If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:19.
The Lord our Saviour knew every phase of experience His disciples would meet and all the conflicts they would experience. The Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). We must not as Christians become fretful and impatient over coming in contact with worldly men. They have not the belief of the truth, and whatever they say or do, keep your temper.
Every time you allow your feelings to become irritated you manifest in your words that you have not that faith that works by love and sanctifies the soul. You have personal pride and a large stock of self-sufficiency, and you are not in any case prepared to connect together in business capacity or even as Christians, because your own attributes of character are not of the Bible order, to retain your position as partners.
Christians can maintain an untarnished reputation if they are Christians, which means Christlike. God has made every provision that through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ they should not fail or be discouraged in a dark, troubled future, which He knew must come. The Lord Jesus Christ is grieved for His disciples, that they must pass through manifold afflictions from the world. He prepares them for that time of trial, of great temptation to lose their faith, by presenting before their minds the hopeful part of the future. He must mingle the bright, hopeful lines with the dark. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (verse 26).
Then He tells them that they will also cooperate with the Holy Spirit. The great Source of their strength—which is our changeless consolation and hope and courage—would ever be within their reach. They were to be Christ’s witnesses. “And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning” (verse 27). They should be His faithful representatives to an apostate world. While in the world they are not to be of the world, but bear a faithful testimony against the evil that is working in worldly policy plans contrary to the truth and righteousness.—Manuscript 80, May 3, 1893, “Diary.”
The Upward Look p. 137
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Emma as she has strep. Thankyou for your prayers for her yesterday as she had a bad seizure. They found she also had strep. Rose
—-Please pray for A that she will recover fully. B
—- please pray for my friend’s daughter who is 19 and they found a mass which has been growing from one hip to the other. Today is her surgery…Her name is Jasmine. Becky
—-My good friend just had colon cancer surgery but they couldn’t get it all, and she now needs strength to undergo intensive radiation a d chemotherapy. Please join me in praying for her for strength, peace and healing of her body and soul. Her name is Patti. Karen
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Dear Friends,
When my children were little, there were times when I had to make them do what was right even though they did not want to. Obedience was not an option: it was an expectation. I wanted above all things for them to follow Jesus and please Him. I knew that in order to do that, His principles had to be instilled upon their heart. Often it went against their desires, and it became a battle of the will. I did not enjoy these battles, yet I knew that they were necessary to teach my children the right way. Solomon said, “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” and my greatest desire was that my children be known by right doings. Prov 20:11 I wanted my children to be known by right doings.
There were many times, as my children were growing, that they did obey from the heart. There was no battle. They did what was right because they loved me, not for fear of punishment. Even though it sometimes went against their wishes, they did my will because they wanted to please me. It was those times that made it all worthwhile. It was those times that gave me such joy. So it is with us. Paul tells us that Jesus, “became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Heb 5:9 He urges, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” Rom 6:12-17
Obedience from the heart, how precious in the sight of God! What happiness our loving obedience gives our Dear Saviour Who said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 If we truly love Him Who died for us, we will “do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3:22 We will not obey in order to be saved, for that is impossible. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23 One sin unconfessed and unrepented of can keep us out of Heaven. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10 We exclaim as did Paul, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom 7:24,25 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:8-10
We are not saved by our works, yet we are judged by our works. Paul says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” Titus 3:5,6 John tells us, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” Rev 20:12,13 James further explains, “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:17-26
John adds, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God.” 1 John 3:1-10
May we love the Lord our God with our whole heart and soul and strength. May we please Him in all that we do and say and think, not in order to be saved, but that we may bring joy to His Great Heart of Love. May we soon see our Dear Saviour, Who said, “behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev 22:12<
Rose