Christ has laid down the conditions of acceptable service. “He that loveth his life shall lose it,” He says; “and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” (John 12:25, 26).

It is Christ’s method of serving that is of value in God’s sight. The service of those who serve in the world’s way is worthless, for it is all for self. The selfishness of human nature takes control. They do not serve as Christ has given them example.

Let us study the life and death of Christ. Let us do all in our power to work out the plan of God. What tongue can tell, what pen unfold the mighty results of looking to Jesus and living His life? How few of those claiming to be Christians have any real right to that sacred name.

Satan watches eagerly to find Christians off their guard. O that the followers of Christ would remember that eternal vigilance is the price of eternal life. Many have a slumbering faith. Unless they are invigorated, revived, quickened into action, their souls will be lost.

Self must die, and Christ must be enthroned in the heart as all and in all. The thoughts must be stayed on Him. Then the life will be an honor to His name. The soul will receive power from on high to resist Satan’s specious devisings.

Have Seventh-day Adventists forgotten the warning given in the sixth chapter of Ephesians? We are engaged in a warfare against the hosts of darkness. Unless we follow our Leader closely, Satan will obtain the victory over us.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13-17).—Letter 140, July 5, 1903, to “My Dear Brethren.”
The Upward Look p. 200
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Jerri. She is still in the hospital with a racing heart. Mike
—-Please pray that Ron can find a job soon. Rose
—-Please pray for me. Megan
—-I need prayers for my mom, she has stage 4 throat cancer. Cheyenne
—-Please pray for my developing baby. Little Sparrow
—-I’m struggling with bouts of boils and probably MRSA. I am in need of prayers. Janis
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Dear Friends,
A few years ago, when we were camping by a river, we spent some of our time walking along the water’s edge. We noticed a light green plant growing on the sandy beach that we had not seen before. We stopped to look at it more closely. Most of them grew straight and tall, but the plants that were at the water’s edge were lying on their side. The wind was blowing the water into waves that were washing away the sand from under them, but those plants held on tightly to keep from being washed away. Long, white roots anchored them into the sandy shore. No matter how hard they were beaten, they could not be carried away into the river.
How often the trials and troubles of this old world beat upon us just as those waves were beating upon those plants. Just as those plants were rooted deeply into the shoreline, so we must be anchored deeply in God’s Holy Word in order to withstand the onslaughts of the evil one who is trying to shake our very foundation. Peter realized that God’s Holy Word is more reliable than what we can see with our eyes or hear with our ears. “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. [speaking of his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration Matt 17:1-9] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:16-22 Paul adds, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim 3:16,17
God’s Holy Word is “is able to make [us] wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” vs 15 By beholding our Dear Saviour in its pages, ” we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. ” Ps 119:9-17
Anchoring deeply in the Word of God keeps us from being washed away by every wind of doctrine and theory of man; “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Eph 4:14-16 John warns us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 How can we try them? By comparing what they say and do by the precious Word of God. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:20
May we “study to show [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 May we remember the works of the LORD and His wonders of old, meditating also upon all His work, and keep not silent but share with those we meet what we have learned of all His doings that they, too, may have an anchor in these troubling times. May our Dear Saviour grant us, “according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in [our] hearts by faith; that [we], being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that [we] might be filled with all the fullness of God” and be ready to meet Him when He comes to receive His own. Eph 3:16-19
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/aLo9qA5b4tE/eternal-vigilance.html

God bids us give our time and strength to the work of preaching to the people the messages that stirred men and women in 1843 and 1844….

My brethren, take your position where God bids you. Leave alone those who, after light has been repeatedly given them, have taken a stand on the opposite side…. Take up the work which has been given us. With the Word of God as your message, stand on the platform of truth and proclaim the soon coming of Christ. Truth, eternal truth, will prevail.

For more than half a century [i.e., since 1844] the different points of present truth have been questioned and opposed. New theories have been advanced as truth, which were not truth, and the Spirit of God revealed their error. As the great pillars of our faith have been presented, the Holy Spirit has borne witness to them, and especially is this so regarding the truths of the sanctuary question. Over and over again the Holy Spirit has in a marked manner endorsed the preaching of this doctrine. But today, as in the past, some will be led to form new theories and to deny the truths upon which the Spirit of God has placed His approval.

Any man who seeks to present theories which would lead us from the light that has come to us on the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary should not be accepted as a teacher. A true understanding of the sanctuary question means much to us as a people. When we were earnestly seeking the Lord for light on that question, light came. In vision I was given such a view of the heavenly sanctuary, and the ministration connected with the holy place, that for many days I could not speak of it.

I know from the light that God has given me that there should be a revival of the messages that have been given in the past, because men will seek to bring in new theories, and will try to prove that these theories are scriptural, whereas they are error, which, if allowed a place, will undermine faith in the truth. We are not to accept these suppositions and pass them along as truth. No, no; we must not move from the platform of truth on which we have been established.

There will always be those who are seeking for something new, and who stretch and strain the Word of God to make it support their ideas and theories. Let us, brethren, take the things that God has given us, and which His Spirit has taught us is truth, and believe them, leaving alone those theories which His Spirit has not endorsed.—Manuscript 125, July 4, 1907, “Lessons From the Visions of Ezekiel.”
The Upward Look p. 199
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayer requests from Wednesday night’s prayer meeting: Please pray for Carlisle’s mother who is very ill. Sharlyn’s shoulder is giving her a lot of pain. Ron’s work situation. Lori who is recovering from surgery to remove kidney stones. Pray also for Lula who is in the hospital.
—-Please pray Mike’s transfer will come through soon and for God’s guidance in finding a house. Pray also that his dad will be willing to move with him. Rose
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Dear Friends,
My grandfather, Edwin Harmon, would often tell me about what his life was like when he was young. Winters were harsh in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The snow was often very deep and hard to walk through. Many time, he would tell me of driving a horse and cutter over the snow. (A cutter was like a wagon with no wheels: it had runners like huge ice skates.) His favorite times would be when the snow was so deep that it would cover even the fence posts. The sun would melt the top of the snow just enough to make a very hard crust. This crust was so hard that it would hold the weight of the horse and cutter. He was no longer confined to a road. He could drive over the fences and across the fields. He could save quite a bit of time that way. This was fun for him as well as a timesaver.
As a little girl, I tried to imagine a crust of snow so hard that it would hold such a heavy weight. As I would look at a single snowflake that would land upon my mitten, I was amazed that this delicate, nearly microscopic, beautifully designed, bit of frozen water could be so strong. There is a lesson in this for us; a lesson that I didn’t realize at the time. That tiny, delicate snowflake, united with countless numbers of other snowflakes, had a strength that it could never have alone.
Just so, our Dear Saviour’s command, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt 28:19,20, can seem overwhelming for one individual. We are like a tiny snowflake obscure in the field of humanity. How can we accomplish such a great task? However, Jesus’ command is not for just one individual, but for all who have accepted Him as their Saviour. If each of us are filled with a love and concern for our fellow man, if each follow His leading, if each do our part to speak a word in season to those around us, this task can be accomplished rather quickly. (2 Tim 4:2)
The early church understood this principle. Paul explained this to the Corinthian believers, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor 3:6-11 By each believer whole-heartedly doing the work God had given them to do, they brought the gospel to the then-known world. Their enemies declared, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” Acts 17:6
We, too, can turn the world “upside down” as did the disciples of old. We, too, can accomplish the Great Commission. If we are willing, God will give us the opportunity. But the messenger must have a message. The trumpet must give a certain sound. How shall we have a message unless we study His Great Message Book? How shall we give that “certain sound” unless we are in tune with Him.
May we dig deep within God’s Holy Word, that we may be so in tune with our Great Redeemer that we will recognize the opportunities to witness that He places before us. May we rightly represent our Loving Saviour no matter where He leads us. May we be united without compromising the truth is my prayer.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/ps9MjSHvK4E/our-sanctuary-doctrine.html

Before the fall of Adam, not a cloud rested on the mind of our first parents to obscure their clear perception of the divine character of God. They were perfectly conformed to the will of God. A beautiful light, the light of God, surrounded them. Nature was their lesson book. The Lord instructed them in regard to the natural world and then left with them this open book that they might behold beauty in every object upon which their eyes should rest. The Lord visited the holy pair, and instructed them through the works of His hands.

