These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:17.
Christ’s prayer [in John 17] … is an illustration of the intercession that He is offering for us before the Father.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth,” He prayed (Verse 17). “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (Verses 18-23).
Today the One who uttered this prayer is interceding before the Father in behalf of the human beings He has redeemed. He presents them to Jehovah, saying, “I have graven them upon the palms of My hands” (cf. Isaiah 49:16).
Sanctification is to come through the truth; oneness with Christ—this is God’s purpose for us. By their sanctification and their unity, Christians are to give evidence to the world that a perfect work has been done for them, in and through Christ. Thus they are to bear witness that God sent His Son to save sinners. Will you not let Christ carry on this work of sanctification in your hearts? You may all be complete in Him. You have the assurance that through the sanctification of the truth you may be made perfect in one….
The Saviour is acquainted with the mental suffering of His children. He knows how at times their hearts are wounded and bleeding. He would have the afflicted soothed and helped. He says to us, “Bear ye one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1). We are to relate ourselves rightly to one another, even though to do this demands sacrifice. Christ made an infinite sacrifice for us, and should we not be willing to sacrifice for others? We are to guard carefully against wounding or bruising the hearts of God’s children, for when we do this, we wound and bruise the heart of Christ.—Letter 31, January 17, 1904, to Elder and Mrs. J. A. Burden, and Dr. and Mrs. D. H. Kress.
The Upward Look p.31
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for a family of 2 who are facing my challenges at this moment. Becky
—-Prayer request for my sister who has Lymes disease. She just got the bulls eye. She is having symptoms. Debra
—-My husband’s brother ” Patrick” had a heart attack early yesterday morning he had emergency open-heart surgery he came through the surgery. The doctor said all heart attacks are bad but the one Patrick had is the worst heart attack a person can have. He is currently in ICU in stable condition but needs prayers for a healing recovery. Jo Ann
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Dear Friends,
A few months ago, Ronnie Jay and Wanangwa came for a visit. It was so very nice to see them! Shortly after they got home, we got a call from Ronnie Jay asking if we had seen his wife’s keys. It was doubly important since she had a ten-hour trip the next day for librarian meetings. We searched here while they searched there but to no avail. Esther, Eileen, and I came together to pray to the One Who knew where the keys were located.
As soon as Esther prayed “Please put it in our mind where the keys are if they are here or put it in their minds if they are there.” the phone rang.
Ronnie Jay said “We found them! All of a sudden I remembered that she had given me something to put in my backpack when we were hiking. I looked and there they were!”
We were praising God for His watchcare over even the smallest details of life. Think of it! The great King of the Universe, He, Who upholds “all things by the word of his power,” answered our prayer at the very moment we had asked! Indeed, He is interested in every aspect of the lives of all those whom He has redeemed. “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” Ps 116:1,2 “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Ps 107:1
Even though life is short and full of trials, God shows in a multitude of ways His great love for us. Indeed, He loves us with an everlasting love and draws us to Himself with His loving kindness. (Jer 31:3) David assures us, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” Ps 103:13-18
May we daily rejoice as we see evidence of our Dear Saviour’s love and care. May we “bless the LORD at all times: [and let His] praise… continually be in [our] mouth.” May we always recognize the blessings and goodness of God and “bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore” is my prayer. Ps 34:1;115:18
Rose

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. Ephesians 3:16.
We are still in probationary time. He that earnestly desires eternal life will strive for it. He will get it by desire and effort. Gold is hid in the earth. Desire and effort combined alone will secure the treasure. If we have aroused an interest in souls that are ready to die, we have aroused our own souls.
What a comfort it is to know that the Lord wants us in His family above. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We need to cherish and exercise faith. Our faith must work. We must have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. The leaven has a vital energy, penetrating and absorbing all the elements into which it is introduced. So likewise, the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The Word of the Lord is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. The Word is a power as we practice it. The great change that the truth makes is inward. It begins in the heart, and works outwardly. With the heart, man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. “Burnt offerings and sacrifices thou wouldest not.” The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. God is not pleased with pharisaical pretense.
We will hide in Jesus Christ. We will trust in His love. We will believe day by day that He loves us with a love that is infinite. Let nothing, nothing discourage you, and make you sad. Think of the goodness of God. Recount His favors and blessings.
I am laboring constantly in writing and speaking. The Lord has been my very best Friend, and you both can testify the same. Let the praise of the Lord be ever in our hearts and in our minds and upon our lips. In this way we can magnify the truth. The Holy Spirit will witness with our spirit that we are indeed children of the heavenly King. Be of good courage; Jesus is our personal Friend and Saviour. He loves us, and if He notices the little brown sparrow, how much more will He love and care for us. The memory grows weak when it is not exercised. So will our faith and hope and courage become feeble unless we look unto Jesus with all the confidence that a little child looks to its mother. By beholding Him, we become changed into His righteousness. Let not one thought of unbelief be woven into our religious experience. The Lord will be our efficiency and exceeding great reward.—Letter 20, January 16, 1898, to “Sister Kelsey.”
