One people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. Genesis 25:23.
Esau grew up loving self-gratification and centering all his interest in the present. Impatient of restraint, he delighted in the wild freedom of the chase, and early chose the life of a hunter. Yet he was the father’s favorite. The quiet, peace-loving shepherd was attracted by the daring and vigor of this elder son, who fearlessly ranged over mountain and desert, returning home with game for his father and with exciting accounts of his adventurous life.
Jacob, thoughtful, diligent, and care-taking, ever thinking more of the future than the present, was content to dwell at home, occupied in the care of the flocks and the tillage of the soil. His patient perseverance, thrift, and foresight were valued by the mother. His affections were deep and strong, and his gentle, unremitting attentions added far more to her happiness than did the boisterous and occasional kindnesses of Esau. To Rebekah, Jacob was the dearer son….
Esau had no love for devotion, no inclination to a religious life. The requirements that accompanied the spiritual birthright were an unwelcome and even hateful restraint to him. The law of God … was regarded by Esau as a yoke of bondage. Bent on self-indulgence, he desired nothing so much as liberty to do as he pleased. To him power and riches, feasting and reveling, were happiness. He gloried in the unrestrained freedom of his wild, roving life….
Jacob had learned from his mother of the divine intimation that the birthright should fall to him, and he was filled with an unspeakable desire for the privileges that it would confer…. The spiritual birthright was the object of his longing. To commune with God as did righteous Abraham, to offer the sacrifice of atonement for his family, to be the progenitor of the chosen people and of the promised Messiah, and to inherit the immortal possessions embraced in the blessings of the covenant—here were the privileges and honors that kindled his most ardent desires….
He carefully treasured what he had learned from his mother. Day and night the subject occupied his thoughts, until it became the absorbing interest of his life…. He believed that the promise concerning himself could not be fulfilled so long as Esau retained the rights of the firstborn, and he constantly studied to devise some way whereby he might secure the blessing that his brother held so lightly, but that was so precious to himself.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 177-179.
Christ Triumphant p. 84
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–Prayer request for my husbands Late wifes cousin. m. He writes: “Am asking for your prayers. I woke up with acute pain suggesting a possible hernia problem or male issue..
Have had hernia surgery at ___ _____Hospital in the past. Many thanks for your help. Connard”
—–My 4 1/2 month grand daughter was taken to the ER last night with a 102.2 fever. She has Covid. Please keep her mom, dad, and uncle also in your prayers as they all live under the same roof – young family. Danita
—–Please pray for all the people who are searching for the missing missionaries.
—–PLEASE PRAY We need a miracle for my amazing nephew. My brother messaged early this am. Tahner coded . But the last couple weeks tahner has gotten very sick. His body is failing him. He is so weak. And these doctors have NO explanation. Ashleigh
—–Prayers for Maya. She had many visits with all her doctors, except for one that they see next month. With all her new meds and recent diagnoses, her pulmonologist wants her to have a specific antibiotic on hand, but it’s very expensive at over $2k and insurance is not covering it. They are completely open to using homeopathic remedies, but with all her meds everything has to go through all the docs to verify something doesn’t interact with any of her other meds. She’s lost some weight this winter after fighting cold, flue, covid, pneumonia, etc. so she’s a little thin, but not too bad all things considered. Prayers that the doctors have wisdom to know what they might try, and prayers for mom to have wisdom to know when to say no. She still occasionally gets suggestions to give Maya the botox injections, which nearly killed her last time. Jennifer
—–my best friend/sister had her baby a little over a month ago and he is having some health difficulties so I’m asking for prayers not only for Thomas but for his entire family. Kaitlyn
—–Please pray for E and children that God will guide and protect them. R
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
About twenty years ago, when our kids were at Union College, Ron and I got off from work a little early and began the five-hour journey to Lincoln. When we were about forty-five minutes from home, I looked over to check the oil pressure and temperature gauges. The oil pressure was about half what it normally was. I asked Ron, “Isn’t the oil pressure a little low?” Just then the temperature gauge rose to dangerous levels. He said, “We’ve got problems.” and told me to pull over.
