For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10.
How tenderly the Saviour dealt with him who was to be His betrayer! In His teaching, Jesus dwelt upon principles of benevolence that struck at the very root of covetousness. He presented before Judas the heinous character of greed, and many a time the disciple realized that his character had been portrayed, and his sin pointed out; but he would not confess and forsake his unrighteousness. He was self-sufficient, and instead of resisting temptation, he continued to follow his fraudulent practices…. Jesus dealt him no sharp rebuke for his covetousness, but with divine patience bore with this erring man, even while giving him evidence that He read his heart as an open book. He presented before him the highest incentives for right doing; and in rejecting the light of Heaven, Judas would be without excuse.heart,
Satan is playing the game of life for every soul. He knows that practical sympathy is a test of the purity and unselfishness of the heart, and he will make every possible effort to close our hearts to the needs of others…. He will bring in many things to prevent the expression of love and sympathy. It is thus that he ruined Judas. Judas was constantly planning to benefit self. In this he represents a large class of professed Christians of today. Therefore we need to study his case. We are as near to Christ as he was. Yet if, as with Judas, association with Christ does not make us one with Him, if it does not cultivate within our hearts a sincere sympathy for those for whom Christ gave His life, we are in the same danger as was Judas….
We need to guard against the first deviation from righteousness; for one transgression, one neglect to manifest the spirit of Christ, opens the way for another and still another, until the mind is overmastered by the principles of the enemy. If cultivated, the spirit of selfishness becomes a devouring passion which nothing but the power of Christ can subdue.
Conflict and Courage p. 286
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for my family in the Philippines who are in an area that terrorists are taking over. D
—–Please pray for Steve who is having surgery today.
—–please pray for my son Sammy his wife Helen and my grand son Cameron, they are in the Philippines working for the Lord and live in the problem area where the terrorists are attacking. Patricia
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Ron, Mike, and Eileen went to the Eisenhower museum up in Abilene. Most of the historical facts Ron already knew, but there was one part that was new to him. During World War II, the US used various methods to confuse the enemy. One of the most interesting was the dummy paratroopers that were filled with firecrackers. Hundreds of these dummies would be dropped by parachute in a particular area far from where the US was going to actually be. As the dummies were descending, the enemy would hear the firecrackers going off. To them it sounded like small arms fire and they would rush to the area and return fire. The exploding firecrackers as well as the enemy fire would totally destroy the dummies by the time they landed, so by the time the enemy felt actually got to there, all they found were empty parachutes. In their minds, they were sure that the US soldiers were hiding and just waiting for the right moment to spring upon them. In this way, the real battle had fewer enemy soldiers, for most of them were busy looking for men who did not exist.
As Ron was telling me about this, I couldn’t help thinking how many times the devil does the same thing by getting us so sidetracked on unimportant issues, that we miss the really vital ones. Paul admonishes us, “shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker.” 2 Tim 2:16,17 He warns, “grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” These “wolves” are “proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” Acts 20:29,30, 1 Tim 6:4,5 How often we see this today.
By keeping our minds on these unimportant side issues, these evil surmisings, these disputings the evil one is winning the battle. How important it is that we recognize another of his sidetracking plans. How often he tempts us to become as were the Pharisees of old. They had added so many man-made rules and regulations to the ones that God had given, that they made life a burden. For example, before they ate, they dipped their hands in water a certain number of times letting a certain number of drops to drip off from their elbows.
Another example of their man-made regulations was dealing with the Sabbath. The rabbis had so filled God’s Holy Day with rules and regulations that they spoiled the very day God had given to mankind to be a draw them closer to Himself. These blind guides taught the people that it was a sin to carry a handkerchief on the Sabbath, so in order to get around that man-made law, the people pinned their handkerchief to their garment. The rabbis also taught that it was a sin to spit on the ground on the Sabbath because in doing so they were watering the plants on the ground. How ridiculous! It is no wonder that the Scribes and Pharisees were always accusing Jesus of Sabbath breaking because He ignored the man-made regulations that had made the Sabbath a burden. He explained that He “is Lord also of the Sabbath” and revealed to them as well as to us true Sabbath keeping. Luke 6:5
How vital to keep focused on our Dear Saviour and what He has revealed throughout His Holy Word. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim 3:16,17 May we “Study to show [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2Tim 2:15 May we ask for the eyesalve of the Holy Spirit that we may recognize the deceptions of the enemy.
May we “follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good .fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” that someday soon, we will see look up and say, “Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
Rose

Without Excuse
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