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The Spirit Can Be Grieved

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And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30.

I would that all my brethren and sisters would remember that it is a serious thing to grieve the Holy Spirit; and it is grieved when the human agent seeks to work himself, and refuses to enter the service of the Lord because the cross is too heavy or the self-denial too great. The Holy Spirit seeks to abide in each soul. If it is welcomed as an honored guest, those who receive it will be made complete in Christ; the good work begun will be finished; and holy thoughts, heavenly affections, and Christlike actions will take the place of impure thoughts, perverse sentiments, and rebellious acts.

The Holy Spirit is a divine teacher. If we will heed its lessons, we shall become wise unto salvation. But we need to guard well our hearts; for too often we forget the heavenly instruction we have received, and seek to act out the natural inclinations of our unconsecrated minds. Each one must fight his own battle against self. Heed the teachings of the Holy Spirit. If this is done, they will be repeated again and again until the impressions are as it were lead on the rock forever.

God has bought us, and He claims a throne in each heart. Our minds and bodies must be subordinated to Him; and the natural habits and appetites must be made subservient to the higher wants of the soul. But we can place no dependence upon ourselves in this work. We cannot with safety follow our own guidance. The Holy Spirit must renew and sanctify us. And in God’s service there must be no halfway work. Those who profess to serve God and yet indulge their natural impulses will mislead other souls. Said Christ, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). “This do, and thou shalt live” (Luke 10:28).—Manuscript Releases 18:47, 48.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 33
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Prayer Requests
—-I have a friend that’s having suicidal thoughts due to depression and other things. Please pray! Kathy
—- Please pray for Robert and Carol. Robert has been sick since Thanksgiving and Carol is having issues also. Wonderful brother and sister in Christ. Also remember Hannah as she can’t attend church without a ride. Ernest
—-Please send up prayers that HR will be generous in granting time off to care for my Dad. He is recovering from surgery and needs medical assistance. I’ve already used up my FMLA which ended last week. Vicki
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Dear Friends,

Some years ago, I saw a little film clip of a dog and his master. That border collie was very well trained and a joy to watch. His owner put him through a series of complicated moves that were just amazing. Since the collie was totally focused on his master and allowed nothing to distract him, he knew just what to do and when to do it.

Just as that dog kept his eyes on his master and took his direction from him, so we are to keep our eyes on our Loving Saviour. “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God.” Ps 123:1,2 “Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7

Think of it! The One Who loved us so much that He died the cruelest of deaths to redeem us from the power of the enemy is our Creator, our Helper, our Strength, and wants to be our constant Companion. Our dearest thoughts should be of Him.”I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” Ps 77:11, 12 Our conversation should be about His blessings. As Paul says, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. …so stand fast in the Lord. Phil 3:20-4:1 Our leisure time should be spent reading His Holy Word for through His Word we are sanctified. (John 17:17) Our greatest pleasure should be in doing those things which please Him. “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3:21, 22

May we ever look to our Dear Saviour for the direction we need in every situation. May we stay ever close to Him “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Heb 12:2 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thes 5:23, 24

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/the-spirit-can-be-grieved.html

The Spirit Intercedes for Us

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And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:27.

We have only one channel of approach to God. Our prayers can come to Him through one name only—that of the Lord Jesus our Advocate. His Spirit must inspire our petitions. No strange fire was to be used in the censers that were waved before God in the sanctuary. So the Lord Himself must kindle in our hearts the burning desire, if our prayers are acceptable to Him. The Holy Spirit within must make intercessions for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered.

A deep sense of our need, and a great desire for the things for which we ask, must characterize our prayers, else they will not be heard. But we are not to become weary, and cease our petitions because the answer is not immediately received. “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). The violence here meant is a holy earnestness, such as Jacob manifested. We need not try to work ourselves up into an intense feeling; but calmly, persistently, we are to press our petitions at the throne of grace. Our work is to humble our souls before God, confessing our sins, and in faith drawing nigh unto God. The Lord answered the prayer of Daniel, not that Daniel might glorify himself, but that the blessing might reflect glory to God. It is the design of God to reveal Himself in His providence and in His grace. The object of our prayers must be the glory of God, not the glorification of ourselves.

When we see ourselves weak, ignorant, and helpless, as we really are, we shall come before God as humble suppliants. It is ignorance of God and of Christ that makes any soul proud and self-righteous. The infallible indication that a man knows not God is found in the fact that he feels that in himself he is great or good. Pride of heart is always associated with ignorance of God. It is the light from God that discovers our darkness and destitution. When the divine glory was revealed to Daniel, he exclaimed, “My comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength” (Daniel 10:8).

