I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:51.

For the health and vitality of the soul, the divine Physician has prescribed communion with Himself. We are to sit at His feet and learn of Him how to be meek and lowly in heart. Spiritual health is dependent on the food given to the mind and on the air which is breathed.

The soul needs food, and in order to get this food, the Word of God must be studied…. The breathing of pure air is essential for the cure of disease. And it is no less essential that the atmosphere we breathe in the spiritual life shall be pure. This is essential for a healthy growth in grace. Breathe the pure atmosphere which produces pure thoughts and noble words. Choose Christian society. The Christian will not have spiritual health unless he is guarded in regard to his associations….

Every Christian who is indeed a Christian must grow. He must constantly increase in wisdom and knowledge. Day by day he must approach more nearly to the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus. In order to be a follower of the Master, he must grow. He must advance into a deeper appreciation of the love of God and a clearer knowledge of His will. If his light does not shine more and more brightly, his faith becomes weak, his love grows feeble. And unless he sees and acknowledges his danger, he is doing the cause of God more harm than an avowed unbeliever. Piety leaves the soul-temple. He turns carelessly away from duties and responsibilities. The Son of God is by him crucified afresh and put to open shame.

Exercise is essential to growth in grace. When the spiritually diseased are given exercise in spiritual things, there is a transformation of character. The health of the spiritual life is dependent upon exercise. But spirituality cannot grow while the heart is full of the corrupting sores of selfishness. The soul must be cleansed and purified by the refining grace of God. The channel of communication between earth and heaven must be kept free from all obstruction, that the soul may receive from Christ a supply of living water. And every spiritual muscle and sinew must be put to the tax. God has given us many opportunities to work for Him. Unless we improve these opportunities, we cannot be growing Christians. When Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, a decided change will be seen in the religious experience of professing Christians.—Manuscript 50, June 9, 1901,
The Upward Look p. 174
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for the health care workers and those affected by the covid-19 virus.
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Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl, my mother made a full-sized quilt with all the state birds of the (then) 48 states. She bought iron-on transfers for them, but as she worked, she did not like the way they looked, so she re-drew them to make them look more realistic. She spent many hours in the library researching each state bird. She examined picture after picture of a particular bird and then would duplicate it in embroidery. Many times she would be nearly finished, but as she looked at it, she would not be satisfied and would take out all the threads and start over.
Finally it was finished. She entered it into the fair and won the golden state award. She was very proud of that prize. All her hard work had paid off. She felt rewarded for all those many hours of research and sewing. What did she do with the quilt then. She folded it up, put it in a plastic bag, and put it in her closet. Now it is in my closet safely tucked away and rarely thought about.
How vital to our walk with God it is that we put as much energy into our Christianity as my mother did into that quilt. How important it is that we stay focused on Jesus so thoroughly that He has all our thoughts, all our energies, all our desires. How often should we search the Scriptures with as much interest as my mother had when she was researching those birds. God says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:13 David says, “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Ps 119:2,10,11
Jesus told a parable that shows this principle. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matt 13:44-46 To truly follow Jesus, we must put Him first in our lives. To truly serve Him we must persevere. “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt 13:13
Once we decide to follow Jesus, we must follow immediately and not long for the times when we were following our own ways as did some so long ago. “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62
May our complete focus be on our loving Saviour Who gave His all for us. May we use all our energies in service to Him. May we always go where He leads and do His bidding is my prayer.
Rose

The Divine Physician Prescribes