Your Face is Telling

And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. Genesis 4:6, 7.
The Lord saw the wrath of Cain. He saw the falling of his countenance. Thus is revealed how closely the Lord marks every action, all the intents and purposes, yes, even the expression of the countenance. This, though man may say nothing, expresses his refusal to do the way and will of God.
Mark the words of the Lord….This question may be addressed to every young man and young woman who, like Cain, reveal their passion … when acting out the promptings of Satan, which are in direct opposition to the requirements of God.
If you choose to throw off the sacred, restraining influence of the truth, Satan will lead you captive at his will. You will be in danger of giving scope to your appetites and passions, giving loose rein to lusts, to evil and abominable desires. Instead of bearing in your countenance a calm serenity under trial and affliction, like faithful Enoch, having your face radiant with hope and that peace which passeth understanding, you will stamp your countenance with carnal thoughts, with lustful desires. You will bear the impress of the satanic instead of the divine.
Many children and youth have their characters imprinted on their countenances. Their life’s history they carry in the features of the face…. If Christ is the abiding principle in the heart, you may read purity, refinement, peace, and love in the features. In other countenances, an evil character hangs out the sign; selfishness, cunning, deceit, falsehood, enmity, and jealousy are expressed there. How difficult it is for truth to impress the hearts and countenances of such characters! …
All spiritual culture Christ has provided for His children. If Jesus is abiding in the soul, the heart is filled with the holy graces of His Spirit, which makes itself manifest in the transforming of the features. If you would have beauty and loveliness of character, the divine law must be written upon the heart and carried out in the life.31
Conflict and Courage p. 27
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Dianne who is having trouble with insomnia and anxiety. Pray that the Lord will show her the cause and what to do. Esther
—–Please pray for J who is very discouraged. Also keep praying for B. The decision may be made this week. L
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Dear Friends,
When my children were little, I had a part time job where I worked in different homes on different days of the week. One day when I came home and was receiving my usual hugs of greeting from my children, I noticed that Esther Marie had her nose pressed against my chest as if she were smelling my clothes. When I asked her what she was doing, she replied that she was seeing whose house I had been to. It was hard for me to believe that she could, so I challenged her to tell me whose house I had been to that day. To my surprise, she did.
Later, as I thought about what my younger daughter had done, I realized how easy it is to become polluted by the “odor” of whatever we see, whatever we hear, the places we go, and the things we do. Everything, even our own words, has a lasting effect upon us. Scientific studies have shown that we take on the characteristics of those we come in contact with, even if we are with them for as little as ten minutes. How important, then, it is to choose our friends wisely. The Bible says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3 The influence of our associates changes us for good or for evil.
How important it is the we guard what we see and hear. Daily we should pray, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way.” Ps 119:37 God has promised a reward to those who are careful to turn away from the bad and cling to the good. “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly, he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil, He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.” Isa 33:125-17 Wonderful promise! Think of it! If we behold our Loving Saviour, meditating upon His life, His goodness, speaking with Him as we would to a dear friend, we will be changed into His likeness. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18 This is to be our goal! This is to be our joy!
To be like the One Who loved us so will bring us joys beyond anything this sinful, old world has to offer. We will have a peace in our heart that cannot be shaken no matter what is transpiring around us. Then when others see this joy and peace, they will see Jesus dwelling within us. This was the disciples’ experience for even their enemies, “took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13
May we guard carefully the avenues of the soul as Paul advises, “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 May we determine as did David, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” Ps 101:3 May we daily study the life of our Loving Saviour “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever.” Gal 1:4,5
Rose