The moment the humble seeker sees God as He is, that moment he will have the same view of himself that Daniel had. There will be no lifting up of the soul unto vanity, but a deep sense of the holiness of God and of the justice of His requirements.—The Review and Herald, February 9, 1897.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 27
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Kim’s family and friends as she has passed.
—-Please pray for my family and I. I have not been feeling so well. Helen
—-Please everyone pray hard for my cousin’s daughter Stephanie who is very sick with Covid. She has a weakened immune system due to an antoimmune disease. Debra
—-Please pray for a young girl we just came across this morning. She was burnt by her step mother and she is nursing wounds without medication. Wedeya
—-Please pray for E and her children that God will take complete control of their situation. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Mrs. Baldwin, my sixth-grade teacher, was an older lady, who was still very full of life and always had a pleasant smile on her face. I really enjoyed her as a teacher. Each summer vacation she would go to a different country and soak up the sights, sounds, smells, and culture of the place. Then the next school year she enthusiastically shared what she had learned with her class. The summer before our class had her as our teacher she had gone to Mexico. One of the things that impressed her was a volcano she visited. So she bought a model of a volcano and brought it to class. When she pressed a button, it sputtered and spit out bright orange “lava.” We were fascinated.
Just as Mrs. Baldwin shared her experiences with her class, so we are bidden to share our Christian experience with those around us.Jesus says, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John8:12 “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
How often we talk enthusiastically to others about something we have just bought, or something we have seen on TV the night before, or about some sports team, but our witness should not be on those things. Our sweetest thoughts should be of Jesus and His love. Our conversation should be centered in Him. Our interests should lie with His. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am her: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.” Isa 43:10-12
John declares, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:1-4
May we have that joy John is speaking about as we witness of our Saviour’s love and care. May we share His love with those around us. And when our dear Saviour comes, may we stand with those we have brought to Him 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-intercedes-for-us.html

Showers of Grace

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Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. Zechariah 10:1.

In the East the former rain falls at the sowing time. It is necessary in order that the seed may germinate. Under the influence of the fertilizing showers, the tender shoot springs up. The latter rain, falling near the close of the season, ripens the grain, and prepares it for the sickle. The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit. As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain represents the completion of the work of God’s grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ….

Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. They have not obtained all the benefits that God has thus provided for them. They expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain. When the richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts to receive it. They are making a terrible mistake. The work that God has begun in the human heart in giving His light and knowledge must be continually going forward. Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement, and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit.

It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain.—The Review and Herald, March 2, 1897.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 25
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for our Bible study contacts. We have not been able to deliver the lessons for the past two weeks because of sickness. Please pray that we will not lose any of them when we go back to see them. Rose
—-Please pray for my husband James he’s going in for Heart Surgery this Tuesday 8am his main artery is clogged they will be putting stents in we pray the surgery will go well and he will heal and feel better soon. Shanda
—-Please be praying for my friend Tami that was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Dan
—-Please pray for 84 year old Dad. He had bilateral total knee replacements last Wednesday and his recovery isn’t going as planned. Vicki
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Dear Friends,

Some years ago, I read about a man who became interested in treasure hunting. He risked all his money, all his time, all his reputation to find gold and jewels that went down to the depths of the ocean hundreds of years ago. Worse still, his son was killed helping him in his quest for these elusive riches. Despite that tragedy, he continued. Finally, he was successful. About 300 million dollars worth of gold and jewels were his. Then the government stepped in and threatened to take it all away to be put in some museum. Eventually, a compromise was made and the state took only 20% of the treasure.

We have a treasure book within our reach, yet how seldom we risk all to obtain the treasure contained therein. What a treasure the Scriptures are! God’s Holy Word is far more valuable than the treasure hunter’s gold and jewels. The Bible is irreplaceable and should be handled with reverence and awe. Through a study of the Holy Writ, we find the answers to life’s questions. Through them we find our Dear Saviour and the path that leads to Heaven.

The psalmist exclaims, “I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps 119:99-105

Peter, when comparing his experience upon the Mount of Transfiguration to the Word of God, tells us that in God’s Word “we have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto [we] do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21 Think of it! The Scriptures are more sure than what we see around us, more sure than what we hear, more solid than what we feel, more real than the experiences of our life.

