A healthy Christian is one who has Christ formed within, the hope of glory. He loves truth, purity, and holiness, and will manifest spiritual vitality, having love for the Word of God, and seeking communion with those who are acquainted with the Word, in order that he may catch every ray of light that God has communicated to them, which reveals Christ and makes Him more precious to the soul. He who has sound faith finds that Christ is the life of the soul, that He is in him as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life, and he delights to conform every power of the soul to the obedience of his Lord. The Holy Spirit with its vivifying influence ever keeps such a soul in the love of God.

To the Christian it is written: “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides 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. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:2-11).—The Review and Herald, December 11, 1894.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 43
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that God will control E’s and her children’s situation for their safety and good. R
—-My son has made some bad choices in life and hates God for allowing these things to happen please pray for his salvation and and making better choices regarding a current court case. Dan
—-Please pray for 4-year-old Leah who’s been diagnosed with Leukemia and needs to have 2 years of aggressive chemotherapy. Trixie
—-Please pray for me my doctor told me today I have pneumonia & a double ear infection. Barbara
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, when Ronnie Jay and I were in Petco one day, we saw two guinea pigs that were up for adoption. Petco has a program where people can bring their pets that they no longer can care for. The store will then care for them until someone wants to take them home free. I had wanted just one, but the store said that they had been raised together and must be adopted together. So, I took the two of them home.
Those two guinea pigs had such different personalities. Butterscotch would run and hide when we tried to pick her up. Cocoa rarely did. Bath time was far different, however. Butterscotch loved a bath and submitted to it gladly. Cocoa absolutely hated the water. She screeched and yelled and fought us every step of the way. Then, while I dried her, she fussed and fumed and told me in guinea pig language how mean I was for getting her wet.
Just so, our Great Creator desires to make us clean inside and outside, yet how often we fight against the process just like Cocoa did. John tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 Praise God! We can rise from our knees with the assurance that our sins are forgiven. As Micah assures us, “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19 Isaiah exclaims, “Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” Isa 38:17
The cleansing (sanctification) process takes time, however, and is not always pleasant. We are as Isaiah describes, “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isa 1:5, 6; 64:6 If we do not fight Him like Cocoa fought us at bath time, the Great Master Worker changes us from impure to pure, from selfish to unselfish, from a heart filled with hatred to a loving, kind heart until we become so changed that others will see Jesus in us and glorify God for the change. Paul explains the process, “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
We have a part to act in this process. We are not only to cooperate with God, but “follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called.” 1 Tim 6:12 We do this by putting “on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For 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. 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.” Eph 6:10-18 If we willing and obedient, we can have the same assurance as did Paul when he declared, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Tim 4:7, 8
May we allow God to work in us “both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:13 May we submit to His cleansing declaring as did Job, “when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 May we place our hand in His, knowing that His love is rich and full and deep, and He desires for us to be saved more than we do ourselves.
Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/partakers-of-the-divine-nature.html

We are to believe that we are chosen of God to be saved by the exercise of faith, through the grace of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit; and we are to praise and glorify God for such a marvelous manifestation of His unmerited favor. It is the love of God that draws the soul to Christ to be graciously received and presented to His Father. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the divine relationship between God and the sinner is renewed. Our heavenly Father says, “I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people. I will exercise forgiving love toward them, and bestow upon them My joy. They shall be to Me a peculiar treasure; for this people whom I have formed for Myself shall show forth My praise” (see: Jeremiah 30:22; 31:1, 33; Exodus 19:5).

Christ is calling souls to come unto Him, and it is for our present and eternal interest to hear and respond to the call. Jesus says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16). Then let all who would be called children of God respond to the invitation of Christ, and place themselves where the light of heaven will shine upon them, where they will realize what it is to be hearers and doers of the words of Christ, what it is to follow the Light of the world, and be accepted in the Beloved.

Everything that God could do has been done for the salvation of man. In one rich gift He poured out the treasures of heaven. He invites, He pleads, He urges; but He will not compel men to come unto Him. He waits for their cooperation. He waits for the consent of the will, that He may bestow upon the sinner the riches of His grace, reserved for him from the foundation of the world…. The Lord does not design that human power should be paralyzed; but that by cooperation with God, man may become a more efficient agent in His hands…. The Lord holds out to man the privilege of copartnership with Himself.—The Messenger, April 26, 1893.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 41
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my coworker Suzanne’s husband Brian who is having surgery today (Wednesday) morning to remove his prostate. Wanangwa
—-Please pray for E who has an important meeting today. R
—-Please pray for a friend Melonie she is going in for surgery for cancer today. She has been taking chemo for a while so hopefully they will get all of the cancer out. M.
—-Requesting prayer that baby will stay in a couple more weeks and for improved health. Sondra
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Dear Friends,

Before Esther was born, I worked alone all night at a gas station in a tough seaport town. I was sometimes nervous being there all alone especially since the telephone at the counter was set up so no one could make outgoing calls. The only way to call the police was to walk over to the pay phone on a wall about 20 feet away. I often thought if there was any danger, there would be no way to summon help.

One night, a man walked in. He walked around a bit and then stopped for awhile at the magazine rack. There was something about him that was creepy. I walked over to the phone to call the police. I just had my hand on the receiver when to my dismay I realized that he had put down the magazine he was reading and hurried over to where I was standing. I did not like the way he was looking at me.

