Professing Christians who live cold-hearted, selfish lives are nauseating to Christ. Let us not be lukewarm Christians, heartless in our treatment of others. Let us surround ourselves with an atmosphere of courage and hope. Let us speak pleasant, encouraging words to those around us….

Let us cherish the truth of God. Unless we are successful in obtaining eternal life, it were better for us that we had never been born. Let us not refuse to avail ourselves of the privileges that are ours through the sacrifice of Christ. Although equal with God, He came to this world to give His life for us. On the cross of Calvary, He died a death of shame, that He might make an atonement for the sins of those who receive Him as their Saviour. To those who receive Him, and believe on Him, He promises to give power to become the sons of God.

Jesus loves you. He has purchased you with His blood. Had He not loved you, He would not have died for you. His heart of love is grieved when you work contrary to Him, because you are thwarting His plan for your salvation. God cannot bless those who oppose Him, those who refuse to accept the words of comfort and peace that would bring light and love to their souls.

To every man is given his work. Those who are connected with God will reveal their connection by working with Him. They are co-partners with God and with Christ. They are joint-heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance.

If in this world we do our best, following our divine Example, overcoming in the strength that He gives, we shall be granted an abundant entrance into the courts above. There Christ will lead us by rivers of living water and teach us the meaning of the providences that in this world we did not understand. Then we shall be able to discern the love of God in what now seem to us adversities. We shall see that trials were permitted to come to us to remove our un-Christlike traits of character, and to strengthen our weak points.

God is calling upon you to surrender to Him. Will you not come? Will you not give Him your heart’s best and holiest affections? Will you not receive from Him gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich, and white raiment that you may be clothed? Will you not allow Him to anoint your eyes with His heavenly eyesalve, that you may see clearly?—Manuscript 114, June 14, 1903, “Duties and Privileges of a Christian,” a talk given at Calistoga, California.
The Upward Look p. 179
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for baby Imogen who has brain cancer. BR
—-Please pray for my relatives in Tennessee. Mike
—-Please pray for my 32 year old very critical patient for healing. Emerson
—-Prayers for the B Family on their recent passing of Matriarch, Dorothy. Wanda
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Dear friends,
Nearly every week, one of the children at the church we attended in Washington state would stand beside me and measure how tall they were in comparison to me. Somehow they thought that if they could reach my height, they would be an adult. No doubt, they chose me because I was the shortest adult there. One day, Wesley discovered that he was the same height as I. After that, he would often stand beside me gloating over the fact that he had reached his goal.
Just as the children at the Cheney church had a goal, so Jesus bids us to strive for the greatest of goals—“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt 5:48 We are to “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Tim 6:12 Paul followed this principle, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 2 Cor 9:24-27
Peter gives us the steps we are to follow toward this goal. He says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:4-8
Paul adds, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Rom 12:1,2 As we see what we must be, we realize how far short of the goal we are. We cannot attain to the perfection that our Creator desires for us without His help. We are so weak, so sinful, so helpless. Praise God! We have a Saviour Who has promised to help us. He says, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa 45:22 “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb 13:5 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isa 41:10 Praise God! He has prepared the way to holiness. He is standing beside us ready to help us reach our goal if we will ask Him. He is “mighty to save” Isa 63:1
May we keep our eyes upon the prize before us. May we let nothing come between us and our walk with our Dear Saviour. May we so live, that others will see Jesus in us is my prayer.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/p3yT5WShAt8/every-man-is-given-his-work.html