If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15.
The law was not spoken … exclusively for the benefit of the Hebrews. God honored them by making them the guardians and keepers of His law, but it was to be held as a sacred trust for the whole world. The precepts of the Decalogue are adapted to all mankind, and they were given for the instruction and government of all. Ten precepts, brief, comprehensive, and authoritative, cover the duty of man to God and to his fellow man; and all based upon the great fundamental principle of love. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” Luke 10:27.
God’s law is not a new thing. It is not holiness created, but holiness made known. It is a code of principles expressing mercy, goodness, and love. It presents to fallen humanity the character of God, and states plainly the whole duty of man.
In the precepts of His holy law, God has given a perfect rule of life; and He has declared that until the close of time this law, unchanged in a single jot or tittle, is to maintain its claim upon human beings. Christ came to magnify the law and make it honorable…. In His own life He gave an example of obedience to the law of God. In the sermon on the mount He showed how its requirements extend beyond the outward acts, and take cognizance of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Today God gives men opportunity to show whether they love their neighbor. He who truly loves God and his fellow man is he who shows mercy to the destitute, the suffering, the wounded, those who are ready to die. God calls upon every man to take up his neglected work, to seek to restore the moral image of the Creator in humanity.
The Ten Commandments, Thou shalt, and Thou shalt not, are ten promises, assured to us if we render obedience to the law governing the universe. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.
The Faith I Live By p. 86
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Esther and family’s recovery from the flu. She is supposed to sing and play the violin for Convocation on Sabbath, but she was running a 103.3 degree fever last evening so it will take a miracle. Rose
—-Please continue to pray for Sharon who is in the hospital and not doing well. Mike
—-my tooth and ear hurts. I have a dentist app. for a root canal in May. I called today to see if i could get in earlier. I have an app. on the 27th for an observation to see if it is infected. Please pray. Tammy
—-Please pray for Zoe who met in an accident off a bike. She was admitted in the hospital. I heard she was badly hurt. Please pray for her family and friends also. Kay
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Dear Friends,
The past week I have not been able to be with my grandchildren (because of the flu) whom I usually see four or five times a week. I feel like a part of me is missing even though we talk on DUO every day. So it is with our Great Creator. He is the King of the Universe and receives the adoration of all of the unfallen beings within it, yet He is lonely without our fellowship. Indeed, His Great Heart of Love yearns over us. He interested in every aspect of our life. He longs to be involved with each of us as if we were the only one in all of His vast creation. All power is His, yet He laid it all aside to buy us back from the enemy!
Each day of the creation week, He spoke things into existence. (Gen 1:1-2:3)
With Adam and Eve it was different. He did not say, “Let there be Adam,” “Let there be Eve,” no, He stooped down and formed a man of clay. Then He tenderly breathed into his nostrils and that breath made a change within. No longer was Adam just a statue. He was now alive with mind and body fresh and perfect from the hand of the Great Creator. That same Creator Who is “upholding all things by the word of his power,” longs to re-create us. (Heb 1:3) He desires to change us into His image that we may have that close fellowship for which He so deeply yearns.
Even though He longs to have a relationship closer than a mother and child, He will not come into our heart uninvited. We must ask Him to come in. Each morning, we have the privilege to renew that fellowship, to give Him our heart, to ask Him to change us into His likeness. This song, written by Edwin Hatch, should be our heart’s cry:
Breathe on my, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I constant be,
And live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.
May we allow our Great Creator to recreate us, to change us, to form us into what He wills for our lives. May we never get so busy that we forget to keep in contact with Him continually keeping our heart and mind uplifted to God in prayer. (1 Thes 5:17) May we run to our Dear Saviour’s outstretched arms of love to receive His comforting embrace placing our weak and trembling hand in His Great Hand of Power and Love and let Him lead us all the way to His Glorious Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose