In the working of God’s people there are always times of test and trial, and God does not design that we shall shield men and women and youth from the liabilities that test the character. God will reveal His workings and will supply His attributes to the humble people who are seeking Him. Satan also will reveal his workings and will supply every soul he tempts with his attributes, his evil surmisings, his evil speaking and accusing of the brethren.

From this condition of things, the Lord cannot possibly shield those who place themselves on the enemy’s side, for God does not compel the human mind. He gives His bright beams of light as a lamp to lead and guide all who will walk in the rays reflected from Him. That lamp, His Word, is a light unto our feet. But if people disregard the path lighted by the heavenly beams and choose a path suited to their own natural hearts, they will stumble on in darkness, not knowing where they stumble or why. They will accuse and hate the very ones who make straight paths for their feet.

The history of Cain and Abel will be repeated. Cain insisted on carrying out his own plans in his offering to the Lord. Abel was steadfast in carrying out the directions of the Lord. He would not be converted in Cain’s way. Although the offering of Cain was a very acceptable one, that which made the offering required at all—the blood of the slain lamb—was left out. There could be no harmony between the two brothers, and contention must come. Abel could not concede to Cain without being guilty of disobedience to the special commands of God….

The Lord preferred the offering of Abel because it was correct. His offering was of value because it prefigured the redemption plan of God in the costly offering of His only begotten Son as the hope and salvation of the fallen race.

Cain was very angry when God accepted the offering of Abel and gave no sign that He recognized the offering of Cain, because it left out the true figure, the representation of the world’s Redeemer. But the Lord did not give up His way and will to conciliate Cain. He reasoned with him: “Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.”—Letter 16, 1897.
Christ Triumphant p. 36
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Esther and children as they are travelling home today and tomorrow. Rose
—-Please keep Ryan in prayer today & tomorrow. He has uveitis and the pressure in his eye spiked too over 60 last night. They are sending him and his wife to go see an eye surgeon right now. Shannon
—-Please put my good friend Gillian on the prayer chain. She has been having more trouble with her heart. She has valve problems. M
—-Please pray for a baby born with some major issues, that the doctors will do all in their power to fix as many as possible. Pray for his mother for comfort and for a walk with God. R
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Dear Friends,
I was watching a story about a girl who had been adopted and how her adopted parents had sent a letter to her new parents. They wanted her to meet them in a certain place when she was ten or twenty years old. The parents did not tell their adopted daughter until she was twenty. When the girl’s adopted mother was asked why she had not told her earlier, she said that she just had gotten wrapped up in the busyness of life and kept putting it until a more convenient time.

How easy it is to get so busy that we put far more important decisions off for a more convenient season. Sadly, that “convenient season” rarely comes although it finally did in that instance. It is so easy to be like Felix when the apostle Paul spoke to him “of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” Acts 24:25 Although convicted that Paul spoke the truth and that he should accept it and let Paul go free, he failed to make a decision. When he was moved to another post, he left Paul in prison. When King Agrippa visited the new governor, Festus, Paul was able to bear his testimony before him. The king was convicted of the truth and exclaimed, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” 26:28

One day, in the 1870’s a hymn writer by the name of Phillip Bliss was listening to a sermon about this very thing by a pastor Brundage. The pastor made a statement that kept ringing in Mr. Bliss’ mind. “He who is al­most per­suad­ed is al­most saved, and to be al­most saved is to be en­tire­ly lost.” Later, that very day, he sat down and wrote the famous hymn “Almost Persuaded”.

“Almost persuaded” now to believe; Christ to receive: Seems now some soul will say,Go, Spirit, go Thy way; Some more convenient day On Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today; “Almost persuaded,” turn not away: Jesus invites you here, Angels are lingering near, Prayers rise from hearts so dear, O wanderer, come.

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past. “Almost persuaded, doom comes at last! “Almost” cannot avail, “Almost” is but to fail! Sad, sad, that bitter wail, “Almost,” but lost!

May we no longer put off our decision to follow our Dear Saviour with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. May those mournful words never come from our lips, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer 8:20 May we, today while there is still time, “give diligence to make [our] calling and election sure” is my prayer 2 Peter 1:10

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/abels-offering-represented-christs-sacrifice.html

The plan by which alone humanity’s salvation could be secured involved all heaven in its infinite sacrifice. The angels could not rejoice as Christ opened before them the plan of redemption, for they saw that salvation of the human race must cost their loved Commander unutterable woe. In grief and wonder they listened to His words as He told them how He must descend from heaven’s purity and peace, its joy and glory and immortal life, and come in contact with the degradation of earth, to endure its sorrow, shame, and death.