The beauties of nature are an expression of the love of God for human intelligences, and in the Garden of Eden the existence of God was demonstrated in the objects of nature that surrounded our first parents. Every tree planted in the Garden spoke to them, saying that the invisible things of God were clearly seen, being understood by the things which were made, even His eternal power and Godhead.

But while thus God could be discerned in nature, this affords no solid argument in favor of a perfect knowledge of God being revealed in nature to Adam and his posterity after the Fall. Nature could convey her lessons to man in his innocence, but sin and transgression brought a blight upon nature, and intervened between nature and nature’s God. Had man never disobeyed his Creator, had he remained in his state of perfect rectitude, he could have understood and known God. But when man disobeyed God, he gave evidence that he believed the words of an apostate rather than the words of God….

Adam and Eve listened to the voice of the tempter, and sinned against God. The light, the garments of heavenly innocence, departed from these tried, deceived souls, and in parting with the garments of innocence, they drew about them the dark robes of ignorance of God. The clear and perfect light of innocence, which had hitherto surrounded them, had lightened everything which they approached; but deprived of that heavenly light, the posterity of Adam could no longer trace the character of God in His created works.

Therefore, after the Fall, nature was not the only teacher of man. In order that the world might not remain in darkness, in eternal, spiritual night, the God of nature must meet man in Jesus Christ. The Son of God came to the world as a revelation of the Father. He was “the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”—Manuscript 86, July 3, 1898, “Notes of the Week of Prayer.”

The Upward Look p. 198
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Prayer Requests
—-I am Going to the Dentist to have 2 difficult teeth pulled this am. Please Pray for me! I do not cope well with Dentist’s! Connie
—-I was in remission just found out the cancer started growing again. Please pray. Lena
—–Our family needs prayer. My 13 year old granddaughter tried to commit suicide. I am 1900 miles away from her. Pamela
—-Please pray that Maddie will be found. Her car, keys, and phone were found but she has disappeared. Melissa
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Dear Friends,
My great-grandmother had a difficult life full of sadness and regret. One thing brought her much joy, however. She painted the most beautiful oil paintings. One day, a professional artist happened to visit her and viewed her work. The possibility of being discovered thrilled her. As she showed him her best paintings, she noticed that he was frowning a little. Disappointment filled her as she realized that he did not like her work. She had tried to make the paintings as perfect as she could, yet this man was frowning as he examined her paintings.
At last, he exclaimed, “I know what is missing! Shadows! Madam, you have forgotten to add shadows. Your paintings are very good, but without shadows, your landscapes are flat and lifeless.”
Just as my great-grandmother’s paintings lacked the depth that shadows bring to a picture, so shadows bring out the depth in our life. The shadows of life develop our character and keep us from becoming self-centered and lacking in spirituality. Paul speaks of the necessity of these shadows in our life, “despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb 12:5-11
Moreover, the Great Master Artist allows these “shadows” to come into our life’s “painting” to draw us to Himself. They get our attention when we are in danger of straying off from the path the leads to Heaven. He orders our steps as we cry unto our Only Helper. As, in our distress, we turn to His Holy Word for comfort and advice, He holds our hand and guides us with His counsel. “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 30:21; 43:1-3
When we are feeling overwhelmed with the trials of this life, we can claim the promise, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13 James tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting [lacking] nothing. Peter adds, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 4:6,7;1:6,7
May we cling to the Loving Master Artist no matter what shadows He is “painting” in our life. May we exclaim as did Paul, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Cor 1:3,4 May we allow Him to have complete control being diligent that we may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless is my prayer.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/LsChdOJKrgU/the-light-of-the-world.html