Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. John 5:19.
We are safe if we do the will of our heavenly Father…. See the entire dependence of the Son on the Father, was shown in the words “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do”—mark the implicit obedience in the words—“for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19). No less entire is to be our dependence on Christ, and no less implicit our obedience. Christ’s words regarding this matter are definite….
“For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth” (verse 20). It was in our behalf that Christ came to this world to make known the will of His Father, and to show human beings what they must become before they can stand before God in the heavenly courts. It is our work to obey God—to learn and obey the laws of His kingdom.
God chose Israel to be His people, and by His mighty power He delivered them from Egyptian bondage. The Egyptians saw and felt the scourging of God. The whole land bore evidence to the power of Him who ruleth in the heavens. All Egypt was desolated before Pharaoh would submit to God’s will. Thus God worked to lead His people in all future ages to magnify His power and to look to Him as the supreme Ruler.
The Son of God, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, was the leader of the children of Israel, overseeing every phase of their experience. He educated and disciplined them, often testing their faith. Fleeing from Pharaoh’s host, they found themselves at one time hemmed in by inaccessible mountains, with the Red Sea before them and the enemy following hard after. The command came, “Go forward,” and as they obeyed, the waters parted before them. In their journey through the wilderness, the Israelites were led and protected by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night….
Moses, the visible leader of the Israelites, was admitted into the secret councils of the Most High. The people were given evidence that Moses did indeed talk with God, receiving from Him the instruction given them…. God’s divine philosophy is revealed in the experience of Israel, chosen by Him from all nations to be His peculiar people. From His dealing with them we learn that He must be obeyed, that those who are determined to exalt themselves must be blotted out.—Letter 259, November 23, 1903, to “Dear Sister Hall.”
The Upward Look p. 341
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Buddy who is hospitalized with Covid and has a blood clot in his leg. Rose
—-Please pray for my cousin, Carol! Her cancer has come back With a vengeance! Joyce
—-My step dad who is 87 is undergoing an electrical procedure to his heart tomorrow morning. He has a pacemaker and his heart is not working hardly at all. I am just asking for prayer for his peace and for God to take away all anxiety and if it is His will, to let my step dad come through this procedure and have a little more time. I am not certain of his relationship with Jesus. Joy
—-Please Pray for my daughter. Tammy. She has Covid and is on a ventilator. Delia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Fifty-three years ago this month, Ron and I were married. This morning I was reminiscing about those years. There have been good times and bad times—times when our marriage has been strained to its limit and times when it has been solid and sweet. Most of the time, we have taken each other’s love for granted and not appreciated the little acts of kindness that make life sweet as much as we should.
Paul used the analogy of marriage when writing to the Corinthians. “I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Cor 11:2 Yet, how often our Heavenly Husband can say of us as He did of church of Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Rev 2:4 How often we deeply wound our Only Saviour by taking His love, His gifts for granted. How we bring pain to His Great Heart of Love by our words, by our actions, by our attitudes. Indeed, we deny the very One Who laid down His life for us by our unthankfulness, by our “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Tim 3:5
When we think of pleasing ourselves instead of the Lord of Glory, when our hearts do not daily swell with gratitude for His unspeakable gift, His marvelous grace and mercy, we are veritably denying Him. Our Dear Saviour warns us, “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matt 10:33
May we appreciate the kindnesses that our Great Redeemer daily showers upon us. May we always praise Him for His great love for us. May we stick so close to Him Who loves us that all who meet us will take “knowledge of [us], that [we have] been with Jesus.”
Rose