He was to stand between the sinner and the penalty of sin; yet few would receive Him as the Son of God. He would leave His high position as the Majesty of heaven, appear upon the earth and humble Himself as a man, and by His own experience become acquainted with the sorrows and temptations that humans would have to endure. All this would be necessary in order that He might be able to succor them that should be tempted.

When His mission as a teacher should be ended, He must be delivered into the hands of wicked men and be subjected to every insult and torture that Satan could inspire them to inflict. He must die the cruelest of deaths, lifted up between the heavens and the earth as a guilty sinner. He must pass long hours of agony so terrible that angels could not look upon it but would veil their faces from the sight. He must endure anguish of soul, the hiding of His Father’s face, while the guilt of transgression—the weight of the sins of the whole world—should be upon Him.

The angels prostrated themselves at the feet of their Commander and offered to become a sacrifice for lost humans. But an angel’s life could not pay the debt; only He who created them had power to redeem them. Yet the angels were to have a part to act in the plan of redemption. Christ was to be made “a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.” As He should take human nature upon Him, His strength would not be equal to theirs, and they were to minister to Him, to strengthen and soothe Him under His sufferings. They were also to be ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who should be heirs of salvation. They would guard the subjects of grace from the power of evil angels and from the darkness constantly thrown around them by Satan….

Christ assured the angels that by His death He would ransom many, and would destroy him who had the power of death.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 64, 65.
Christ Triumphant p. 31
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Eileen as her lip swells every time she goes out in the cold. Thankfully it doesn’t get that cold that often but is supposed to be in the twenties and thirties for the next week. Pray that the doctor will figure out what to do to help her. Rose
—-Prayers for my dear little girl. Not quite little shes 21. Tried to commit suicide today. Her name is Miranda. Heather
—-Would like prayers for husband Jerry. He just had total knee replacement. Day 2 lots of pain hard to get around. Muria
—-One friend just got results from a biopsy. Diagnosis: cancer
Her mother had a biopsy too. Not results yet for her but Dr. said doesn’t look good. Prayers appreciated. Debra
—-Please pray for my friend Isabelle who is dying of cancer. She has a great faith in Jesus.
For Matt who also dying of cancer. He has not accepted Jesus yet.
Phyllis and Sheri who are both Christians battling cancer.
Leon who is in hospital after serious car accident.
My friend’s mother Phyllis who is seriously ill with infection(s) and hospital. She is a Christian. And my friend’s father in law who I don’t believe he is a Christian who is dying of cancer.
My friend Cynthia’s puppy Pippy who has gone missing in New Mexico. It is very cold and snowy. Karen
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Dear Friends,

This winter has been a little colder than normal. We have had a little snow a few times and some very cold days. Most winters, it is in the 40’s or 50’s during the daytime.

Whenever the forecast is for ice or snow, I think of one January about twenty years ago when a terrible ice storm hit this area. Many tree branches snapped off and fell onto power lines causing them to snap. Thousands of homes were left in darkness. We were only without power for thirteen hours, but there were others who had no electricity for nearly two weeks. (During those thirteen hours I felt like I was going to freeze to death, but thankfully, we survived better than many.) Only a few homes had any heat source. Even the simplest activities became a challenge. Having the comforts of life is something everyone takes for granted, and only when we are without them do we realize how blessed we are to have them.

Because of sin, this world is spiritually dark and cold. It has no light of itself, no warmth. We cannot see our way. We grope about trying to live our life but fail miserably. We are in need of light and love and comfort and strength to endure but the things of this world cannot supply our need.

Praise God! There is Someone Who can supply all of our needs! Seeing our condition, His great heart of love broke for us. He does not leave us in the cold and darkness but laid down His Life that we might be delivered from the cold and darkness of sin. With lovingkindness He calls us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” “Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.” Matt 11:28-30; John 8:12;12:35,36 Life’s greatest blessing is to have the Light of the World dwelling within us. Only then can we see the way clearly. Only then can we find true comfort, true happiness, true peace in our heart.

We must never take His light for granted but cherish that Light lest it depart from us. We must not selfishly hoard the Light to ourselves but must reflect that light to others. Jesus 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

Each day we meet those who feel the chill of sin and are in great darkness. Each day we come in contact with someone who needs the light that only we can impart. Yet, how often we hold it to ourselves and refuse to let it shine out from us to them, and they are left in their cold and dark condition. They are left to grope about, ever seeking for that which we could have given to them. How our Dear Saviour weeps when we are ashamed to tell others of His love. He warns us, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father” Mat. 10:32,33 Solemn words!