About a month before, we had gotten the engine rebuilt. Somehow the engine just did not seem to feel or sound quite right to Ron so he had made an appointment with the mechanic to take it back so he could check it out. It didn’t seem to be anything serious—just not quite right. There, alongside of the road, he was wishing that he had been given an earlier appointment.
After checking under the hood and adding some antifreeze and oil, Ron told me to drive about 55mph to the nearest exit. I did. The engine seemed to be doing ok, and I had hope that we would be able to continue on our journey. Ron, however, was watching the oil pressure gauge. It was not doing ok. The needle was fluctuating about 4 to 12 psi’s around a slightly lower than normal reading. When we got to the exit, he told me to drive a little faster to the next one so he could watch it a little longer. It began to settle down. Again I had hope of seeing my children. We passed that exit and he told me to increase my speed again. As I did so, the needle began to fluctuate. I slowed down and turned around at the next exit.
On the way back home, we noticed that the oil pressure was not responding as it should. If I took my foot off from the gas pedal, it would go up instead of down. If I sped up, it would go down. I suggested that the oil gauge had broken and all was really ok. Ron didn’t think so. We went over some bumps in the road. I watched the gauge in hopes that the needle would move with the bumps and that our problem was only a loose connection in the gauge. It didn’t move. Disappointedly we continued driving back home.
Sometimes on our journey of life, things begin to seem “not quite right.” At first, we continue on our way, thinking that we will check out that nagging feeling when the time is more convenient. Outwardly, all is going well and we travel along with anticipation of a pleasant journey through life. Suddenly, our “gauges” begin to show outwardly what has been festering within. Our plans get changed abruptly. We wonder why. Then we have to “pull alongside” the road of life and take a good look at the problem.
Often when troubles and trials come, it causes us to turn around on the broad way where we have been traveling and head back on the narrow path toward Home. (Matt 7:13,14) Paul reminds us, “My son, 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
Let us be quick to recognize when something is “not quite right” and stop right then and “make [our] calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10 Let us follow the Lord’s leading even when it means turning around on the pathway we have been traveling. Let us declare as did Job, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
Rose

Whoever says, “I have come to know him,” but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist. 1 John 2:4, NRSV.
I have been reported as saying you could not be saved unless you kept the Sabbath. Does it indeed seem meaningless, the requirement of the fourth commandment? Does not the habitual subjection to our heavenly Master’s will lead the obedient to ask constantly and earnestly, not “What is pleasing?” not “What is the most convenient or agreeable to self or those around us?” but “What does my Lord require? What is the will of God concerning me?”
Is it anything strange that one should do this or that under the conviction of the Spirit of God, under a sense of the fact that a refusal or neglect to do so would endanger the soul’s salvation? Is this a matter hard to comprehend, that obedience on our part to all God’s law is absolutely essential to eternal life? Is this an unfathomable mystery to the Christian—to secure the soul’s salvation at any cost to self or selfish interest? Does the Word of God give us any assurance that we can get to heaven just as well transgressing the law as obeying it? If so, the whole requirement of God as a condition of salvation is an entire mistake.
Were the inhabitants of the old world who perished in the Flood punished for their disobedience of God’s requirements? Or were they washed by the waters of the deluge straight into glory because our merciful God is too good to execute the final penalty of transgressing His law? Were the Sodomites punished for their disobedience and only Lot saved? Or were the inhabitants of Sodom winged by the fire that fell from heaven straight into glory?
Has God commanded? Then we must obey—without hesitating and seeking to find some way to be saved without obedience; this would be climbing up some other way. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “I have kept my Father’s commandments,” says the Majesty of heaven….
