A few even in Sardis held fast their integrity. Their only hope was in holding fast to God, and in them the promise will be fulfilled, “I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir” (Isaiah 13:12)….

In the early Christian church there were men who were true disciples of Christ. They met often together where prayer was wont to be made. They could only work to advance those principles that bore the signet of heaven. They first talked with God, ascertained what spirit they themselves were of; then they could closely and critically examine every point, every method, every principle in the light reflected from the Sun of Righteousness. They did not accept strange fire. They took their fire from the divine altar. To them, holy and just principles were sacred, and by cherishing these they kept themselves unspotted from the world.

Ever looking to Jesus, they marked the spirit in which He worked and followed His example. They gave to others the pure principles of the Word of God. This Word was their counselor, their guide, their close companion. To them, the Scriptures were supreme authority. For every question agitated they had one standard to consult. It was not, “What saith men?” but, “What saith the Lord?”

Those who are constrained by the love of Christ will be faithful to the work and Word of God…. The true Christian is ever to feel that he is dependent upon his Maker. And he will not be ashamed to acknowledge his dependence. Like Daniel, he will not take credit to himself. He will give all honor to God, letting worldly men as well as his brethren know that he is depending upon the Lord, and weeding out of his life everything that would grieve His Spirit. Like Daniel, he will improve every opportunity of adding to his acquirements. He will trade upon the talents the Lord has given him, after the holy principles laid down in the Word. And this will give him multiplied ability….

If God gives a man wisdom, his course of action will be in harmony with the will of God, and those connected with him will have confidence in his wisdom to devise and plan for the progress and advancement of the work of God in saving souls that are ready to die. The apostle Peter says: “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:2, 3).—Manuscript 66, May 24, 1898, to the General Conference and our publishing institutions.
The Upward Look p. 157
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Brenda, Fran, and Joyce who all have serious health issues. Also pray for Ron who is having eye issues. Rose
—-My friend is going in for cancer surgery on 3-10- 2020 and she is terrified that she won’t make it. just a hysterectomy with cancer.she is a church member who really needs to fall in love with Jesus..and trust Him for everything. thanks. M.
—-Please pray for my post open heart patient for healing. Emerson
—-Please pray for Linda and Lisa and all the family in the loss of their mother. Rose
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Dear Friends,

When Esther was young she often babysat for various evangelistic meetings that our church had. When the parents would leave the little children in her care, they would begin to cry and want their mother. Esther would pick up the crying child and talk softly. She would tell them how she remembered when I would leave her in the care of those who were babysitting for some meetings and how she felt. She felt as if those people were trying to steal her and she would never see her mama again. She would tell them that their mama will come back for them just like I had for her. The crying child would always calm down and cling to Esther because here was someone who understood his fears.
How often we feel like a crying child all forsaken and alone. Praise God! We have a Savior Who understands our sorrows for He left the glories of Heaven and the worship of all the beings in the vast Universe and became a man to save us. Isaiah prophesied of Him, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isa 53:3-12
What a wonderful God we serve! Let us continually cling to our Loving Saviour Who went through so much sorrow and grief for us so that we can be saved.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/gypPPnsriqs/what-is-the-source-of-your-fire.html