Just as our Great Example said, ” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4; so we must work now while there is still time to bring others to Him. Soon our Great High Priest will stand up and make that fearful proclamation, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev 22:11 When that proclamation is made, it will be too late to come to the Light, too late to share Him with others.

May we be ready to hear our Dear Saviour proclaim those solemn words. May we, at every opportunity, spread His love and light to others that they too may be ready for that great day. May we soon worship together before the throne of our Great Redeemer is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/angels-amazed-at-gods-plan-to-save-humanity.html

The life of Christ is to be carefully meditated upon, and to be constantly studied with a desire to understand the reason He had to come at all. We can form our conclusions only by searching the Scriptures as Christ has enjoined upon us to do, for He says, “They … testify of me.” We may find by searching the Word the virtues of obedience in contrast with the sinfulness of disobedience. “As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

The Garden of Eden, with its foul blot of disobedience, is to be carefully studied and compared with the Garden of Gethsemane, where the world’s Redeemer suffered superhuman agony when the sins of the whole world were rolled upon Him. Listen to the prayer of the only begotten Son of God, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” And the second time He prayed saying, “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”

And the third time He prayed saying the same words. It was here the mysterious cup trembled in the hands of the Son of God. Shall He wipe the bloody sweat from His agonized countenance and let the human race go? The wail, wretchedness, and ruin of a lost world rolls up its horrible picture before Him.

“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”“And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.” The conflict is ended; Jesus consents to honor His Father by doing His will and bearing His curse, the consequence of humanity’s transgression. He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Here was what was involved in Adam’s disobedience and what the obedience of the Son of God means to us….

The happiness of human beings is in their obedience to the laws of God. In their obedience to God’s law they are surrounded as with a hedge and kept from the evil. No one can be happy and depart from God’s specified requirements, and set up a standard of their own, which they decide they can safely follow.—Manuscript 1, 1892 (Manuscript Releases 6:336-338).
Christ Triumphant p. 24
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my coworker Cindy’s mom who is in the hospital. Wanangwa
—-My husband Blaine has stage 4 cancer. We just found this out. Asking for prayers. Marilynn
—-Please pray for Dorothy who recently lost her husband and now her brother-in-law died Monday. She is having problems with legal issues regarding probate. Please pray for all of the family in these two losses. Rose
—- Today, Jan. 18th, my husband Dan is having surgery for bladder cancer. We won’t know the extent until after the surgery and the pathology report! Any prayers will be most appreciated! Franci
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Dear Friends,

In Colonial America, doors were locked on the inside by a wooden bar that dropped into a metal or wooden slot on the door jamb. A piece of string was attached to one end of the bar and threaded through a small hole to the outside. A dangling string meant that visitors were welcome, since pulling on it raised the bolt so the door could be opened. The people in those olden times had an expression of hospitality, “the latch string is always out” meaning that the person was always welcome in their home. Thinking of this old custom, my great-great aunt, Aletha Phillips-Spoor, wrote the poem “Where the Latchstring’s Always Out.” I thought I would share it with you today.

The sun is sinking low in the west,

‘Tis the hour of meditation and rest,

Now is the time at the close of day

To return in thought from far away’

And to know that our folks, though far we may roam,

Are thinking of us in the dear old home,

Where the latchstring’s always out.

We may think some other place the best

Away out there in the golden west,

Or far away in a southern clime

Where for months we’ve had a wonderful time;

But after all we’re glad to give

A thought to the folks where we used to live,

Where the latchstring’s always out.

There’s where we’re free from every care,

There’s where we feel that we have a share

Of the blessings that only a home can bring,

There where the walls of laughter ring;

And we do again as we used to do

Back in the home where hearts are true,

Where the latchstring’s always out.

We, too, have a home where the latchstring’s always out. We, too, have a place where we are always welcome to come. Indeed, our Heavenly Father is yearning for a visit from us. How He longs to hear our prayers. He pleads, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jer 33:3 How He desires our sweetest thoughts to be of Him and of our Heavenly home. Jesus speaks of this home He wants to share with us. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3

Yet how seldom we think of that good land where “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor 2:9 How few prayers ascend to our Father in Heaven Who loves us so much “that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

How it must break His Great Heart of Love.

May we, like David, declare, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Ps 55:17 May we meditate upon all His marvelous works and talk of all His doings. 77:12 May we train our minds to focus on that Good Land our Saviour is preparing for us that someday we will visit with our Great Creator face to face.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/value-in-comparing-eden-and-gethsemane.html