We should not obey the commandments merely to secure heaven, but to please Him who died to save sinners from the penalty of the transgression of the Father’s law. The sinner’s salvation depends upon … ceasing to transgress and obedience to that transgressed law. No one should venture or presume upon the mercy of God, feeling at liberty to sin as much as they dare…. It is a sad resolve to follow Christ as far off as possible, venturing as near the verge of perdition as possible without falling in.—Letter 35b, 1877.
Christ Triumphant p. 77
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–I have a job interview on Tuesday. Please pray that if God sees it is best that I will be hired. RJ
—–Please pray for my nephew Liam. He’s at children’s hospital and my brother says he struggling. Jennifer
—–Please pray for Alistair and Neroli, who were in a serious motor vehicle accident three days ago. Myke
—–Please pray for our missing missionaries and their patients.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl, my grandparents did not have a car. We walked or rode the bus everywhere. When I was six, my mother saved up and bought a car that was nine years old. The salesman promised her that it was very reliable and would give her many years of service. He lied. My mother was so happy and proud of that pale green 1942 Buick. She took me for a ride and that made me so happy. As we rode along, we felt so free. We no longer had to rely on anyone else to take us where we wanted to go. She envisioned many years of being able to go where she wanted when she wanted. We would take so many trips together. We would have so much fun. We were full of high expectation.
She had not driven the car for too many days, however, when she began to notice that the engine was not sounding quite right. She wasn’t sure what was wrong. Every time she got gas, the gas station attendant told her that she needed oil. That engine leaked like a sieve. First one thing and then another went wrong with that car. It seemed to be falling apart right before her eyes. Finally, after only having it for three or four months, she had the junk man tow it away. She was very disappointed. She had to wait another fourteen years before she was able to get another car.
The evil one is like that used car salesman. He promises us years of great happiness if we will “buy” the pleasures that he offers. He says to us, as he said to Eve, “Ye shall not surely die.” Gen 3:4 He lies. At first that forbidden pleasure seems wonderful. We feel so free, so elated. But that feeling does not last. It is not long until we begin to experience a “let down.” That “darling sin” no longer gives us happiness. Things begin to go wrong. Our life begins to fall apart. The freedom that we envisioned when we listened to the devil’s urgings, never materializes. Instead, we are left with emptiness and regrets. Indeed, we find ourselves bound with the chains of our sin. We long to be free, but are helpless.
Solomon had this experience. At the beginning of his reign, he was humble and sincere. “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.” 1 Kings 3:5-14
What a great future Solomon could have had. Yet it was not too many years before Solomon was a miserable man and an oppressive ruler. He had gone against the commandment of the Lord, “he shall not….multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.” Deut 17:15-17 The record says, “But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.” 1 Ki 11:1-3 Solomon began as a great and wise king, yet he became a slave to the pleasures of sin that his wives urged upon him. Those pleasures that had seemed so desirable left him empty inside. In his dissatisfaction he laments, “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity….I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Ecc 1:2-14 In the end of his book, he urged, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” 12:1,13
Let us shut our ears to the whisperings of the evil one and turn away from his suggestions. Let us flee to the Saviour for the deliverance that we so greatly need. Let us place our weak and trembling hand in His Mighty and Powerful Hand and allow Him to lead us all the way to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose

If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Genesis 13:9.
Abraham was tested to see whether he would hear the voice of God and obey. The Lord saw that it was not for his best spiritual interest to remain in his country and among his relatives, where he could not exert that influence over them that would be a blessing. He told him to leave them. Abraham was a rich man, but in the greatest simplicity he obeyed God and went out, a sojourner into a strange country. As he left his home and his kindred, God assured him that he would have earthly greatness and prosperity in the land of Canaan.
Why did not Abraham make use of all his means to bring about this prosperity? Why did he not invest his means to enrich himself with wealth and influence above anyone with whom he was brought in contact? Abraham did not do anything to glorify himself. He did not aim at power. He did not aspire to greatness by building up cities and calling them by his name. He was content.