Now I was scared, but I tried not to show it. He stood about a foot away from me (which was way too close!) and began to talk to me about wanting to dance and party. He asked me if I knew where there was such a place near to where we were. I told him that I had no idea as I did not go to such places. After what seemed like an eternity, he turned and walked out of the store.

How thankful I was for God’s protecting care! I felt like David when he exclaimed, “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Ps 34:6-8

Truly every day our only protection is in God. He assures us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:11-13 Think of it! Even though we cannot see Him He sees us each moment. He Who and loves us “with an everlasting love” and wants only good for us can keep us safe even when we are face to face with someone who is very frightening. Jer 31:3

Our Great Protector says, “call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Ps 50:15 “I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.” Jer 15:21 “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8 Praise God! He is always there guiding, protecting, watching over us. What a Wonderful Redeemer! What a Dear and Loving Friend! We can trust in Him always! We can rely upon His Word! May we declare as did David, “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” Ps 32:7;119:114

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/chosen-to-be-saved.html

The Holy Spirit is ever waiting to do His office work upon the human heart. Those who desire to learn can place themselves in close connection with God, and the promise that the Comforter shall teach them all things, and bring all things to their remembrance, whatever Christ had said to His disciples when He was upon the earth will be fulfilled. But if we disconnect from God, we can be no longer students in the school of Christ. Then we shall feel no special burden for the souls for whom Christ has died.

It was most difficult for the disciples of Christ to keep His lessons distinct from the traditions and maxims of the rabbis, the scribes, and pharisees. The teachings which the disciples had been educated to respect as the voice of God held a power over their minds and molded their sentiments. The disciples could not be a living and shining light until they were freed from the influence of the sayings and commandments of men, and the words of Christ were deeply impressed upon their minds and hearts as distinct truths, as precious jewels, to be appreciated, loved, and acted upon.

Jesus came to the world, lived a holy life, and died, to leave to the church His legacy in the valuable treasures He entrusted to them. He made His disciples the depositaries of most precious doctrines, to be placed in the hands of His church unmixed with the errors and traditions of men. He revealed Himself to them as the light of the world, the Sun of righteousness. And He promised them the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father was to send in His name.—The Signs of the Times, November 16, 1891.

“I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you” (John 14:18). The divine Spirit that the world’s Redeemer promised to send is the presence and power of God. He will not leave His people in the world destitute of His grace, to be buffeted by the enemy of God, and harassed by the oppression of the world; but He will come to them.—The Signs of the Times, November 23, 1891.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 39
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my daughters who are going through trials. Buck
—-Please pray for a sore throat I have been having for some days now. Evelyn
—-Please pray for my 1st cousin, Norma, who is critically ill. Helen
—-I just got a call from my brother. He is in terrible trouble with a catheter and stuck in his bladder and he’s bleeding. He cannot go to the hospital because it is very hectic there and his wife can’t be with him. He said he could not endure that at this crucial point in his life cuz he’s dying of a breathing problem. I need lot of prayer for him. Lorraine
—-Please pray for my classmate’s mom and niece who were in a horrible car wreck with a truck. David
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One of my favorite rainy-day pasttimes as a child was looking at my grandmother’s photo albums. On one such occasion, I saw an old lady I had not noticed before, She was a thin woman with her white hair pulled back in a bun. Her face had no wrinkles, but there was a sadness about her that could not be hidden in that photo taken so long ago.

When I asked my grandmother, she told me that it was her Aunt Alice. Alice was a happy girl, who was full of life and joy. She met a good-looking young man, and after a proper courtship, they became engaged. They loved each other deeply and finally the wedding day arrived. Alice was even more joyful than normal. That day she had anticipated as the happiest day of her life had finally arrived!

The church was decorated with flowers and filled with guests all waiting in eager anticipation to see this lovely young couple unite their lives. She wore a beautiful white wedding gown of lace. Her hair was combed in a lovely style specially to please the man she loved so deeply. The minister and the wedding attendants were there. All was ready, but the bridegroom was not there. They waited and waited. Had he changed his mind? The best man decided to go see.

Horrified, the best man saw an accident up ahead. He ran as fast as he could and saw that Alice’s loved young man was involved and ran back to the church. Shouting loudly and with tears in his eyes, he poured out his devastating news. Alice couldn’t believe it. She picked up the long skirt of her bridal gown and ran to the scene. There she saw the one she loved lying in the road—dead. Alice never recovered from that shock. She was never the same again. She became quiet and withdrawn and mourned for that young man for the rest of her life.

As I listened to the story, I felt like crying. Yet there is a tragedy much worse than this story—a disappointment far greater that happens every day without our even thinking about it. All around us are those who are spending their life with barely a thought heavenward. Jesus is coming soon and there will be multitudes unready to meet Him. With a sorrow far worse than Aunt Alice’s, they will cry out, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer 8:20 What dreadful words! Words spoken by some who knew Jesus was coming, but who did not make the heart preparation necessary. They seemed ready on the outside but were careless and indifferent and thought that a “head knowledge” of the truths of God’s Word was enough.

Jesus told a parable that illustrates this point. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt 25:1-13 All those virgins believed that the bridegroom was coming, but only half of them made the needed preparation.

May we “work out (our) own salvation with fear and trembling that we will not be found “standing at the altar.” Phil 2:12 May we “give diligence to make (our) calling and election sure” 2 Peter 1:10 May we live so close to God each day, allowing Him to change us into His image, that when He comes we will look up and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/the-spirit-is-ever-waiting.html