The redemption that was wrought out for us by our Lord on the cross of Calvary was to bring us to obedience to the law of God, making it possible, through His righteousness imputed to us, to keep the law of God….

No man’s work, no matter what his position may be, can bear any comparison with this great work for fallen man. The subject is so great, so important. Then why is it that so few pay attention to it? Men act as though they had no souls to save, no heaven to win, no hell to shun. What does it mean?

Says the apostle Paul, “Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1). The truth was to the apostle so great, so clear, so important, because eternal interests were involved, that he could only ascribe to the bewitching power of Satan the continued impiety and neglect of this great salvation. Now are there not many who are so bewitched with Satan’s wiles that they do not obey the truth? that they do not see the advantages of obedience? Who is thus unwise? It is those who have not sought the Lord for help that they may cease to longer transgress His law.

There is nothing so offensive to God as sin. Instead of making void the law of God by continuing in sin, every truly converted soul will be walking in the path of humble obedience to all of God’s commandments. They will search the Scriptures that they might know the truth. Who hath bewitched the impenitent, the transgressor, that sin is chosen rather than obedience? It is the power of Satan that came to Adam and Eve in Eden, the deceiving, bewitching power of the fallen angel….

How few talk about this great sacrifice of the life of Jesus to save the guilty sinner! If we appreciated this love manifested by God for our souls we would be elevated by taking hold of the merits of Jesus Christ, for without the righteousness of Christ man could not give to God perfect obedience….

He condescended to this great sacrifice, not that sin in man should become a virtue, not that sin might be made righteousness. He took the steps that man is required to take in conversion. He went forward in baptism, and when He came up out of the water He kneeled down and offered up such a prayer to His Father as Heaven had never heard before.—Manuscript 25, July 14, 1887, “A Peculiar People.”
The Upward Look p. 209
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Prayer Requests
—- please pray for G. he is in the hospital with multiple infections and none of them the covid virus. they just put in him/ .there.he hasa high temperature.
and his son is on dialysis and his daughter in law has cancer. he is a good member at church he has been hit with a lot of trails through the years. please pray the DR’s will find the cure for him his wife has had healt issues as well age has no boundaries . M.
—-Please pray for a friend’s co-worker. His name is Terry he is 49 and was getting dizzy and had trouble walking.th ey ran some test and discovered he has a brain tumor.. M
—-Please pray for David. That’s all I can say. B
—-Prayer needed for Leonardo in the Philippians. He has been admitted to hospital with serious kidney problem. His sister has asked for prayer through my prayer net. She can’t visit him as she has no transportation and things are still shut down. Michael
—-My son Chris is in the burn Center. He is burned in his throat from a explosion. He is on a respirator. Please Pray for him. Sandy
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Dear Friends,
My mother did not like to be around her grandfather, Winfield Harmon. He was very stern and pompous and smoked big, fat cigars. All my mother’s life she remembered those stifling, smelly cigars even though she was still a little girl when he died. When they visited him, he would take them for a drive to see the sights around Chicago. Even though they did not have a car, and normally would be excited to go on a drive, they dreaded it. As he drove, he puffed away on his cigar. He insisted on keeping the car windows tightly closed which filled the car with smoke. This made my mother feel sick to her stomach and gave her a terrible headache.
My grandfather, who was sitting in the back seat with his girls, hated the smoke as much as his girls did. Winking at them, he began to roll down the windowa tiny bit at a time to let out some of that nauseating smoke. By the time he would get the window open an inch or two; my great-grandfather would make him close it again. Over and over my grandfather tried to roll down the window very slowly so as not to be noticed, but every time, he would hear a stern “Edwin!” Even though he was a grown man, was afraid of his father and obeyed immediately. He had suffered too much at the hand of that abusive man over the years to take a stand.
Just as that cigar’s smoke surrounded my great-grandfather and became the strongest memory of him for my mother, so all that we do, our attitudes, our words, and all that we think have an influence on those around us. We may have a heavenly influence or we may have an evil one. It is our choice.
Solomon wrote, “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.” “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Prov 15:26; 25:11 Isaiah tells us of his experience, “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” Isa 50:4
Jesus admonishes us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16 We are to be a witness in more ways than by our words. Dorcas was a person who witnessed by her works. “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.” Acts 9:36-42
Dorcas’ life spoke volumes to those around her. By her kind deeds, she spread a blessing to all around. Even though great trial and even death came upon her, it was for the saving of many who knew her. Indeed, God did not allow her to be removed from them. He worked through Peter to raise her up that by the influence of a godly life, she might continue to help those in need. In the same way, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10
May the love of Jesus shine through us to all around us. May all that we do be done “heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord [we] shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for [we] serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Col 3:23-25 May our thoughts, words, and whatsoever we do bring glory to the One Who loves us so.
Rose

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