The record tells us that Abraham took Lot, his nephew, with him, and for a time they lived together. But their families were large, and there was a quarrel between the herdsmen of Abraham and the herdsmen of Lot over their cattle. “And Abraham said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee?” …
Lot’s choice was the land of Sodom. Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan and Lot in the cities of the plain, and he pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom sinned before the Lord exceedingly.
Here is brought to view another separation. It makes a great difference when and how a separation takes place. It was Lot’s privilege to inquire, to be very careful where he should go, very careful in regard to the society he chose for his family. But without reference to the inhabitants, he chose a land that was beautiful in situation, that promised great returns. Lot went in rich, and came forth with nothing as the result of his choice. It makes every difference whether people place themselves in positions where they will have the very best help of correct influences or whether they choose temporal advantages. There are many ways that lead to Sodom. We all need anointed eyesight, that we may discern the way that leads to God.—Letter 109, 1899.
Christ Triumphant p. 72
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Hannah who has serious medical issues. Please pray also for my niece who is also having serious medical issues. Rose
—–Please continue to pray for those missionaries who are missing in the Philippines when their medical helicopter went down.
—–Please pray for my sister Julie as she has contracted COVID. Carl
—–Please pray for Sherlyn who is having hip replacement surgery tomorrow. Rose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
About twenty years ago, my best friend died of cancer. A month or two before she died, she sent out an email to friends and family. This email was such a testimony of faith, that although I had shared it before, I wanted to share it with all of you again.
Here it is:
“Dear Friends & Family, Wanted to let you know if you had not heard that last week I turn for the worse on my health. My liver became enlarged and caused me such great pain and I became very emotional because of what was happening to my body and mind. I feel the Lord is showing me that I am going into the final stages of this cancer. But I want you to know I believe the Lord has been carrying me in his arms through these times and the wonderful love and support I have from my son, Brian and his wife, Beth. Yes they now are living with me and helping to take care of me through these times. The blessing is my son’s orders were canceled right before all this hit me. Isn’t God good how he takes care of us. I am thankful for the healing my son and I have had and the closeness we have with each other now. When I woke up with such terrible pain from a swollen liver, I walk to the kitchen where my son was fixing to leave for work and I could hardly walk. He was going to help me get a cell phone that same day. I told him don’t bother because I felt I would be gone in a few weeks and walked back to my bed crying. He came into my room and held me in his dear arms and said mom don’t give up, don’t give up. It was a hug from God to me and my dear son and it made me feel so loved. When I am in pain it is hard to think and I am very emotional from it. But God still reaches down with his arms and holds me through those bad times. I have been doing better the last few days and don’t have the pain so bad now. But this is all in the Lords hands and I know He will be with me no matter what happens. I just want to serve the Lord and help others to have hope in the Lord even up to my last breath of life. Its only through the Lord any of us can make it through our trials. Just know even through these times I am in pain and can not think right I know the Lord loves me and is with me. Just know just like the Lord has been there for me he will be there for you also if you trust him with your all. He gave everything to come and save us from sin and took our place and died the second death for us so we could have life through him if we but give our lives to him. His Word gives us much hope in its promises. It is bread of life to our souls from Jesus. Just know you are valued by Him. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinthians 5:21 God bless you all and thank you for those that have uplifted me in your prayers and love. Love, Darlene”
How easy it is when overwhelmed with pain and sorrow, to turn our eyes away from Jesus and feel very sorry for ourselves. How easy to murmur and complain about the circumstances in which we find ourselves. When we do so, we are murmuring against our Loving Lord. Darlene, like Job of old, “sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Job 1:22 She held to God’s promises, indeed, she clung to her Saviour for strength and comfort throughout. James exclaims, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12
May we, in every trial that we must pass through, have strong faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as did Darlene. May our focus be upon our Lord and Saviour, remembering “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 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: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9.
Rose

Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad. Genesis 11:4.
