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, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.
Scripture is the key that unlocks Scripture. The suppositions of men are worthless. Great care is to be exercised, lest human fallacies be brought in. Every student is to be educated to give a clear exposition of the Word, according to the example Christ has given in His teaching. He said nothing to gratify curiosity or to stimulate selfish ambition. He did not deal in abstract theories, but in that which is essential to the development of character, that which will enlarge man’s capacity for knowing God, and increase his power to do good. He spoke of those truths that relate to the conduct of life, and that unite man with eternity. We read that the common people heard Him gladly. The people “were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power” (Luke 4:32).
We need not tax our minds for some farfetched explanation of the words of Scripture. Thus the Jewish teachers did. They quoted the ideas and traditions of the rabbis, confusing the minds of their hearers. They taught for doctrine the commandments of men. We are not to seek for revelations that have not been made in the Word of God. In the simplicity of Christ we are to present the plain teaching of the Bible. Men in high positions of trust in the world will be charmed by a plain, straightforward, scriptural statement of truth.
I have been instructed that the churches have not been advancing in a knowledge of the truth for this time, but that if the teachers of truth will take up the work clearly marked out in the Scriptures, the feet of many will be planted firmly on the platform of eternal truth. Many will know more than ever before of the truth that has been given for these last days….
Let every step taken be a step of advancement toward genuine conversion, toward unreserved consecration of heart, mind, soul, and strength to the service of the Lord. Let all that is done tend to genuine reformation in thought, in word, in deed, in character building. Let the true be discerned from the false. Do not allow the enemy to lead you to weave wrong figures into the pattern. Keep the love of Christ prominent before the children and youth. Repeat to them often His simple lessons.—Letter 111, March 13, 1904, to Elder G. I. Butler, at the time president of the Southern Union
The Upward Look p. 86
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Prayer Requests
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Dear Friends,
One time Ron, Eileen, and I took a little walk at a local nature area that is about five miles of our house. As we walked along, we talked and laughed and just had a good time together.
Suddenly Ron thought he saw a man walking two very large dogs around the curve on the path ahead of us. It was only a momentary glimpse, as there were bushes and other greenery obstructing his view. Eileen picked up our dog, Junior, to protect him from the dogs that were soon to appear. We watched a little fearfully, hoping that the man was able to control those large animals and most of all, that they were not ferocious. Just then, the man and his “dogs” emerged from behind the trees. We began to laugh! What Ron had seen, was a man on horseback, leading another horse by its reigns!
Just as that quick glimpse gave us a wrong idea, so it is in a spiritual sense. If we look at one verse by itself, we may misinterpret what we read; because we do not compare Scripture with Scripture, “for precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” Isa 28:10 These verses, taken together, will give us a clear picture of God’s message to us.
How many times we read it’s words without asking for the guidance of the Very One Who guided those who wrote. “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 1:21
How often we open God’s Holy Word with our pre-conceived ideas. When we do this, we lose the very message God has for us. David prayed, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Ps 119:105; 73:24 From Genesis to Revelation, it’s Author has filled His Message to us with the counsel so vital to our spiritual life, for “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, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim 3:16, 17
Jesus says, “Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” Matt 13:52 God’s Word holds a Treasure beyond our hopes and dreams. It points the way to peace and happiness, yet how many times we become so busy with worldly persuits, that we neglect studying the Scriptures altogether. With tears in His voice, our Great Creator declares, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6 This need not be. Our Loving Redeemer has provided all that we need to know His will, all that we need to be saved.
May we ever pray as did David, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” 119:18 May we, in these last days when all but the very elect will be deceived, ask the True Witness for the eye salve of spiritual discernment that He so freely offers. (Matt 24:24; Rev 3:14-20) May we daily “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
Rose

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19.
However large may be a man’s claim to knowledge, to wisdom, unless he is under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, he is exceedingly ignorant of spiritual things. He may handle truth in such a way that little understanding is imparted to his inner heart life….
Place your entire dependence on the One who is able to keep the souls committed to His trust, able to imbue them with His Spirit, able to fill them with unselfish love for one another, thus enabling them to bear witness that He has sent His Son into the world to save sinners….
The root of all true self-sacrifice is an affection for the Lord Jesus so strong that it makes the wearing of His yoke easy and pleasant, and leads men to choose to learn His meekness and lowliness….
God’s servants have one common work. Their aim is to be to convert people to the pure truth of the Word of God. They are not to attach men to themselves, so that they will echo everything they may say, and carry out all the suggestions they may make. UL 85.5
Christ is the foundation of every true church. All who are brought to a new faith are to be established on Him. The plain, simple truths of the gospel are to be kept before minds. Christ crucified as the atonement for sin is the great central truth of the gospel, round which all truths cluster. To this great truth all other truths are tributary.
