To Caesar

Once more, because of hatred born of bigotry and self-righteousness, a servant of God was driven to turn for protection to the heathen. It was this same hatred that forced the prophet Elijah to flee for succor to the widow of Sarepta; and that forced the heralds of the gospel to turn from the Jews to proclaim their message to the Gentiles. And this hatred the people of God living in this age have yet to meet. Among many of the professing followers of Christ there is the same pride, formalism, and selfishness, the same spirit of oppression, that held so large a place in the Jewish heart…. In the great crisis through which they are soon to pass, the faithful servants of God will encounter the same hardness of heart, the same cruel determination, the same unyielding hatred.

All who in that evil day would fearlessly serve God according to the dictates of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of God and His word; for those who are true to God will be persecuted, their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, and their names cast out as evil. Satan will work with all his deceptive power to influence the heart and becloud the understanding, to make evil appear good, and good evil….

God desires His people to prepare for the soon-coming crisis…. Those only who have brought their lives into conformity to the divine standard, will stand firm at that time of test and trial. When secular rulers unite with ministers of religion to dictate in matters of conscience, then it will be seen who really fear and serve God. When the darkness is deepest, the light of a godlike character will shine the brightest…. And while the enemies of truth are on every side, watching the Lord’s servants for evil, God will watch over them for good. He will be to them as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.28The Acts of the Apostles, 430-432.
Conflict and Courage p. 354
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for the people of North Carolina who are still in great need because of losing everything in the flood. Rose
—-Pray for my husband please. His faith took a nosedive this week. Praying for God to lift him out of the hands and doubts and fears of the enemy. Also please pray that God would touch my mom with healing. Heather
—-E and children need God’s protection. R
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Dear Friends,

Occasionally, when I was a little girl, my grandmother would let me look at a small songbook for children that was very precious to her. It was written by her aunt Aletha Phillips-Spoor. Aunt Allie was a school teacher and had a gift for music and poetry. She wrote many little songs for her students and published them for others to enjoy.

She also wrote some sheet music and a book of poems. A year or so ago, while searching the internet to see if I could find a copy of Aunt Allie’s songbook, I found that there was still a copy of her poem book “Other Ways and Other Days” for sale at a used book store in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I ordered it.

It looks as if the only evidence of Aunt Allie’s hard work is the poem book and one item of sheet music she wrote. The rest no longer exists. There is very little left of her “labor of love.” The hours she spent on poem and song was wasted because most of her works are no more. The music she wrote will never again be sung. The poems she wrote have long been forgotten.

Solomon asks, “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?” Ecc 1:3 Jesus tells us, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27

Peter warns, “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Pet 3:10-14 “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.” 1 Pet 1:24, 25

There is one thing that will endure. That is our character. Indeed, our character determines where we will spend eternity. How careful we must be to heed the admonition “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12, 13

My great-great aunt Allie wrote a poem called Character Building. I’d like to share it with you now. “You may build a house with marble walls, You may build a mansion with stately halls, You may build a ship to sail the seas, You may build a cabin if you please, You may build a home for a happy pair, You may build castles in the air; All these will last but for a day, You’re building for eternity. ‘Tis character that you must build, Your very being must be filled With noble deeds and thoughts, then smile, ‘Twill build character worth while; A character that can’t be sold But one that’s worth its weight in gold.”

And how is it that we build character? Through building our life on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 2:20-22) Though daily study of His Hold Word. (2 Tim 2:15) Though praying without ceasing. (1 Thes 5:17)

The Word of the Lord will never pass away like Aunt Allie’s words. It endures forever. From generation to generation it stands firm. It is the one thing that we can count on. God has watched over His Word and kept it pure and safe. Many have been martyred for reading it. Many have been exiled for obeying its truth. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Mark 13:13

Many have a changed character because of it’s message, because they have built their life upon its principles. Their work endures forever for it is founded upon the Enduring Rock. David tells us, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psa 19:8-11;119:160

May we measure all of our words, all of our thoughts, all of our actions, and all of our work by His enduring Word is my prayer.

Rose