We Need Not Despair

The pen of inspiration, true to its task, tells us of the sins that overcame Noah, Lot, Moses, Abraham, David, and Solomon, and that even Elijah’s strong spirit sank under temptation during his fearful trial. Jonah’s disobedience and Israel’s idolatry are faithfully recorded. Peter’s denial of Christ, the sharp contention of Paul and Barnabas, the failings and infirmities of the prophets and apostles, are all laid bare…. There before us lie the lives of the believers, with all their faults and follies, which are intended as a lesson to all the generations following them. If they had been without foible they would have been more than human, and our sinful natures would despair of ever reaching such a point of excellence. But seeing where they struggled and fell, where they took heart again and conquered through the grace of God, we are encouraged, and led to press over the obstacles that degenerate nature places in our way.

God has ever been faithful to punish crime. He sent His prophets to warn the guilty, denounce their sins, and pronounce judgment upon them….

We need just such lessons as the Bible gives us, for with the revelation of sin is recorded the retribution which follows. The sorrow and penitence of the guilty, and the wailing of the sin-sick soul, come to us from the past, telling us that man was then, as now, in need of the pardoning mercy of God….

Bible history stays the fainting heart with the hope of God’s mercy. We need not despair when we see that others have struggled through discouragements like our own, have fallen into temptations even as we have done, and yet have recovered their ground and been blessed of God. The words of inspiration comfort and cheer the erring soul. Although the patriarchs and apostles were subject to human frailties, yet through faith they obtained a good report, fought their battles in the strength of the Lord, and conquered gloriously. Thus may we trust in the virtue of the atoning sacrifice and be overcomers in the name of Jesus.47Testimonies for the Church 4:12-15.
Conflict and Courage p. 368
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my mom. Satan is plaguing her. She is a senior and lives by herself. Pray that Jesus our Saviour protects her from all evil. To send his Angels and her Guardian Angel to protect her. Anon
—-Asking for prayers. Went to doctor, said I had acute sinus infection, negetative for Covid. He put me on Augmentin 500mg twice a day. I cannot see any improvement,if anything worse. I’m 75 and I sure could use your prayers and God’s intervention. Leah
—-Please pray that God will lead E and her children in every aspect of their lives. R
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Dear Friends,

My grandfather, Edwin Harmon, would often tell me about his life in the far-off days when he was young. Winters were harsh in rural Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The snow would be very deep and hard to walk through. Often he would speak of driving a horse and cutter over the snow. A cutter had no wheels: it had runners like huge ice skates. His favorite times would be when the snow was so deep that it would cover even the fences. The sun would melt the top of the snow and make a very hard crust. This crust was so hard that it would hold the weight of the horse and cutter. He was no longer confined to a road. He would drive over the fences and across fields and save quite a bit of time that way. He loved it!

As a little girl, I tried to imagine a crust of snow so hard that it would hold such a heavy weight. As I would look at a single snowflake that would land upon my mitten, I was amazed that this delicate, nearly microscopic, beautifully designed, bit of frozen water could be so strong.

There was a lesson in this for us; a lesson that I didn’t realize at the time. That tiny delicate snowflake, united with countless numbers of other snowflakes, had a strength that it could never have alone. Our Dear Saviour commands, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt 28:19,20 That command can seem overwhelming for one individual. How can we accomplish such a great task? We are like a tiny snowflake obscure in the field of humanity. However, Jesus’ command is not for just one individual, but for all who have accepted Him as their Saviour. If each of us are filled with a concern for our fellow man, if each follow His leading, if each do our part to speak a word in season to those around us, this task can be accomplished rather quickly. (2 Tim 4:2)

The early church understood this principle. Paul explained this to the Corinthian believers, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor 3:6-11 By each one whole-heartedly doing the work God had given them to do, they brought the gospel to the then-known world. Their enemies declared, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” Acts 17:6

The sun shining upon those flakes are like the trials that all must pass through to strengthen us. Paul explains, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Heb 12:5-15

We, too, can turn the world “upside down” as did the disciples of old. We, too, can accomplish the Great Commission. If we are willing, God will give us the opportunity. But the messenger must have a message. The trumpet must give a certain sound. How shall we have a message unless we study His Great Message Book? How shall we give that “certain sound” unless we are in tune with Him.

May we dig deep within the Word, that we may be so in tune with our Great Redeemer and recognize the opportunities to witness that He places before us is my prayer.

Rose