All truths, rightly understood, derive their value and importance from their connection with this truth. The apostle Paul makes this fact stand out in royal dignity. He calls the minds of all teachers of the Word to the importance of pointing souls to Christ as the only means of salvation. “God forbid that I should glory,” he says, “save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14)….
Let not man seek to fasten minds to himself. God Himself is the Founder of His church, and we have His unalterable promise that His presence and protection will be given to His faithful ones, who walk in His counsel. To the end of time, Christ is to be first. He is the source of life and strength and righteousness and holiness. All this He is to those who wear His yoke, and learn of Him how to be meek and lowly. He will not tolerate self-exaltation.—Letter 39, March 12, 1902, to Elder E. E. Franke, an evangelist.
The Upward Look p. 85
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that God will guide Marie in the way she should go. Buck
—-Pray for Gray, a little girl with a mass in her brain. Kim
—-Please pray for my brother David heart problem the doctors has given up on him i want him to give his heart to God pray that God give him a spiritual heart and that he lives Spiritualy and if God choose to touch his physical heart I praise His Holy name thank you all bless the Lord O my soul. Therese
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Dear Friends,
Little children copy all that they see and hear. To their surprise, new parents soon find that the very way in which they deal with their little one is the way that child deals with her toy “children” or pets. It is a humbling experience to hear your words and attitudes coming out of your child’s mouth. How important that we lead our children in the right path. How vital that we guard what they see and hear on television. Their future happiness depends on the example we give them.
So it is with all of us. We are constantly exposed to many examples from friends, family, the media, that mold us and change us almost imperceptibly. Our only safety lies in following our True Example, the Lord Jesus Christ. Copying Him in all things will transform us as He would have us to be. Peter tells us, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” 1 Pet 2:21-25
Jesus prayed, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:4 Just as the Son revealed His Father’s love to a perishing world, so we are to glorify Him by our good works and finish His work by spreading His message of deliverance to a world steeped in sin. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10 Peter reminds us, “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Paul gives the key to showing forth His praises, “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 Through God’s Holy Word, we find His will for our life. By daily Bible study we become changed into His likeness. “But 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.” 2Co 3:18 As we meditate upon His precepts, we are filled with love for our Great Creator. And the more we love, the more we want to please Him in all that we do or say or think. Jesus’ words, “as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” take on new meaning. Luke 6:31 The more we love Him, the more we want to share that love with others, the more we will want to see them saved, not only for their sake, but because they are precious in His sight.
May we declare as did David, “my mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day.” Ps 71:15 May we pray, “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. Psa 86:11,12 May we “with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom 15:6
Rose

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17.
How few contemplate the unseen agencies. Men are acting their part either for God or for Satan, the Prince of light, or the prince of darkness. All heaven is intensely interested in human beings who seem to be so full of activity, and yet have no thought for the unseen. Their thoughts are not on the Word of God and its instruction. If they would appropriate the Word of God, they would be astonished that there are agencies, good and evil, observing every word and deed. They are in every assembly for business transactions, in councils, and in meetings for the worship of God. There are more listeners in these public assemblies than can be seen with the natural sight, and every man has his work to do. Those unseen agencies are co-laborers with God or with Satan, and they work more mightily and more constantly than do men. Sometimes the heavenly intelligences draw aside the curtain that hides the unseen world, that we may have our minds withdrawn from the hurry and rush, and consider that there are witnesses to all we do and say when we [are] engaged in business, or when we think ourselves alone.
The Lord would have our perceptions keen to understand that these mighty ones who visit our world have borne an active part in all the work which we have called our own. These heavenly beings are ministering angels, and they frequently disguise themselves in the form of human beings. As strangers they converse with those who are engaged in the work of God. In lonely places they have been the companions of the traveler in peril. In tempest-tossed ships angels in human form have spoken words of encouragement to allay fear and inspire hope in the hour of danger, and the passengers have thought that it was one of their number to whom they had never before spoken.
Many, under different circumstances, have listened to the voices of the inhabitants of other worlds. They have come to act a part in this life. They have spoken in assemblies, and opened before assemblies human histories, and have done works which it was impossible for human agencies to do. Time and again have they been the generals of armies. They have been sent forth to cleanse away pestilence. They have eaten at the humble board of families. Often they have appeared as weary travelers in need of shelter for the night.
We need to understand better than we do the work of these angel visitants.—Manuscript 39, March 11, 1898, “The Day of Reckoning.”