The Upward Look p. 30
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Ronnie Jay. His dog died this morning. Rose
—-Please pray for a lady who is in her 70’s. She fell flat on her face an broke her neck plus some bones in her back. Pray also for a lady at church who had a heart attack. and in the hospital. she is in her 80’s M
—-I have my dear mother with me now and my daughter in law started helping me again a few hours after I asked for prayer for help with my mother. Now I need prayer that I can get my dear helpless 89 year old uncle out of there ASAP with no problems and get him to my oldest sons house who is a LVN and his wife is a CNA/HHA. Please pray that God will work this out perfectly ASAP. Thank you so much for your continued prayers. Connie
—-Please keep Arthuro, my son’s uncle in your prayers they have already cut off his leg and part of his hand. now his finger is bad also. Becky
—-Please pray for Shaneen who is in ICU with dengue fever. Sally
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago before I retired, Bev (my co-worker and friend) had a little tin of various flavors of hard candy on her desk. I don’t think that I ever saw her open that tin and eat a piece of the candy herself, but she had it there just in case she got an urge for something sweet.
One day, some children visited our office. Bev noticed Rachel, who was about seven at the time, eyeing that candy tin. She opened it and allowed each child to choose a piece. Delighted, Rachel noticed her favorite flavor near the top, chose it, unwrapped it quickly, and popped it into her mouth. A minute or two later, Bev overheard the other little girl ask Rachel what flavor she had chosen. Rachel replied, “It used to be butterscotch, but I don’t think it is any more.”
Just as that candy had been in that tin for so long that it had gotten old and flavorless, so we can lose our “flavor” as Christians. If we go through life in a do-nothing state, we will become as Jesus described, ” I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Rev 3:15-19
We must never allow ourselves to do nothing for Jesus until we are as flavorless as was Bev’s candy. How vital to our present and future happiness that we have more than just a profession of faith. We must have Christ dwelling within, working in us and through us. Our Dear Saviour tells us, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Matt 5:13; Mark 9:50 In His message to the seven churches, our Great Redeemer warns, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” Rev 3:1 With tears in His voice, He proclaims, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matt 15:8
How easy it is to be like the Pharisees, who professed to be godly men, but were not right in their heart. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matt 23:25-28
Paul tells us about flavorless Christians, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16 James also speaks of those who say that they have faith, but do not act upon their faith. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:14-26
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Heb 10:22-25
Rose

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10.
Both large sums and small sums are to be looked upon by you as God’s entrusted treasure. When you are thinking of expending means, pray over the matter, in order that you may use the Lord’s goods in a way that shall please Him. The Lord would have all who claim to be His followers imitate His example. We are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. Unbelievers are watching those who profess to be the children of God to see if they are in reality that which they profess to be. Is it consistent for us to talk of Christ’s self-denial, of His self-sacrifice, and yet walk and work contrary to His example? The treasures of the world are the Lord’s. They are all His both by creation and by redemption.
Why is it that riches are called “unrighteous mammon”? It is because through riches men are made subject to temptation, to deal unjustly, to use them as they shall please in gratifying their desires, and in fulfilling that which their imagination calls for. Those who are in possession of money are in danger of putting the Lord’s goods to a wrong use, and by this means they are led to forget God…. The rich young ruler thought that he loved God until Jesus revealed his idol to him, and showed him that he was making a God of his possessions. He had come to Christ asking, “What lack I yet?” The answer was, “Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22)….
Those who have the Lord’s talents of means are placed under a heavy responsibility. They are not to invest money merely for the gratification of selfish desires, for whatever is spent in this way is just that much kept from the Lord’s treasury. Through the sovereign goodness of God, the Holy Spirit works through the human agent, and causes him to make smaller or larger investments in the cause of God, to make them redound to the glory of God.
Whenever you think of using the Lord’s money for your own selfish gratification, remember that there are many who are in deep poverty who cannot purchase either food or clothing, and [that] they are God’s heritage. We are to do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. If those who have abundant means are God’s agents in dealing in truth, they will use their treasures wisely, so that none of the household of faith need to go hungry or naked.—Letter 90, January 15, 1895, to a Seventh-day Adventist woman of considerable means.
