Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Titus 1:9.
The Lord has often made manifest in His providence that nothing less than revealed truth, the Word of God, can reclaim man from sin or keep him from transgression. That Word which reveals the guilt of sin, has a power upon the human heart to make man right and keep him so. The Lord has said that His Word is to be studied and obeyed; it is to be brought into the practical life; that Word is as inflexible as the character of God,—the same yesterday, today, and forever.—Testimonies to Ministers, 80, 81.
But however much one may advance in spiritual life, he will never come to a point where he will not need diligently to search the Scriptures; for therein are found the evidences of our faith. All points of doctrine, even though they have been accepted as truth, should be brought to the law and to the testimony; if they cannot stand this test, “there is no light in them.”
The great plan of redemption, as revealed in the closing work for these last days, should receive close examination. The scenes connected with the sanctuary above should make such an impression upon the minds and hearts of all that they may be able to impress others. All need to become more intelligent in regard to the work of the atonement, which is going on in the sanctuary above…. By study, contemplation, and prayer, God’s people will be elevated above common, earthly thoughts and feelings, and will be brought into harmony with Christ and His great work of cleansing the sanctuary above from the sins of the people.—Testimonies for the Church 5:575.
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Prayer Requests
—-update—Annie’s surgery went well. Please pray for a good recovery. Rose
—-My daughter linda need miracle from God .she had a 5 way heart by pass. and now paralyzed cant dress. walk. sit up turn over. shes drugged. she was strong and now weak. Need her whole and strong and walking again. please need her home. Cleo
—-David needs your continual prayers. Buck
—-Pray for me — Sudden hearing loss– Difficulty understanding what folks are saying! Ann
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Dear Friends,
During the depression of the thirties, nearly everyone suffered. It was a struggle just to survive. Men left their families to wander the country looking for work. Most of them became beggars, knocking on doors till they found some kindhearted soul who would give them a little food. Although my grandparents did not have much, they felt blessed that my grandfather still had a job. My grandmother never turned away someone who came begging at her door.
One day a different kind of beggar came asking for food. Hearing something at the door, my grandmother opened it to find a pitiful looking dog. He was very skinny and weak. She felt very sorry for him and gave him the bone that she was planning on using for soup. He wagged his tail, took the bone in his mouth and weakly walked away. My grandmother saw him lay this bone at his mate’s feet. She began eagerly to gnaw it while he stood guard. What an example of love, devotion, and sacrifice!
Just as that poor, starving dog gave up the sustenance that he needed because he loved his mate unselfishly, so our Dear Saviour gave His all for us. Think of it! The King of Glory left Heaven where He was worshipped and adored by the myriads of angels and all the beings on worlds unfallen to come to this dark and sinful world to suffer all of the hatred that the devil and evil men could heap upon Him. How great is His love for us! It is beyond comprehension!
Just as our Great Redeemer gave up everything for us, so He bids us give up everything for Him. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Matt 10:37-39 Paul admonishes us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:5-8
Jesus illustrated this fact by giving two parables recorded in Matthew 13:44 He said, “the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” Perhaps the man did not realize that he would have to sell everything in order to buy that field, but it soon became apparent. His whole focus in life was to buy that field, because when he did, his whole life would change. He would have great riches, servants, and a life of ease. That thought kept him focused on his goal even when family and friends thought he had “gone off the deep end”. To his great joy, he succeeded in obtaining that which he longed for.
For emphasis, Jesus gave an almost identical parable. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” vs. 45,46 Again the moral of the story was our need to give up everything to obtain the Pearl of Great Price no matter what the cost.
Our Great Redeemer sets before us a reward that is far better than any earthly treasure. We can have eternal life! This mortal can be given the gift of immortality! We can see God face to face! We can reign with Him! We can have close fellowship with the Creator of the Universe throughout eternity! There is no greater happiness than that!
Just as it cost the men in these parables everything they possessed, so it will cost us all. We must give up our self-centeredness. We must give up our selfish desires. We must give up our own agenda knowing that He never asks us to give up what is good for us. How important it is for us to keep our eyes on Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith.” Our sweetest thoughts must be of Him. Our whole focus in life must be to please Him: not for the reward, but because of our gratitude and love to Him for His great sacrifice for us. “Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:5, 6
May we daily surrender ourselves and all that we possess to the One Who loves us so. May we serve Him with all of our mind, all of our strength, all of our whole being because He first loved us. (1 john 4:19) May we “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:1, 2
Rose