Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Isaiah 35:3, 4.
Who will now put on the white robe of Christ’s righteousness, which is without spot or wrinkle, so that Satan cannot in derision point to their filthy garments? Keep the soul clean and pure. You have no time to gather up the mistakes of others. Attend to your own mistakes, and make the erring ashamed by your kindly, sympathetic interest in them. A Christian is keenly sensitive to the needs of others, because he realizes that they are Christ’s property. He is ever on the watch for opportunities to help them.
Envy, evil surmising, backbiting, and faultfinding—let these not be named amongst Christ’s disciples. These things are the cause of the present feebleness of the church. We have a perfect pattern, even the life of Christ. It is to be our eager desire to do as He has done, to live as He lived, that others, seeing our good works, may be led to glorify God. The Lord’s blessing will rest upon us as we seek to bless others by doing the work that Christ came to this world to teach us how to do.
God gave His only begotten Son to die for a race of rebels, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Why should we not walk and work in the way that God has marked out? Why should anyone please the enemy by tearing down another’s work, using the powers God has given him to kill hope and drive souls into discouragement? In every church there are young men and young women who need the help of a strong, compassionate handclasp; of a loving, Christlike interest that will not let them go. Let there be an end to bickering over little things. Let unkind speeches go as a hateful, unprofitable thing. Cease to speak words that do no good, and come close to those who have erred. Take hold of them, and draw them to Christ. Tell Satan that he cannot have them, for they are the Saviour’s property….
“I came not to condemn, but to save,” Christ declared. Angels are sent from the heavenly courts, not to destroy, but to watch over and guard imperiled souls, to save the lost, to bring the straying back to the fold. Have you, then, no words from a pitying heart to speak to the lost and straying? Will you let them perish, or will you reach out to them a helping hand? Right around you there are souls that are in danger of perishing. Will you not work for them and pray with them? Will you not draw them to the Saviour with the cords of love? Cease your reproaches, and speak words that will inspire them with faith and courage.—Manuscript 36, April 13, 1904, “The New Life in Christ.”
The Upward Look p. 117
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Brian’s mother and family. Rose
—-Urgent prayer for a marriage on the verge of separation. Over 3 decades as husband and wife and now the husband wants out! Both of the faith and the wife is hurting… its causing her health to decline as well. She’s asked for God to intervene, praying for her husband to surrender his heart back to His Lord and Savior. Monica
—-Please pray for Georgia as she recovers from surgery. Rose
—-Please pray for Gabe and Jen. Jen has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Mike
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
One day, some years ago, we went for a drive and eventually found ourselves in a small town that was crumbling away. The buildings were no longer habitable as many had caved-in roofs. Others had missing window panes. Some were in even worse shape. Amongst all of these there were a couple of new houses in perfect condition. It was surprising that anyone would build a home in the midst of all of that filth and decay.
Yet, how often we are content to dwell amidst the rubbish of the sin that is all around us. Paul foretells the crumbling condition of those found in these last days, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Tim 3:1-5 At first, we are as repulsed by these sins as we were when we drove through Lake City. Yet, like those few inhabitants who had built decent homes not far from the wrecks of bygone days, we eventually become so familiar with these practices, that it seems normal, almost right. We, like them, no longer notice the evil around us.
How many times we cherish certain sins, sins we love so well. We and unwilling to get rid of them entirely and allow them to have a corner of our heart. Before long, those sins neutralize the good and we crumble under their weight. Before long, we are spiritual wrecks just as much as those neglected buildings were rotting away. Isaiah describes our crumbling condition, “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 1:5, 6 Eventually, if we hold to these things, it will be declared of us, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” 59:1, 2
How much we need a Deliverer Who will clear away the rubbish of sin while there is still time! Praise God! We have a Saviour Who promises, “I will cleanse [you] from all [your] iniquity, whereby [you] have sinned against me; and I will pardon all [your] iniquities, whereby [you] have sinned, and whereby [you] have transgressed against me.” “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Jer 33:8; Eze 36:25-27 John also assures us, ” If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 1:9-2:6
May we allow our Great Redeemer into our heart and mind to clear away the crumbling wrecks of sin that we have cherished for so long. May we pray as did David, “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Ps 51:2, 10-13 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:8
Rose
We Have a Perfect Pattern