The Upward Look p. 29
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Prayer Requests
—-Brian has applied for a better job where he works. Please pray that he gets it unless God sees a reason why he shouldn’t. Rose
—-Please pray for our landlord and friend -Nitro has not helped and he and wife are at the Emergency room. Sylvia
—-Our neighbour, G, is into witchcraft (obeah). When he came asking us about spiritual warfare and wanting Scriptures, we thought he was getting converted, but it seems that he only wanted to find out why his devilry isn’t working as it “should.” He keeps on sneaking into our yard to do weird things, and isn’t stopping. Please plead Jesus’ blood against all satanic forces for us, and for the deliverance of all like him who want deliverance, and against all like him who do not want deliverance, but want to remain under demonic control. Antonnette
—-Prayers for my church Bro. Charles who’s in the Hospital , he had gangrene in his leg and did an operation. Pray for total healing. Arlene
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Dear Friends,
Until a few weeks before my tenth birthday, I lived with my grandparents. Although they went to church each week, there was nothing religious about that home other than they’d have me pray a prayer I learned in public school before meals—“God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food.” When my mother got married again, it was even worse. She married an alcoholic again who was a mean and immoral man. Life became unbearable for both of us. Thankfully, he left three years later. After that, my mother worked long hours to provide us with the bare necessities of life. She was exhausted all of the time. Having no connection with Jesus, she only had herself to rely upon. Not recognizing God’s rules to guide her own life, she gave me no direction in life. I should have helped make her life easier, but I didn’t. She let me do what I wanted, when I wanted and that’s exactly what I did. Rarely did she protest. I needed rules. I longed for stability. I had neither. God, in His great mercy, kept me out of serious trouble during that time, although I certainly got myself into some situations that had the potential for disaster.
How important to our security and happiness are God’s commandments. They are the foundation to build our life upon. David sang, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps 119:105 How true! God’s Holy Word lightens the way through this dark and evil world. How vital that we teach our children these right principles when they are young. Solomon advises, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov 22:6 Our greatest mission field is our children who must be taught beliefs and values based upon the Scriptures, that they have anchor for their life. Childhood is the impressionable, pliable time. Without proper instruction, they are as a wave of the sea, tossed to and fro, drifting to nowhere. Worse still, without God’s Word hidden within their heart, the evil one gains a foothold that only Jesus can break.
Our Great Creator promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8 He desires for us to do the same for our children. He commands, “Lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deut 11:18,19
Children are so important to our Dear Saviour. When He was on this earth, He always took the time to take little children upon His lap and bless them. One day, “Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” “Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:2-7;19:13,14
May we teach our children the truths of God’s Holy Word, to love and reverence our Great Creator, and to serve Him in truth with all their heart. May our Loving Redeemer say of us as He did of Abraham of old, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.” Gen 18:19
Rose

Thanks be to God who leads us, wherever we are, on Christ’s triumphant way and makes our knowledge of him spread throughout the world like a lovely perfume! 2 Corinthians 2:14, Phillips.
There is no hope for the success of any religious organization where criticism is cherished as a fine art, and called spiritual discernment. Men might far better be blind to others’ faults than to be inspired by that keen, detective spirit that will watch for defects in those whom the Lord loves, and through whom He works. We all need to humble ourselves, not to have an exalted idea of self….
Lose sight of all others except Christ. We want Christ in our humanity, and Christ wants to abide in us. We are human and fallible, every one of us, and unless Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, we shall make wonderful blunders in estimating our fellow workers according to our pattern and measurement. God sees beneath the surface. He sees all the good, and He marks all the evil. Leave to Him the work of passing judgment on your brethren.
Have a care for the young men and young women who are now forming their characters. Converse with them, and help them all you possibly can. Let no one educate the young men and young women in the science of picking flaws. Let not the youth hear you finding fault with those who do not please your fancy. The youth are Christ’s servants, to be cared for, to be encouraged in good, pure, holy thoughts. They need no lessons in evil surmising. Satan stands ready to instruct them in this line. Teach them to be kind, to respect and love one another as Christ has loved us. Keep the perfume of Christ’s character in your own words and actions. Let querulous complaints forever cease. Then there will flow into your heart the sunbeams of the righteousness of Christ. God will bless you, and make you a blessing….
It is the character, not the placing of our names on the church books, that makes us Christians. What manifestations will appear when Christ, abiding in the heart, is shining in the faces of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Truth is written there. The man is transformed into Christ’s image. A worldling may pass by and not mark the change, but those who have had communion with Christ discern the expression of Christ in word, in spirit. The influence upon the heart is seen in a habitual gentleness, a more than human love. The sweet peace of heaven will be in the soul, and will be revealed in the countenances.—Letter 6, January 14, 1899, to “Brethren and Sisters in Camp Meeting at Ballarat.”
