Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.
Christ gave no stinted service. He did not measure His work by hours. His time, His heart, His soul and strength, were given to labor for the benefit of humanity. Through weary days He toiled, and through long nights He bent in prayer for grace and endurance that He might do a larger work. With strong crying and tears He sent His petitions to heaven, that His human nature might be strengthened, that He might be braced to meet the wily foe in all his deceptive workings, and fortified to fulfil His mission of uplifting humanity…. “The love of Christ,” said Paul, “constraineth us.” This was the actuating principle of his conduct; it was his motive power. If ever his ardor in the path of duty flagged for a moment, one glance at the cross caused him to gird up anew the loins of his mind and press forward in the way of self-denial. In his labors for his brethren he relied much upon the manifestation of infinite love in the sacrifice of Christ, with its subduing, constraining power….
In the life of Christ, everything was made subordinate to His work, the great work of redemption which He came to accomplish. And the same devotion, the same self-denial and sacrifice, the same subjection to the claims of the Word of God, is to be manifest in His disciples. Every one who accepts Christ as his personal Saviour will long for the privilege of serving God. Contemplating what heaven has done for him, his heart is moved with boundless love and adoring gratitude.—The Ministry of Healing, 500-502.
The infinite love of God has been manifested in the gift of His only begotten Son to redeem a lost race.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 469.
With God at Dawn p. 41
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Annie who is recovering from back surgery. Rose
—-Please there is an awful situation going on with two of my sons and their families. Urgently needing prayer for them all right now. Connie
—-Please pray for me, I’m going for my commercial pilot’s license and I’m at the final test at my school, which afterwards I can take the FAA exam and get my license. Matt
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Dear Friends,
Two weeks after my seventh birthday, my mother took me to Wisconsin Dells for a vacation. It was not as commercialized as it is now, but there were still many things to see and do. We had a wonderful time. My favorite activity was the boat tours where we could see the beautiful rock formations on the cliffs along the river. Occasionally the boat pulled up to a dock and everyone got out and followed our guide through some cool, damp, narrow canyon.
We visited many gift shops and brought back lots of souvenirs. (Most were lost or ruined within a short time, but one souvenir I had until we lost everything when our house burned down in 1979) As we were walking along the street so long ago, we saw something about twice the size of a telephone booth. A sign on the outside of the booth read, “Record your own record.” We went inside. There was recording equipment as well as a little slot to put the money into that would start the machine. My mother whispered what I should say, and in a childish voice I repeated every word.
My mother mailed that little record to my grandparents, who listened to it for awhile, and then gave it to my mother. She kept it until I was a teenager. Then she gave it to me. That record was very special to me. It brought back memories of the wonderful time I had had. Throughout the years, I would sometimes listen to that little record until I nearly had it memorized. I loved to hear that seven year old voice even though I couldn’t say my “r’s” right and it sounded really funny. All I can remember now is, “Hello, Gwandpa and Gwandma. I had a nice west last night and a Daiwy Queen.” The equipment had also recorded my mother’s whispered voice, as she was giving me the words to say. That always brought a smile to my face. Eileen was the only one of my children who got to listen to that little record. It amazed her that I had ever sounded like that.
Our Great and Loving Creator gave us a record, a record that we would do well to read daily. We do not have to be in darkness, for He has given us Great Light. From Genesis to Revelation, His voice is recorded, that we may know the Way to Life Eternal. Without it we would fall off into the dark and wicked world. God’s Holy Word is a record of the lives of many of God’s followers throughout the time span of more than four-thousand years. It was written over a period of more than 1500 years by over forty men. Throughout the centuries, beginning at Moses and ending with John, the Scriptures were written similarly to that little record my mother and I recorded in 1952. Peter explains, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20,21 Paul adds, “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.” 1 Tim 3:16, 17
As we read the stories of God’s dealings with the patriarchs and prophets who lived so long ago, we can recognize His dealings with us. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor 10:11 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4 Through meditating upon their lives, we can follow their example in the good things and avoid making the same mistakes that they did.
David reminds us, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.” “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Ps 119:105,130,11; 19:7-11
May we take God’s Holy Word as our only rule of faith and practice. May we “study to show [ourself] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 May we daily study the Scriptures with a heart that is receptive to His Spirit, that the same Holy Spirit that moved upon man to write it in the long ago may fill us with light to the Glory of God. (Matt 5:14-16)
Rose