Some of the descendants of Noah soon began to apostatize…. They journeyed a distance … and selected a large plain wherein to dwell. There they built a city, and then conceived the idea of erecting a large tower to reach unto the clouds, that they might dwell together in the city and tower, and be no more scattered. They reasoned that they would secure themselves in case of another flood, for they would build their tower to a much greater height than the waters prevailed in the time of the Flood, and all the world would honor them…. Before the work of building was accomplished, people dwelt in the tower. Rooms gorgeously furnished and decorated were devoted to their idols….—The Signs of the Times, March 20, 1879.
But among the people of Babel there were living some God-fearing persons who had been deceived by the pretensions of the ungodly and drawn into their schemes. These would not join this confederacy to thwart the purposes of God. They refused to be deceived by the wonderful representations and the grand outlook. For the sake of these faithful ones, the Lord delayed His judgments and gave the people time to reveal their true character….
This confederacy was born of rebellion against God. The dwellers on the plain of Shinar established their kingdom for self-exaltation, and not for the glory of God…. Determined individuals, inspired by the first great rebel, would have been urged on by him and would have permitted nothing to interfere with their plans or to stop them in their evil course. In the place of the divine precepts they would have substituted laws framed in accordance with the desires of their selfish hearts, in order that they might carry out their purposes.
But God never leaves the world without witnesses for Him. Those who loved and feared Him at the time of the first great apostasy after the Flood humbled themselves and cried unto Him. “O God,” they pleaded, “interpose Thyself between Thy cause and the plans and methods of men.”“And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.” …
God bears long with the perversity of human beings, giving them ample opportunity for repentance, but He marks all their devices to resist the authority of His just and holy law. As an evidence of His displeasure over the building of this tower, He confounded the language of the builders, so that none could understand the words of fellow workers.—Manuscript 94, 1903 (Manuscript Releases 8:42, 43)
Christ Triumphant p. 69
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–Please pray that they will find a missing mission helicopter with the pilot, nurse, patient, and a couple of other people. Some debris has been found floating in the water. That does not sound good….
—–Eye infection has come back in left eye pls pray for healing and for wisdom what to do to cooperate with God in healing and for strength. Andree
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Sunday is Ron’s 74th birthday. It reminds me of another birthday that he had about fifteen years ago or so. The evening before his birthday, Ron and I went to a pre-retirement seminar. I had gone there with an idea that in a year I could retire. As the man spoke, it soon became apparent that it was doubtful. Still I thought and planned different ways around what he was saying. On the way home, however, Ron told me that because I was the one carrying our insurance, there was no way I could retire early at 62. I was so disappointed.
The rest of the evening, I was feeling very sorry for myself. It’s not that I was unhappy at work. On the contrary, I loved my job and was very happy there. Yet, I had built up some false hopes that were not practical for someone who was still in debt. Ron tried to comfort me by saying that as soon as we got our bills paid off, I could retire. I was still wallowing in self-pity and looking at the negative side of that statement. I knew that every time we were almost there, something major would break and had to be replaced, so I pictured myself working until the day I died.
Just before going to bed, I checked my email. I saw one from Kayla, a young woman who was expecting her second child. For the past month or two, she had been having trouble with her pregnancy. Her blood pressure had skyrocketed, and the last three weeks she began to leak amniotic fluid. The doctor had told her to stay in bed. That day she had gone to the doctor expecting to find the date when she would have a C-section. Instead, the doctor could not find a heartbeat. How heartbroken Kayla and her family were. In the email she told me that she be having surgery the next day to remove her dead baby. How very sad.
As I wrote a note of sympathy and encouragement, I began to contrast my little disappointment with her gigantic one. Kayla’s problems really put things in perspective. How selfish I realized I was by my tearful attitude just because my plans and dreams were not going to work out the way I had desired. Compared to Kayla’s disappointment, mine was nothing. Compared to her loss, mine was of no account.