The Upward Look p. 83
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Prayer Requests
—-Please Pray for Nick as he goes to rehab pray he finds Jesus‘s love for him and his heart. Pray 4 Strength for Sustaining recovery. Shannon
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Dear Friends,
One day, as I was crossing the street, I noticed a squirrel also crossing the road about 25 feet south of me. Instead of running quickly across the street, he was keeping pace with me. That seemed rather unusual, as I walk quite slowly. Why would a squirrel be walking instead of running? Suddenly, I realized that this smart little animal had figured out that if he crossed the street at the same time that people did, he could get across safely. He kept me between him and the traffic at all times. When we had gotten about 2/3 of the way across the street, Mr. squirrel panicked. He had noticed that I was watching him. Instead of running, he flattened himself on the pavement trying to look inconspicuous. Immediately I looked in the opposite direction. In the distance, cars were coming. I knew that I needed to do something quickly, or Mr. Squirrel would be flattened permanently. Quickly I slapped my leg and shouted, “You’d better run across this street or you’re going to get hit!” Instantly he took off running the rest of the way across the street, scampered up the nearest tree, and scolded me.
As I resumed walking to my car, I thought about this smart little squirrel who had figured out that he could safely cross the busy street by following my example. How important is all our attitudes, all that we do, all that we say. We do not know who may be watching and following our leading. The Great Light of the World bids us to be brightly shining lights in this world of darkness. He tells us, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:14-16
Paul’s advice to Timothy is equally important for us today, “be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” I Tim 4:12-16; 2Ti 2:22; Tit 2:7
Peter adds, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things,” that we might show “forth the praises of him who hath called [us]out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Amen Phil 4:8; 1 Peter 2:9
Rose

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7.
Daniel was but a youth when carried away captive into Babylon. He was about fifteen or sixteen years old, for he is called a child, which means that he was in his youth. Why did Daniel refuse to eat at the king’s luxurious table? Why did he refuse the use of wine as his beverage, when it was at the king’s command that it was placed before him? He knew that by use wine would become to him a pleasant thing, and would be preferred before water.
Daniel could have argued that at the royal table and at the king’s command, there was no other course for him to pursue. But he and his fellows had a council together. They canvassed the entire subject as to how they would improve their physical and mental powers by the use of wine. They studied this subject most diligently. The wine of itself, they decided, was a snare. They were acquainted with the history of Nadab and Abihu, which had come to them in parchments. In these men the use of wine had encouraged their love for it. They drank wine before their sacred service in the sanctuary. Their senses were confused. They could not distinguish the difference between the sacred and the common fire. In their brain-benumbed state they did that which the Lord had charged all who served in holy office not to do. They put the common fire upon their censers, when they had been expressly charged to use only the sacred fire of the Lord’s own kindling, that never went out….
A second consideration of these youthful captives was that the king always asked a blessing before his meals, and addressed his idols as deity. He set apart a portion of his food, and also a portion of his wine to be presented to the idol gods whom he worshiped. This act, according to their religious instruction, consecrated the whole to the heathen god. To sit at the table where such idolatry was practiced, Daniel and his three brethren deemed, would be a dishonor to the God of heaven. These four children decided that they could not sit at the king’s table, to eat of the food placed there, or to partake of the wine, all of which had been dedicated to an idol god…. There was no presumption with these youth, but a firm love for truth and righteousness. They did not choose to be singular, but they must be, else they would corrupt their ways in the courts of Babylon.—Manuscript 122, March 10, 1897, “Daniel.”
The Upward Look p. 83
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Prayer Requests
—-Please, please say prayers for my dad. He was in a bad accident, t-boned, car totaled. Also I am struggling with my faith, having a real hard time with this all. My husband is a kidney failure patient, on dialysis for 5 yrs and its been one health issue after another. Now the drs are targeting his pancreas, test after test…I’m scared it could pancreatic cancer. Asking for prayers for both! Kimberly
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Dear Friends,
My grandparents never owned a car, so my grandfather walked to work each day. Much of the time, he had to work two jobs in order to meet expenses. During those times, he would come home very late. One night as he was walking home, he decided to take a shortcut through an alley. As he walked along, he began to wish that he had taken his regular way. He began to feel in danger. Every nerve and muscle was ready for action.
Suddenly he heard a car with its tires screeching driving close to him. He had come to a turn in the alley and as he turned, he saw that car driving straight at him. Closer and closer it came too quickly for him to get away. He realized that the men inside were going to pin him against the wall. He was not sure what they had planned next.
To the men’s surprise my grandfather, then in his fifties, jumped upon the hood of the car and faced them. He made himself look as mean as he could. My grandfather was not a tall man, only 5’9″, but he was stockily built and still had some of the toughness of his earlier years. These men now realized that they had picked on the wrong man.
We, too, have someone who is trying to “pin us to the wall.” We, too, have someone who is constantly on our track to do us harm. Peter warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith.” 1 Pet 5:8,9 We must resist him just as my grandfather resisted his attackers.