The Upward Look p. 28
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Prayer Requests
—-I am asking for prayer for Ty who is in her 80’s. she is suffering with a lot of pain. please pray for some relief for her and may she find Jesus as her healer. Also pray for Amber she has not talked to her mom in two years. R
—-please pray for Jacob who has had a stroke has bleeding in the head doctors are saying he will not survive, but God has the last word. Becky
—-Umar needs prayer for his wife, she is been hospitalized. Also pray for Lisa who is fighting for her life in ICU. Arlene
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Dear Friends,
When Esther Marie was not quite a year old, we moved from the coast of North Carolina to the middle of the state. Until we could find a place to live, we camped at a private campground for a few weeks. It was a quiet campground with an open area for RV’s and a wooded area for tents. We pitched our large canvas tent in a nice spot under the trees on the shore of a small lake. It seemed like an ideal spot. The campground was not crowded, so we looked forward to a happy time while we got settled into the new area.
Unfortunately, all was not happy. There was a group of Canadian geese that had taken up residency in that same campground. For some reason, a large gander took an immediate dislike to Esther Marie. We never could figure out why. No matter where her ten-month-old feet took her, he was after her with his head down, wings outspread, and hissing loudly.
If we decided to take a swim, that goose was there spoiling our fun. If we went for a walk along the trail, he was there. If we just stayed around our camp, we had to be very watchful as he would try to sneak up on our baby girl. She was too little to be afraid, but we knew the danger of the situation. Indeed, I had worked with a man who, as a child of four years, had been deafened by a goose.
One day, as we were walking along a path that circled the small lake, Mr. Goose, with threatening pose, came rushing toward us. Ron lost his patience with that mean, old goose. He had chased that goose away so many times without success that he felt like he had to do something drastic. Ron gave him a hard, swift kick right in the breast. Mr. Goose rolled over and over down the hill and into the lake. From that moment, we had no more trouble with him. He always kept his distance.
Just as that mean old goose was constantly after us, so we have a much greater enemy that is continually trying to harm us and is always harrassing us no matter where we go. Just like Esther Marie, we are not always aware that anything is wrong, but he is there seeking to destroy us just the same. This is why 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 Peter 5:8,9 We must be very watchful for the evil one lays many snares for our feet. We must be constantly on our guard lest we be overtaken by the enemy. We cannot be off our guard for a moment, as he often sets his traps where we least expect them.
Our Great Redeemer does not leave us without a weapon against the great foe. He has given us His Holy Word, that we may recognize our danger and flee into His Great Arms of Love. When in the wilderness of temptation, Our Great Exemplar fought the evil one in through the Word. “It is written” was His defense: “It is written” must be ours. “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.” Ps 119:9-11 “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: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication.” Eph 6:13-18 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”2 Tim 2:15
“Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Let us put “on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thes 5:6,8 Let us declare as did Jeremiah, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jer 15-16
Rose

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10.
The truth of God revealed in His Word is to be a living, abiding principle. It is not to be looked upon as an influence among many but that which is set over all others. It will exercise a power over the life and conduct until the whole being is assimilated to the image of the Perfect Pattern, and the human agent is complete in Jesus Christ. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up,” not in self, not after men’s ideas, but “in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:6-8).
Your greatest danger will be that you will not see the need of contemplating the character of Christ with a set purpose to imitate His life and conform your character to His character. You are to show a marked difference between your character and that of the world. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9, 10).
The grand truths of the Bible are for us individually, to rule, to guide, to control our life, for this is the only way in which Christ can be properly represented to our world in grace and loveliness in the characters of all who profess to be His disciples. Nothing less than heart service will be acceptable with God. God requires the sanctification of the entire man, body, soul, and spirit. The Holy Spirit implants a new nature, and molds through the grace of Christ the human character, until the image of Christ is perfected. This is true holiness….
The spirit and word and influence you carry are making impressions upon the minds of others. The atmosphere which surrounds the soul, if it is evil, will be like a spiritual malaria, which will be poisonous to those around. But it is profitable for the soul to have an atmosphere that will be as a savor of life unto life to others. When the soul is weighted with the truth which works by love and purifies the soul, a heavenly atmosphere will pervade the soul. “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). Every soul that claims to believe the truth, should manifest uprightness of character, devotion to God, steadfastness of purpose, and represent the character of Christ in a well-ordered life and godly conversation.—Letter 70, January 13, 1894, to “Brethren in Responsible Positions in the Review and Herald Office.”
The Upward Look p. 27
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for S who is being controlled by a mentally ill husband. Pray that God opens her eyes and gives her an opportunity to escape. R
—-I have an unspoken prayer request. M
—-Please pray for a friend and family. Husband (nephew) shot his wife and then killed himself. Debra
—-Please keep my daughter in your prayers. She has been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 29 and we ask God to heal her completely. Vicki
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Dear Friends,