The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1 Peter 4:7.
Do you believe that the end of all things is at hand, that the scenes of this earth’s history are fast closing? If so, show your faith by your works. A man will show all the faith he has. Some think they have a good degree of faith, when if they have any, it is dead, for it is not sustained by works. “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Few have that genuine faith which works by love and purifies the soul. But all who are accounted worthy of everlasting life must obtain a moral fitness for the same. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” This is the work before you. . . .
You must experience a death to self, and must live unto God. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Self is not to be consulted. Pride, self-love, selfishness, avarice, covetousness, love of the world, hatred, suspicion, jealousy, evil surmisings, must all be subdued and sacrificed forever. When Christ shall appear, it will not be to correct these evils and then give a moral fitness for His coming. This preparation must all be made before He comes. It should be a subject of thought, of study, and earnest inquiry, What shall we do to be saved? What shall be our conduct that we may show ourselves approved of God?
When tempted to murmur, censure, and indulge in fretfulness, wounding those around you, and in so doing wounding your own soul, oh! let the deep, earnest, anxious inquiry come from your soul, Shall I stand without fault before the throne of God? Only the faultless will be there. None will be translated to heaven while their hearts are filled with the rubbish of earth. Every defect in the moral character must first be remedied, every stain removed by the cleansing blood of Christ, and all the unlovely, unlovable traits of character overcome.
Maranatha p. 58
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Prayer Requests
—- Keep John in your prayers I just anointed him and prayed on his behalf. Remember his family as well. Pastor Tom
—–Please pray that God will give D and M wisdom to handle a very sticky situation. L
—–Please pray for Shiloh who tore her ACL and will probably need surgery. Please also pray for Tim who has two months to live. Pray for his family also. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Ronnie Jay has a DVD on insects that I like to watch occasionally. With the new technology of today the camera can get “up close and personal” which makes it all the more interesting. When they begin showing giant beetles, it often reminds me of an event that happened years ago.
Eileen had made a large cage for a pair of zebra finches that we had at the time. She constructed it around a lemon tree that she had grown from a seed. The birds loved it. They felt that they were in the wild rather than stuck in a cage. Occasionally, she would roll the cage out onto the deck so they could enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
One early spring day, I heard the birds crying “Help! Help!” just as plainly as if they were saying the actual words. I stopped what I was doing and hurried to the other end of the house where we kept them. They looked at me with fear-filled eyes and continued their distress call. Puzzled, I began searching for the object of their fear. Finally, I saw it.
Evidently, while they had been outside the summer before, a mother beetle had decided to lay her egg in the ground of their cage and now it had hatched. A large, black beetle was floundering in their water dish. That bug that had terrified our little birds was having problems of its own. Quickly, I opened the cage door and rescued the beetle. Immediately, our birds settled down and were happy once again.
How often we, too, are faced with perplexities and dangers. We are just as unable to remedy the situation as were the finches that day. We can do exactly as those finches did. We can call upon our Heavenly Father to rescue us. Praise God! He will deliver speedily!
He bids us, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Isa 45:22; Matt 11:28-30
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” Ps 18:2, 3; 33:18-22
May we cry unto the Lord as quickly and as earnestly as our little birds cried for me when they were afraid. May we reach out and hold His Strong and Mighty Hand whenever we are perplexed and allow Him to deliver us. May we always lift up our voice and “praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps 107:8
Rose