And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:3.
Many who profess sanctification are entirely ignorant of the work of grace upon the heart…. They lay aside reason and judgment, and depend wholly upon their feelings, basing their claims to sanctification upon emotions which they have at some time experienced….
Bible sanctification does not consist in strong emotion. Here is where many are led into error. They make feelings their criterion. When they feel elated or happy, they claim that they are sanctified. Happy feelings or the absence of joy is no evidence that a person is or is not sanctified…. Those who are battling with daily temptations, overcoming their own sinful tendencies, and seeking for holiness of heart and life, make no boastful claims of holiness. They are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Sin appears to them exceedingly sinful.
In summer, as we look upon the trees of the distant forest, all clothed with a beautiful mantle of green, we may not be able to distinguish between the evergreens and the other trees. But as winter approaches, and the frost king encloses them in his icy embrace, stripping the other trees of their beautiful foliage, the evergreens are readily discerned. Thus it will be with all who are walking in humility, distrustful of self, but clinging tremblingly to the hand of Christ. While those who are self-confident, and trust in their own perfection of character, lose their false robe of righteousness when subjected to the storms of trial, the truly righteous, who sincerely love and fear God, wear the robe of Christ’s righteousness in prosperity and adversity alike.
It requires the testing time to reveal the pure gold of love and faith in the character. When trials and perplexities come upon the church, then the steadfast zeal and warm affections of Christ’s true followers are developed.
The Faith I Live By p. 119
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Prayer Requests
—-I have an Elderly Friend who is also my Church Family & a Friend Of her Grandson whose name is Austin, & is 18yrs. Old has had a horrific accident where there is an Iron bar in his Head. Please pray for him. Cheryl
—-My daughter needs prayer, she doesn’t go to church or take my grand daughter anymore. Glinda
—-Asking for prayer for Susan, that her lungs will clear out quickly. Joy
—-Prayer request for my friend Linda’s son. they just informed him he might have MS and a couple of lesions in his lower back that might be cancerous. Please pray for him and his medical team. Sylvia
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Dear Friends,
One summer we lived in a campground in order to save money to buy a mobile home. Ronnie Jay (age 5) met a friend there named Lindon (age 6) who was the son of the owner of the campground. They had many good times together. Those two little boys could think of many things to do. Some of those things got them into trouble. The campground had a swimming pool and many of the campers enjoyed the cool water. The boys decided that the toads that lived everywhere around would enjoy a swim too. They caught some and tossed them into the pool. They were surprised that the toads were not happy with their swim. They also found that those toads made the girls scream. That was all two little boys needed to give them entertainment. After that they tossed a few toads in occasionally just to hear the screams of fright.
Those girls were afraid, too, of the bats that flew around the lights that were around the pool at night. The bats were not interested in the people, they were getting a nice meal of insects that were attracted to the lights. But these girls did not understand, so they were frightened.
Often times we react in the same way to a situation that we do not understand. Often times we figuratively fight and kick and scream when things go wrong in our lives. Often times we think God is unfair in His dealings with us, but we do not see the whole picture. We do not see that the very thing that is so distasteful to us, is the very thing we must go through to make us ready for Heaven.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28 Just as Job did not understand why all the trouble was happening to him, sometimes we do not understand why things are happening to us or to those we love. But God has not left us to wonder, for God’s Word reveals what goes on behind the scenes. The story of Job was written to give us comfort and hope when we are going through trials.
God comforts us with His great promises. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:11-13 “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God.” Isa 43:1-3 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psa 103:10-14
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” Psa 37:3-7
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Psa 107:15
May we trust Him today. May we allow Him to work in our lives in the way He knows is best. May we daily look for His blessings in our lives and praise and thank Him for them.
Rose