Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28.
Christ employed every means to arrest the attention of the impenitent. How tender and considerate were His dealings with all. He longed to break the spell of infatuation upon those who were deceived and deluded by satanic agencies. He longed to give the sin-polluted soul pardon and peace.
Christ was the mighty Healer of all spiritual and physical maladies. Look, O look, upon the sympathetic Redeemer. With the eye of faith behold Him walking in the streets of the cities, gathering the weak and weary to Himself. Helpless, sinful human beings crowd about Him. See the mothers with their sick and dying little ones in their arms pressing through the crowd that they may get within reach of His notice and touch. Let the eye of faith take in the scene. Watch these mothers pressing their way to Him, pale, weary, almost despairing, yet determined and persevering, bearing their burden of suffering in their arms.
As these anxious ones are being crowded back, Christ makes His way to them step by step, until He is close by their side. Tears of gladness and hope fall freely as they catch His attention and look into the eyes expressing such tender pity and love for the weary mother as well as for her suffering child. He invites her confidence, saying, “What shall I do for you?” She sobs out her great want—“Master, that Thou shouldest heal my child.” She has shown her faith in urging her way to Him, though she did not know that He was making His way to her, and Christ takes the child from her arms. He speaks the word, and disease flees at His touch. The pallor of death is gone. The life-giving current flows through the veins. The muscles receive strength.
Words of comfort and peace are spoken to the mother, and then another case just as urgent is presented. The mother asks help for herself and her children, for they are all sufferers. With willingness and joy Christ exercises His life-giving power, and they give praise and honor and glory to His name who doeth wonderful things.
No frown on Christ’s countenance spurned the humble suppliant from His presence. The priests and rulers sought to discourage the suffering and needy, saying that Christ healed the sick by the power of the devil. But His way could not be hedged up. He was determined not to fail or become discouraged. Suffering privation Himself, He traversed the country that was the scene of His labor, scattering His blessings, and seeking to reach obdurate hearts.—Letter 31, January 12, 1898, to Uriah Smith, longtime editor of the Review and Herald.
The Upward Look p. 26
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—- Carolyn is asking for prayer for lots of pain with her lower back! Arlene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Before Eileen was born, we determined that when we had children, we would never turn them over to a babysitter. I would stay home while she was little. This was a big sacrifice financially, but we felt that by doing this would, we could ground them spiritually.
As time went by, however, we found that there were times when this was not possible. The first time that we left Eileen, she was no quite a year old. There was a deacon’s meeting at the head deacon’s house and since Ron was a deacon, he needed to attend. This meeting was a little different, as the deacons’ wives were required to be there as well. They announced that no children would be allowed. They would be too much of a distraction.
What were we to do? One of the ladies in our church volunteered to watch Eileen. Barbara had four girls of her own and convinced us that she was well able to watch Eileen for the two hours that we would be gone. Convinced at last, we bundled up our little one and drove to Barbara’s house. With some misgivings, we left her in the woman’s care.
The meeting went longer than expected and I missed my baby terribly. Finally the meeting got over and we quickly drove to Barbara’s home to get her. I was so happy to hold my precious little one in my arms again. Relieved that Eileen was fine, we went home. She wasn’t fine, however. A few hours later, we were awakened by Eileen’s cries and screams. She was doubled over in pain. We were terribly frightened and didn’t know what to do. For several hours, we held her while she cried. The next day, we found out that Barbara had fed her blueberries. The tiny seeds in those delicious berries were too hard on her delicate stomach. We were not at all happy with that woman.
Our Dear Saviour cares for us more tenderly than we care for our children. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” Ps 103:13 He promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Ps 32:8; Heb 13:5;Isa 43:1-3 T
The evil one is always trying to feed us the seedy things of this world, things that will only harm us. The familiar story of the prodigal son illustrates how far we can sink if we “taste” of his allurements. (Luke 15) The younger son turned from his father’s tender love and care, left home, and spent all of his inheritance on trifles. He believed the devil’s promise of a life of worldly pleasure and prosperity, but soon he was left alone, penniless, in rags, and so hungry that he wished to eat even pig slop. When he was at his lowest, this son remembered his father’s tender care and determined to return. He did not yet understand his father’s great love and thought that he would be taken back as a servant, but it was better than feeding pigs and starving to death. “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” That loving father reinstated his wayward boy into full sonship again.
Just as that father forgave his son who had sunk so low, so our Heavenly Father forgives us when we ask Him. He bids us, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Isa 1:18 Matt 11:28-30 John reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 What love! What forgiveness!
May we always trust in our Heavenly Father’s love and care for us. May we determine never to partake of the devil’s seedy pleasures, for “the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov 14:12 May we love and serve the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength for He loves us more than we can ever understand. (Mark 12:30;Jer 31:3)
Rose