The Sabbath is God’s Mark

The Israelites placed over their doors a signature of blood, to show that they were God’s property. So the children of God in this age will bear the signature God has appointed. They will place themselves in harmony with God’s holy law. A mark is placed upon every one of God’s people just as verily as a mark was placed over the doors of the Hebrew dwellings, to preserve the people from the general ruin. God declares, “I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.”
Every soul in our world is the Lord’s property, by creation and by redemption. Each individual soul is on trial for his life. Has he given to God that which belongs to Him? Has he surrendered to God all that is His as His purchased possession? All who cherish the Lord as their portion in this life will be under His control, and will receive the sign, the mark of God, which shows them to be God’s special possession. Christ’s righteousness will go before them, and the glory of the Lord will be their rereward. The Lord protects every human being who bears His sign.
“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. . . . Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
This recognition of God is of the highest value to every human being. All who love and serve Him are very precious in His sight. He would have them stand where they are worthy representatives of the truth as it is in Jesus.
Maranatha p. 246
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Prayer Requests
——Please pray for the following evangelism events that are taking place now or in the near future. Diane
Kelso-Longview, OR (Jan 9 – Sep 19) pastoral team
Albany, OR (May) Verasteguei/Nuez
Enumclaw, WA (May)
Columbia (May) It Is Written
Harare, Zimbabwe (May 5 – 30) Revelation of Hope with Dr. Teddy Wilson
Kinlichee, AZ (May 10 – Jun10) Pray especially for heart renewal for backsliders as well as sewing new seeds. Evangelist is Emilio Gomez.
Philippines (May 25-May 30) Dr. Janice Browne speaks and presents workshops for a Women and Teen Girls Conference. Please pray for an unbelievable outpouring for the Holy Spirit and safe passage.
——Please pray for all of the flood victims.
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Dear Friends,

Just before my tenth birthday, my mother married a man who was an alcoholic. He drank up most of the money that he earned. Worse than that, he was mean and cruel. Life became unbearable. After nearly four years, I had had enough. I determined that I would run away the next day. That night, in the middle of the night, he left taking everything of value in the house except my mother’s guitar and amplifier.

Things did not get any better for us financially, but it was a big relief to have him gone.. My mother had to sell her guitar and amp just so we could have food. Our landlord would not wait for the rent until my mother found a job, so we had to move. She took what little money she had and rented a very cheap apartment downtown over a music store. Life was very difficult.

Even though we were far from Jesus, He was near to us. I had been taught to pray the “Now I lay me down to sleep….” prayer and as I got older, I added my own words, and had a sort of shaky faith in Him. He accepted the tiny spark of faith as the best I knew. There were many times that God protected us in that run-down apartment. He helped my mother find work, even though she did not recognize it as a blessing from Him.

After months of frugal living, we could move to a one-room apartment in a better part of town. Life was still a struggle. There were many times when there was nothing to eat in the apartment except a little flour and sugar. Yet, through all of life’s difficulties, God was there protecting us and yearning for us to recognize His love and love Him in return.

Jesus, speaking of His Heavenly Father said, “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt 5:45 God loves each person in this world whether they love Him back or not. His Spirit draws them, Over and over, He leads them into circumstances that will give them an opportunity to choose His way. He showers His blessings upon them even though they don’t know the Source of all blessings. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 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.” 1 John 3:1-3 How loving and kind He is to us. He not only makes us His well-beloved children, but as we behold Him through His Holy Word, He changes us into His image.

May we “love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 May we open our heart’s door and allow Him to change us into His likeness. (Rev 3:18-20) May we share His love with others that they, too, may accept His great provision for salvation is my prayer.

Rose