For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18.
When Christ entered upon His campaign, Satan met Him and contested every inch of ground, exerting his utmost powers to conquer Him. Much was involved in this controversy. Intense interests were at stake. The questions to be answered were: “Is God’s law imperfect, in need of being amended or abrogated? or is it immutable? Is God’s government stable? or is it in need of changes?” Not only before those living in the city of God, but before the inhabitants of all the heavenly universe, were these questions to be answered. . . .
From the manger to the cross Satan followed the Son of God. Temptations beat upon Him like a tempest. But the more fierce the conflict, the more familiar He became with the temptations wherewith man is beset, and the better prepared He was to succor the tempted.
The severity of the trial through which Christ passed was proportionate to the value of the object to be gained or lost by His success or failure. Not merely the interests of one world were involved. This world was the battlefield, but all the worlds that God has created were affected by the result of the conflict. . . .Satan sought to make it appear that he was working for the liberty of the universe. Even while Christ was on the cross, the enemy was determined to make his arguments so varied, so deceptive, so insidious, that all would be convinced that God’s law was tyrannical. He himself laid every scheme, planned every evil, inflamed every mind to bring affliction on Christ. He himself instigated the false accusations against One who had done only good. He himself inspired the cruel deeds that added to the suffering of the Son of God–the pure, the holy, the innocent.
By this course of action Satan has forged a chain by which he himself will be bound. The heavenly universe will bear witness to the justice of God in punishing him. Heaven itself saw what heaven would be, if he were in it. . . .
Not merely in the minds of a few finite creatures in this world, but in the minds of all the inhabitants of the heavenly universe, has the immutability of God’s law been established. . . . With one voice they extolled God as righteous, merciful, self-denying, just.–Manuscript 1, Jan. 6, 1902, “God’s Justice.”
This Day With God p. 14
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for our friend, Dwaine D. who recently lost his father and his house burned down the same day. Pray God will restore to him all he lost in the fire. Pray he and his family will keep the peace of God in their hearts and always know that God is with them in all things. I praise the Lord that his father received Jesus before he died. Fran
—–update—There were two doctors who testified that Stephanie needs the SSI because she can not work. The judge asked Stephie some questions and told her and her attorney that it was obvious that she is disabled and he was going to approve her application. He also said that it could take 1 to 3 months for her to get anything. Thank you so much for your prayers. God is so good. Fran
—–Please pray for Sue who has a procedure this morning.
—–praise—Praise God for a safe trip to and from Brian and Esther’s and that Esther is feeling better. Please pray that she will continue to get better. Rose
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Dear Friends,
One time, when I was a little, my mother and my Aunt Joyce took me to Battle Creek to shop and to tour Kellogg’s Cereal plant. We lived in Kalamazoo, a city about 25 miles away and often went to nearby cities on the bus or the train since we didn’t have a car. It was always a great adventure for me to go with them. This particular time we got an unexpected bonus. We walked from the bus station to a large, brick hotel and got a room facing the street. Before long, we began to hear the noise of a crowd of people. We looked out of the window and saw people lining both sides of the street below. This seemed very strange, so my aunt went downstairs and asked the man behind the desk what was going on. She came back with the news that a parade was about to start. I was delighted. While we stood by the window and watched the parade go by, we munched on the free cereal that we were given when we rented the hotel room.
How often our Great Creator puts unexpected bonuses along our pathway to brighten our life. Perhaps it is a close friend, perhaps it is a discovery made when reading His Holy Word, and perhaps it is as simple as a beautiful sunset. How He loves us! How He yearns for us to take delight in His Goodness. Yet, how often we take His gifts for granted. How many times we murmur and complain because things don’t go the way we think they should, when we should be praising “the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works.” Ps 107:8
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. . . . Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Ps 136
May we quick to notice God’s blessings that He showers upon us each day. May we “in every thing, give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” Amen! 1 Thes 5:18
Rose