Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4.
Christ suffers trial to come upon His followers that they may be led to seek the Lord more earnestly. Then when trials come, do not think that the Lord is your enemy. He purges for a reason. He does not want you to be discouraged; but He would prove you, to see if you will be true to Him and will conduct yourselves circumspectly under every circumstance. He does not want to drive you away, but to drive you nearer to the Lord. In God is the Christian’s only hope in time of perplexity.
Do not talk to others about your trials, for they have enough of their own to bear, and our human friends cannot always understand. It is your privilege to go to One who will always understand, because His life on earth was one of constant trial and perplexity, borne without failure and sin….
It is not enough that now and then you offer a prayer, and now and then deal righteously. You are to have the attributes of an abiding Christ working out in your life constantly. How many of us have this experience? Yet we may have it, and having it, we will be the happiest people on the face of the earth. With Christ’s Word abiding in us, we shall give evidence that we have wholly received Him who in His humanity lived a sinless life. In the strength of divinity we shall overcome every tendency to evil….
The difference between the character of Christ and the character of other men of His day was everywhere apparent; and because of this difference the world hated Him. It hated Him for His goodness and His strict integrity. And Christ declared that those who manifest the same attributes would be likewise hated. As we near the end of time this hatred for the followers of Christ will be more and more manifest.
Christ took humanity and bore the hatred of the world that He might show men and women that they could live without sin, that their words, their actions, their spirit, might be sanctified to God. We can be perfect Christians if we will manifest this power in our lives. When the light of heaven rests upon us continually, we shall represent Christ. It was the righteousness revealed in His life that distinguished Him from the world and called forth its hatred….
The words of Christ are spoken for His people in all ages—for us, upon whom the ends of the world are come.—Manuscript 97, October 16, 1909, “I Am the True Vine,” a sermon preached at San Jose, California.
The Upward Look p. 303
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Sheryl as she is having surgery today. Larry
—-PLease pray for Laura who has kidney cancer and her mother just passed. Rose
—-Please pray for safe travels for us. LS
—-Kriston was just told that his cancer has returned and needs prayer. Staci
—-Need prayer for my Dad plz. He’s in hospital, major pain and after four days they still don’t know the cause. He does not know Jesus. Please pray for God’s will in his life. Jodie
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Dear Friends,
On the mornings that I don’t need to get up and fix Ron his breakfast, I have been oversleeping. Each time I do so, I feel upset with myself because I know I have much to do. In Matthew 25, we find a story about ten girls who also overslept when they should have been awake and watching. They, too, became upset at the consequences. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt 25:1-13
How easy it is for us to be sleeping, when we should be awake and watching. How easy it is for us to be lulled into a false security, when our very first priority should be making sure we have that extra oil of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. How easy it is for us to think that all is well, when in reality we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” Rev 3:18
Jesus is coming soon! The signs all foretell it! “It is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we [first] believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” Rom 13:11-14 Let us sleep not as do others but spend the time we have before the Bridegroom appears gathering precious souls for His kingdom, so when we see our Loving Saviour coming in the clouds, we may look up and with rejoicing exclaim, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
Rose