But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Matthew 23:8.
Some days ago I received copies of a number of testimonials written for Brother N_____ by different men in official positions. I read these testimonials. In the night season a representation passed before me. Brother and Sister N_____ were looking over these testimonials. As they were talking together, there stood by their side, not the One who appeared to Brother N_____ on a certain occasion—the Messenger of heaven—but an evil messenger, who insinuated into Brother N_____’s mind the belief that his brethren wanted to get control of his property, and to put him and his wife out of the work…. The messenger said that they had been turned out in their old age in order that these brethren might carry on the work they had begun. Sister N_____ accepted this statement. Many false reports were received as truth. Next, Brother N_____ was represented to me as writing letters containing these false reports….
Then the scene changed. I heard words of counsel addressed to Brother N_____ by his brethren, but he was not willing to receive help from those who had always been his sincere friends. It was represented to me that Brother and Sister N_____ were both deceived by the enemy. They had become subject to his temptations, and were deceiving themselves to their own hurt. One stood by the side of the tempted ones, and said, “Have you lost sight of Him who said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28-30)? Will you, by envy and evil surmising, spoil the good work that has been done?”
My brother and sister, you now have the word of counsel from the Messenger of God. You are in danger, by yielding to jealousy, of counterworking the good work you have done. Stop right where you are. The Lord has helped you. He has worked in your behalf….
Addressing you, the Lord’s messenger said, “Cease to heed the suggestions of the enemy. Be led by the Lord. Walk in the way of His providence. Do not betray the work into the enemy’s hands by yielding to his evil suggestions. Look to Jesus…. In no case turn from your brethren, who have been your true friends.—Letter 61, April 17, 1902, to a couple who had pioneered work in the Southern States.
The Upward Look p. 121
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that Jerry can soon get a job. I
—-Please pray that our children will become more earnest in their Christianity. D
—-Update I went to the hospital they have been running tests and they still don’t know what’s wrong and it’s a lot of pain and pressure on my left side lung breast area. I will be staying the night and then doing another stress test in the morning please keep me in prayer. K
—-I request your prayers for healing. Helen
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Dear Friends,
Yesterday, Ron had to go in for dental work and was miserable for the rest of the day. It reminded me of years ago when Ronnie Jay had a tooth with a cavity. His sister suggested that he go to the dentist. When I found out, I urged him to go to the dentist. Weeks went by. It began to bother him a little, so he asked me to take a look. It was a BIG cavity. Still he didn’t want to go. I understood. I also avoid going to the doctor or dentist as much as possible.
One morning as we were driving into work together, I told him the story about his great-great-grandfather. He had an abscessed tooth but refused to go to the dentist. That abscessed tooth pumped its poison into his bloodstream and he died of septicemia.
Ronnie Jay decided to go to the dentist after all. The dentist looked at the x-ray and shook his head. The tooth was too far gone to save. That tooth and his wisdom tooth had been fighting for the same space for years. As I sat there, I began wishing that years ago when the dentist had first suggested that he have his wisdom teeth pulled, I would have done so, but it looked like he had enough space in the back of his mouth, so I had figured that the dentist was just trying to “pad his pocket.” Because the tooth with the cavity was jammed up against his wisdom tooth, it got in such a bad condition, the dentist had to drill it into pieces and had a very difficult time getting all of it out. I felt so responsible…..
The Bible speaks of a group of girls who suffered because they had put things off as well. “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
May we never put off accepting God’s Great Grace. May we never utter those dreadful words, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer 8:20 May we “give diligence to make our calling and election sure: for if we do these things, we shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10, 11
Rose