wrought? Are the eyes of either party opened to their transgressions of the law? and do they take their stand as humble, obedient children, ready to obey all of God’s requirements? John testifies of the professed children of God: “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4…. If those through whom cures are performed, are disposed, on account of these manifestations, to excuse their neglect of the law of God, and continue in disobedience, though they have power to any and every extent, it does not follow that they have the great power of God. On the contrary, it is the miracle-working power of the great deceiver…. We must beware of the pretended holiness that permits transgression of the law of God. Those cannot be sanctified who trample that law under their feet, and judge themselves by a standard of their own devising.
The Faith I Live By p. 314
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Prayer Requests
—-I have two prayer requests: one lady at church called and asked for prayer for her son he was working with his nail gun and nailed two of his finger together. the DR’s had to cut his gloves off and took the nail out of his hand the nail hit part of the bone. they have to watch too see that he doesn’t get an infection it his hand.his name is Mike.
the 2nd request is for a friend of mine her name is Robyn. she was told she has a fatty liver disease. her stomach is so swollen up an she is in a lot of pain. she went to the ER an they did all the test an told her to contact her DR. who was out of town. she just got back.pray that she can get in to see her Dr. the pain is so bad. the DR.’s never gave her anything for the pain. please pray for god’s will to be done her mother is praying that she will make her heart right before God and come back to Him. Mary
—-Today is surgery day. I am a little more anxious then last time tired of pain. Shirley
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Dear Friends,
In the early 1970’s, Ron got a job selling religious books in Pennsylvania. We rented a truck, said goodbye to our friends, loaded up our belongings, and began the long drive. It was not the first time we had moved, but it was the first time we had moved away from Michigan. We were filled with the spirit of anticipation and adventure. When we arrived in our new state, however, that spirit of adventure became one of distress over the huge adjustments we had to make. Since we had never lived outside of Michigan before, we had no idea that different areas of the country could be so different. Everything seemed so strange and unfamiliar. It was true that my mother and I had done some traveling over the years, but we had mostly visited the states adjacent to Michigan.
In the particular part of Pennsylvania where we had moved, the people’s accent made it sound like they were shouting angrily at me. They even celebrated different holidays with long processions of people marching behind priests holding images high above their heads. Even familiar holidays were celebrated differently.
I was terribly homesick for my home state. I longed for the familiar sights and sounds that I had been raised with. While Ron was at work, I would often sit down at the piano and sing “Michigan my Michigan” until my voice was so filled with my tears, that I could no longer sing. I would just lay my head on the piano and sob and sob out my loneliness.
Even more than my whole being longed for my home state so many years ago, so we should daily long for our Heavenly home for “We have no abiding city here. Heaven is our home.”
Just as Abraham of old, who “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God,” so our focus should be on “our inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven” for us. Heb 11:10; 1 Peter 1:4
Our Dear Saviour gives us a glimpse of the character of those who will dwell in that fair land. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.” Matt 5:3-12
Oh the joys that await those who are faithful! God’s Word gives us but a glimpse of that Better Land. John was given a foretaste of the country where our Redeemer is preparing for us a place. (John 14:1-3) “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful….And the city lieth foursquare…And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones….And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.” Rev 21:1-22:3
Glorious land! We will dwell in joy and happiness far beyond what we can even imagine. We will never be homesick for this life of heartache and difficulty. We will dwell in safety there! We will not even think of this sinful old world. Our Great Redeemer assures us of this. “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isa 65:17 We will have no fear of man, for only those who are clothed with Christ’s righteousness will be there. We will not fear the animals, for “the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat.” “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.” Isa 65:24; 11:6-8
Some people believe that we will do nothing all day but sit on a cloud and play a harp, but that is not what the Bible tells us. We “shall build houses, and inhabit them; and shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. [We] shall not build, and another inhabit; [we] shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” 65:21, 22
Think of it! We will have that home that we have always wanted. We will spend our days in pleasantness, working and worshipping with those we love, for we are told, “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.” vs 23 As wonderful as this is, the reward that far surpasses them all, is seeing our Dear Saviour face to face. We will “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” Rev 14:4
John tells us, “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee.” 15:2-4 We will join that heavenly choir singing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” 5:12 May we all be there is my prayer.
Rose
Testing the Voice of the Shepherds