From the time Lucifer first began to rebel against God until this present time, he and his angelic sympathizers have had one goal in mind: separating us from God. John tells us, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Rev 12:7-9
The evil one uses any means that he can to cause this separation. He might keep us so busy focusing on our troubles and trials, that we take our eyes off from our only Saviour. He uses sickness and injury to tempt others to doubt. For some, he uses pleasures, riches and fame. Jesus spoke of these as the thorny ground hearers, “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” Matt 13:22 He told His disciples, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:25-27
Yet, it is not impossible. Look at Abraham, who was very rich. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb 11:8-10
James tells us, “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” James 2:23 Job, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, Esther, Nehemiah, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathaea, the list goes on and on. Rich men, who did not count their riches as their goal. They looked to the One Who for our sake became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. (2 Cor 8:9) Wonderful Saviour! Coming King!
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:35-39
May we keep our eyes focused upon our Great Redeemer. May we allow nothing to separate us from Him. May we “count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” is my prayer. (Phil 3:8)
Rose

We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12.
Our heavenly Father is presented to us in the character of Christ. In Him the veil is drawn aside which conceals the glory of God from our eyes. The Bible shows us God in His high and holy place, not in a state of inactivity, not in silence and solitude, but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of holy intelligences, every one waiting to do His bidding, and taking cognizance of every wrong action against those who are the property of God….
Let those who manifest so little unselfish interest in the purchase of the blood of Christ remember that the Lord will treat them as indifferently as they have treated their fellow men in their trouble. Every act of injustice and robbery and oppression is written in the books. Everyone who takes advantage of human beings formed in God’s image is cooperating with the great enemy of God and man and he shall receive at the hand of God double for all these works. The work of Satan is continually driven on with terrible vindictiveness, and men participate with evil angels in wounding and bruising the souls of God’s people. The Lord sees; the Lord hears the cries of His children.
The Lord has not concealed from His followers the plan of the battle. He has presented before His people the great conflict, and He has given them words of encouragement. He charges them not to enter into the battle without counting the cost, while He assures them that they do not fight alone, but that supernatural agencies will enable the weak, if they trust in Him, to become strong against the vast confederacy of evil arrayed against them. He points them to the universe of heaven, and assures them that holy beings are wrestling against principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places.
The children of God are cooperating with all the invisible host of light. And more than angels are in their ranks; the Holy Spirit, the representative of the Captain of the Lord’s host, comes down to direct the battle. Our infirmities may be many, our mistakes and sins numerous, but forgiveness is for all who, with contrition of heart, will confess and forsake their sins. Angels of light are sent to render them all the help that is required.—Letter 102a, March 9, 1896, to O. A. Tait, at the time circulation manager of the Review and Herald.
The Upward Look p. 82
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that God will take away D’s depression and other issues.
—–Please pray for my dear uncle. I just found out he could not be awakened by his caregiver at around 3 am this morning. Connie
—-Please pray for my son, he has been ill with a bacterial infection which starts to get well then comes right back. Becky
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, we had gone another state to visit Esther where she was living at the time. As we were on the way back home, a winter storm hit the area. By the time we got to Colorado, we found that they were having an ice storm. It was like a skating rink. We stopped at a campground for the night (we were driving our camper) hoping that the next morning it would be better driving. It wasn’t.
As we drove along, we saw accident after accident (some of them severe). We were traveling between 25 and 45 miles per hour according to the road conditions. Cars would pass us like we were standing still. A few miles down the road, we would see some of those very cars in the ditch. It was interesting to watch the drivers around us as they also saw these accidents and mishaps. Many had been speeding from five to ten miles over what they should have been doing on the icy roads. After they would see an accident, they would slow down for awhile. After a few miles, however, their speed picked up once again and soon they, too, were in the ditch or upside-down in some field. It was as if they had forgotten what they had just seen a few minutes before. They did not heed the warning. They did not believe that it would happen to them.
God’s Holy Word contains warning after warning so that we do not have to end up in a spiritual ditch. Paul, speaking of the experience of the Children of Israel, declared, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor 10:11, 12 As we read the Bible stories and meditate upon them, they serve as a warning to us.
Yet, how often we think that it will not be that way for us. We know what is right, but we don’t do it. We feel that we can get by with it. We fail to realize that if we disobey we will get hurt and have to learn the hard way.
God gives us the same choice that He gave Israel so many years ago. “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God” Deut 11:26 Which will we choose today? God’s greatest desire is to bless us, but so often we turn away and want to do our own “thing”. How much grief that causes His great heart of love. His greatest desire is for us to love Him as He loves us
Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 John tells us, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:2-4
Our Loving Creator pleads with us, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11
May we “love the Lord (our)God with all (our) heart, and with all (our)soul, and with all (our) mind, and with all (our)strength: Mark 12:30 May we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14 May we, each day, have joy and fellowship with our Loving Saviour Who gave Himself for us that we may dwell with Him forevermore.
Rose