How easy it is to get all caught up in our self, our wants, our needs, our hopes, our agenda. Indeed, our biggest battle is with self. Jesus gave a parable about a man who was all wrapped up in self. “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” Luke 12:16-20
Serving self is not God’s way. We are to become like Him. He, Who put our needs ahead of His, wants us to do the same for others. He, Who “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father,” longs for us to live a selfless life as well. Gal 1:4 He, Whom all Heaven adored, went through the Gethsemane experience for us, offering “up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Heb 5:7-9 He, Who created all things, “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:8 “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16,17
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Rom 12:1-3
Rose

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Matthew 6:22.
This says, “thine eye,” not some other person’s eye. The rich experience that it is our privilege to have, we lose when we expect someone else to do our seeing for us, and guide us in our spiritual experience as if we were blind. We must have a single eye to God’s glory, a single and persistent purpose to leave self and the preferences of others out of the question, not asking, “If I take this course, shall I increase my personal possessions, or shall I decrease them?”
Great simplicity must be cherished by those who seek wisdom of God. Then their feet will not slide. “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.”
A person who truly loves and fears God, striving with singleness of purpose to do His will, will place body, mind, heart, soul, and strength under service to God. Thus it was with Enoch. He walked with God. His mind was not defiled by an impure, defective eyesight. Those who are determined to make the will of God their own must serve and please God in everything. Then the character will be harmonious and well-balanced, consistent, cheerful, and true.
“But if thine eye be evil,” if you study selfish purposes, and work only to that end, the whole character is defective, the whole body is full of darkness. Such do not look to Jesus. They do not behold His character, and they are not changed into His image. The spiritual vision is defective, and the way from earth to heaven is darkened by the hellish shadow of Satan. So Satan is pleased to have it, for he can lead that person blindfolded to ruin.
“If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” The conscience is the regulative faculty, and if people allow their conscience to become perverted, they cannot serve God aright. Their object in life shows to the world whether they are Christians or in rebellion against God. Their whole life is a failure. It is distorted and double, and all the faculties are misdirected. The profession may be all right, but the faith is perverted, and this is revealed by the practice, which misleads others. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”—Letter 128, 1897 (Manuscript Releases 13:154, 155).
Christ Triumphant p. 64
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–My coworker Cindy’s cousin Renee is getting a heart transplant today. Please pray. Wanangwa
—–Please pray for James who contracted MRSA from shoulder surgery and is in ICU. Jamie
—–Please pray for Esther. She is allergic to something that is giving her an itchy rash on her face and neck. Rose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Some years ago, we took a drive to Oklahoma so Ronnie Jay could take some photos of the animals and birds of the place. He really wanted some pictures of an armadillo. Most people consider that creature to be a pest and unworthy of notice, but he finds them fascinating. In reality they are helpful as they eat many harmful insects.
An armadillo has very sharp claws, but its armor is its greatest defense. When alarmed, it will jump into the air to surprise its enemy or run away if it can, but some armadillos can roll up in a ball like the tiny pillbug. However, most of the time they have so much confidence in their armor that they just go about their business no matter what is happening around them. Ronnie Jay did not alarm in the least the three armadillos he photographed. They stopped and looked at him briefly then continued on looking for food.
Jesus says to us as He said to His disciples of old, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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 28:18-20 We can learn a lesson from the lowly armadillo. No matter what distractions the enemy of souls throws around us, we must continue with that great commission given to us by our Dear Saviour.
Peter warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 The evil one will attempt to sidetrack us, but we must not allow his temptations to get us off track. I have heard it said that when John Wesley was asked what he would do if he knew he would die that night, he replied that he would do those things that he had already planned to do that day. What a good way to live—perfect confidence that he was doing God’s will in every aspect of his life, perfect trust in his relationship with his Lord.
Paul reminds us, “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.” In view of that fact, he urges us to “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.” Eph 6:12-18
May we put on that armor each day that we may work for the Master no matter how the devil tries to distract us is my prayer.
Rose