Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 8:12, 13.
The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service. To all who have accepted Christ as a personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanctifier, guide, and witness. The more closely believers have walked with God, the more clearly and powerfully have they testified of their Redeemer’s love and of His saving grace. The men and women who through the long centuries of persecution and trial enjoyed a large measure of the presence of the Spirit in their lives have stood as signs and wonders in the world. Before angels and men they have revealed the transforming power of redeeming love.
Those who at Pentecost were endued with power from on high, were not thereby freed from further temptation and trial. As they witnessed for truth and righteousness they were repeatedly assailed by the enemy of all truth, who sought to rob them of their Christian experience. They were compelled to strive with all their God-given powers to reach the measure of the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. Daily they prayed for fresh supplies of grace, that they might reach higher and still higher toward perfection. Under the Holy Spirit’s working even the weakest, by exercising faith in God, learned to improve their entrusted powers and to become sanctified, refined, and ennobled. As in humility they submitted to the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, they received of the fullness of the Godhead and were fashioned in the likeness of the divine.—The Acts of the Apostles, 49, 50.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 46
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Prayer Requests
—-My friend, Brittainy’s dad has covid, and, although he is doing better, he is not out of the woods yet. Please keep him in your prayers. Wanangwa
—-Prayers are needed for a young lady who was shot in the head this week. A gang mistook her for someone else. She was ten weeks pregnant. CC
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Dear Friends,
When I write the devotional, I’m always worried that somehow I will lose it. It has happened to me more than once. Most of the time it is because I have thoughtlessly done something that has caused it to disappear. I remember one time just as I was typing “Rose” at the end of the devotional, I did something I should never have done. For some unknown reason, I clicked the “Back” button at the top of the page. To my horror, it took me to the last time I had saved my work. There was very little of the “Dear Friends” part of the devotional left. Frantically, I looked to see if I could press “Forward” and all would be well. I couldn’t. All that work was gone. It had vanished, disappeared. I had to start over again.
Just as so much of the “Dear Friends” part of the devotional had vanished that morning, so our Great Redeemer promises ” I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” “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.” “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isa 43:25; 1:18; 44:22 Oh how much we need that blotting out!
Micah exclaims, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18, 19
John assures 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 We are bidden as Peter bade the people on the day of Pentecost, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19
Think of it! The Great King of the Universe loves us so much that He is willing to forgive and forget all of our transgressions, iniquities, and sins, if we will ask Him to do so. He, Who “gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” is anxiously awaiting to hear our prayer of repentance. John 3:16 Even more, the great “goodness of God leadeth [us] to repentance.” Rom 2:4
*Marvelous grace of our Loving Lord! Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured—There, where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold, Threaten the soul with infinite loss; Grace that is greater—yea, grace untold—Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive? Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!
May we accept His Great Grace today while the door of mercy is still open. May we pray as did David, “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD. For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.” Ps 25:10,11 And, because of His great love and forgiveness, may we “go and sin no more, that we may be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit, “whom God hath given to them that obey him” is my prayer. John 8:11; Acts 5:32
Rose
*Marvelous Grace by Julia Johnston