Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:5, 6.
Those who are to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ are represented by faithful Elijah, as John came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ’s first advent.
The work of John the Baptist, and the work of those who in the last days go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah to arouse the people from their apathy, are in many respects the same. His work is a type of the work that must be done in this age. Christ is to come the second time to judge the world in righteousness.
John separated himself from friends and from the luxuries of life. The simplicity of his dress, a garment woven of camel’s hair, was a standing rebuke to the extravagance and display of the Jewish priests, and of the people generally. His diet, purely vegetable, of locusts and wild honey, was a rebuke to the indulgence of appetite and the gluttony that everywhere prevailed. … The great subject of reform is to be agitated, and the public mind is to be stirred. Temperance in all things is to be connected with the message, to turn the people of God from their idolatry, their gluttony, and their extravagance in dress and other things.
The self-denial, humility, and temperance required of the righteous, whom God especially leads and blesses, is to be presented to the people in contrast to the extravagant, health-destroying habits of those who live in this degenerate age. God has shown that health reform is as closely connected with the third angel’s message as the hand is with the body.
As John the Baptist . . . called their attention to the Ten Commandments, so we are to give, with no uncertain sound, the message: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” With the earnestness that characterized Elijah the prophet and John the Baptist, we are to strive to prepare the way for Christ’s second advent.
Maranatha p. 22
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Prayer Requests
—– Please pray for Ben and his almost fiance, Jasmine. She, and 2 other friends, have plane tickets to fly up here this afternoon where there are several planned events for their betrothal/engagement. Jasmine has been sick for four days and her mom took her to the ER yesterday, with abdominal pain and nausea. The diagnosis was appendicitis and she was whisked off to surgery. In addition, she has an ovarian cyst. Pray for her safety and return to health and for comfort for Ben, who still has his last final to take today. Thanks! Lavetta
—–Please pray for the following meetings: Sandy, OR (May 2 – 24) Evangelist: Larren Cole, Pastor: Elder Dave Crockett Vancouver, WA (May 16 – 17) Ed Schmidt will conduct follow-up training Fresno, CA (May 19 – 17) Portes Kaneohe, HI (Jun 5 – Jul 5) Taj Pacleb Fresno, CA Jun 14 – 21) Korean Visitors. Diane
—– Last night my 48 year old daughter, Jacquie had a stroke. She has a son 8 years old. . . . I ask that you rmember her in your prayers.
Paul and Sally
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Dear Friends,
When Eileen was three, we were living in Pennsylvania. That spring, she and I took the train to Michigan to visit my mother for two weeks. While we were there, my mother decided to show me the mall that had recently opened. As we entered the main area, I noticed a woman, who was sitting on a bench by the fountain, watching us. As we drew nearer, her face suddenly “lit up” in recognition and she exclaimed, “I’d know that nose anywhere!” I was shocked! Who was this woman who sprang to her feet and was coming towards me with joy on her face?
As we talked I realized that she was my half-sister, Rosalie, whom I had not seen for about ten years. In fact, we have only seen each other about seven times in our life. We look and act nothing alike. She is thin, has olive skin and dark hair like her mother, and is very outgoing. I am shyer and look like our father, who was fair-skinned and heavy.
Just as Rosalie recognized me because I look like our father, so we have the privilege of representing our Heavenly Father to those around us. Paul exclaimed, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:26 Think of it! We are the children of the Great King of the Universe, the Creator of all! What a privilege is ours!
There’s an old song written by Leila Morris that we would do well to ponder. “Do we live so close to the Lord today, Passing to and fro on life’s busy way, That the world in us can a likeness see To the Man of Calvary? Can the world see Jesus in me? Can the world see Jesus in you? Does your love to Him ring true, And your life and service, too? Can the world see Jesus in you? Do we love, with love to His own akin, All His creatures lost in the mire of sin? Will we reach a hand, whatso’er it cost, To reclaim a sinner lost? Can the world see Jesus in me? Can the world see Jesus in you? Does your love to Him ring true, And your life and service, too? Can the world see Jesus in you? As an open book they our lives will read, To our words and acts giving daily heed; Will they be attracted, or turn away From the Man of Calvary? Can the world see Jesus in me? Can the world see Jesus in you? Does your love to Him ring true, And your life and service, too? Can the world see Jesus in you?
All around us are those perishing in darkness, “but ye, brethren, are not in darkness, . . Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thes 5:5-8 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:13-16
May we, in all that we do, in all that we say, be shining lights rightly representing our Heavenly Father, Who “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 May we “put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created ” us. Col 3:10 May we ever walk as children of light, having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but keeping our eyes focused upon the One Who loves us so. (Eph 5:8, 11)
Rose