And his brightness was as the light; he had bright beams out of his side: and there was the hiding of his power. Habakkuk 3:4, margin.
Satan, by means of his success in turning man aside from the path of obedience, became “the god of this world.” 2 Corinthians 4:4. The dominion that once was Adam’s, passed to the usurper. But the Son of God proposed to come to this earth to pay the penalty of sin, and thus not only redeem man, but recover the dominion forfeited…. The apostle Paul has referred to it [the restoration of the lost dominion] as “the redemption of the purchased possession.” Ephesians 1:14.
Not only man but the earth had by sin come under the power of the wicked one, and was to be restored by the plan of redemption.
The cross of Calvary, while it declares the law immutable, proclaims to the universe that the wages of sin is death. In the Saviour’s expiring cry, “It is finished,” the death knell of Satan was rung. The great controversy which had been so long in progress was then decided, and the final eradication of evil was made certain. The Son of God passed through the portals of the tomb, that “through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2:14. Lucifer’s desire for self-exaltation had led him to say, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: … I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:13, 14. God declares, “I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth…. And never shalt thou be any more.” Ezekiel 28:18, 19.
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth….” Revelation 21:1…. Every trace of the curse is swept away…. FLB 361.5
One reminder alone remains: our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought. Says the prophet, beholding Christ in His glory, “He had bright beams coming out of his side: and there was the hiding of his power.”
The cross of Christ will be the science and the song of the redeemed through all eternity.
The Faith I Live By p. 361
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Prayer Requests
—-My husband has been emotionally abusing me for years. And now, over the weekend, I found out he has been inappropriately communicating with a 19-year-old girl by text, phone calls, and he’s even met with her at least once in a restaurant. We are in our 50’s. Please pray for me. I have some extremely difficult decisions to make. anonymous
—- Uncle Melvin went to check on Grandma early this afternoon and found her on the floor, unable to talk or follow commands. He called 911 and the ambulance took her to the Hospital. She had a stroke, with a blood clot in the area of her brain that controls speech and swallow. She is also weak on one side of her body. Prognosis does not look good. They will be sending her to another Hospital here later on tonight most likely. There were no beds available at ______. Please keep her in your prayers. Heidi
—-Please pray for Carolyn who was just put on hospice. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Just before my tenth birthday, my mother married a man who was an alcoholic. While they had dated, Eddie seemed so nice, but after they were married, life became almost unbearable.
After nearly four years, I had had enough. I decided to run away the next day. I didn’t know where I would go, but I knew that I could endure it no longer. My Heavenly Father was watching over me although I didn’t realize it at the time. That very night, Eddie left taking everything of value in the house except my mother’s guitar and amplifier. He left a note saying that he was sure that the sheriff was catching up to him and he needed to flee.
What a relief it was to me to have Eddie gone, yet life became more difficult in some ways. My mother had no job and no prospects for getting one. She had to sell her guitar and amp so she could buy food. Our landlord, who was friends with Eddie, would not wait for the rent until my mother found a job. We finally found a very cheap apartment over a music store in a rundown neighborhood.
Even though we were in difficulty, God was near to us, watching over us, working all things out for good. He who inspired David to write, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up” (Psalm 27:10) knew that had I run away, my life would have been far worse that the situation Eddie’s departure had caused. He had kept that from happening.
Jesus, speaking of His Heavenly Father said, “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt 5:45 God loves each person in this world whether they love Him back or not. His Spirit draws them, leading them into circumstances that will give them an opportunity to choose His way. He showers His blessings upon them even though they don’t know the Source of all blessings.
“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.” 1 John 3:1-3 How loving and kind He is to us. He not only makes us His sons, but He changes us into His image.
Through all of those trying times, I had a sort of shaky faith in God and just before bed every night prayed the “Now I lay me down to sleep….” prayer adding a few of my own words at the end. Our Merciful Redeemer accepted that tiny spark of faith and protected us. He helped my mother find work, even though she did not recognize it as a blessing from Him.
Finally we could move to a better neighborhood. Life was still a struggle, and there were many times there was nothing to eat in the apartment except a little flour. But through it all, God was there protecting us and longing for the time when we would come to Him.
A year or two later, I began to long to know God. I began reading the Bible and visiting churches trying to find the right one. Through a series of events, God led me to find it. Over the years, I have been able to serve Him in various ways in gratitude for His great love and care.
May we, each day, allow our Great Creator to will and to do of His good pleasure. All around us are those who need Him as much as I did so long ago. May we share His love with them that they, too, may accept His great provision for salvation is my prayer.
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/GaEZtGYNyCc/bright-beams-of-glory.html
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