Paul in writing to Timothy explained to the young man the value of this Treasure. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim 3:15-17

It is well worth our exploration. It is well worth sacrificing all. It is well worth our time and effort to obtain its treasure. Jesus spoke of this very quest, “the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matt 13:44-46

May we spend time each day exploring the Scriptures for the gems of truth it contains. May we seek after the gold that will never perish. May we allow nothing to stand in our way of obtaining the Treasure of all treasures even the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/showers-of-grace.html

The “New Wine” of the Kingdom

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And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. Mark 2:22.
We need to be constantly filling the mind with Christ, and emptying it of selfishness and sin. When Christ came into the world, the leaders of the Jews were so permeated with Phariseeism that they could not receive His teachings. Jesus compared them to the shriveled wineskins which were not fit to receive the new wine from the vintage. He had to find new bottles into which to put the new wine of His kingdom. This was why He turned away from the Pharisees, and chose the lowly fishermen of Galilee.
Jesus was the greatest teacher the world ever knew, and He chose men whom He could educate, and who would take the words from His lips, and send them down along the line to our time. So, by His Spirit and His Word, He would educate you for His work. Just as surely as you empty your mind of vanity and frivolity, the vacuum will be supplied with that which God is waiting to give you—His Holy Spirit. Then out of the good treasure of the heart you will bring forth good things, rich gems of thought, and others will catch the words, and will begin to glorify God. Then you will not have the mind centered upon self. You will not be making a show of self; you will not be acting self; but your thoughts and affections will dwell upon Christ, and you will reflect upon others that which has shone upon you from the Sun of righteousness.
Christ has said: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:37). Have you exhausted the fountain?—No; for it is inexhaustible. Just as soon as you feel your need, you may drink, and drink again. The fountain is always full. And when you have once drunk of that fountain, you will not be seeking to quench your thirst from the broken cisterns of this world; you will not be studying how you can find the most pleasure, amusement, fun, and frolic. No; because you have been drinking from the stream which makes glad the city of God. Then your joy will be full; for Christ will be in you, the hope of glory.—The Review and Herald, March 15, 1892.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 21
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Prayer Requests
—-Friend facing possible amputation. Please pray God’s will. Mel
—-Please pray for our family and our church family.
—-Prayers for my Brother! He and one of the older three boys tested positive for Covid, so he can’t go see his baby in NICU, but also they are having to monitor Liam in NICU more carefully in case my brother gave it to him. I feel so bad for my brother, it’s bad enough to be sick, but to possibly make the newborn babies (and potentially any other babies in NICU) sick with Covid…..So prayers for my brother and his little boy Nikolai, Prayers for mom Danielle as she will likely test positive as well, prayers for baby Liam and the other NICU babies (IDK if they are all isolated r not, but let’s jsut give them some prayers too) and then prayers for hte family as they can’t see him (but they will try to go every few days to drop off breast milk for Liam). Jennifer
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Dear Friends,
When we lived in North Carolina, the church we attended had a camp-out one weekend. It was the first time they had done so, and I hoped it would not be the last. We had a really nice time singing together and worshipping our Great Creator out in His Creation. Our pastor, John Earnhardt, took all the children on a nature walk and they had a fun time seeing the animals that he caught.

Ronnie Jay was about seven or eight at the time and always got up at dawn no matter how early that was. One morning Pastor Earnhardt got up about the same time as he also was in the habit of rising early. The pastor was his hero anyway, so this time when he got to be all alone with him was very special. He and Ronnie Jay talked for a while and then he showed our son how to play baseball. Ronnie Jay was thrilled!
When we awakened, we smiled at the two of them playing happily together. Through the years Ronnie Jay remembered this incident with fondness. One day he wrote the pastor and told him how much that morning together had meant to him. This pleased Pastor Earnhardt very much. He sent Ronnie Jay a nice letter, a brochure from the evangelistic meetings he was holding, and a postcard from the area he was in at the time. Years later, when Pastor Earnhardt held evangelistic meetings in our city, he and Ronnie Jay spent some time together. The pastor’s eyes just sparkled as he looked at our boy who was now a grown man.
Just as our son and the pastor had special fellowship, so our Heavenly Father longs to have a special fellowship with us. He desires above all things to have close communion with us, not just once or twice, but every moment of every day. He loves us “with an everlasting love.” Jer 31:3 In God’s Word is revealed His great love for us. That great chapter in Isaiah foretells Jesus’ loving sacrifice for us. “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isa 52:13-53:12
Think of it! God made this great sacrifice for us, so He could bring us into right relationship with Himself. What love! What sacrifice! “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” I Cor 1:9 “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. May we give ourselves to Him completely, develop the habit of holding sweet communion with Him as we go about our daily duties, and truly love our Great Redeemer more than anything else.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/the-new-wine-of-the-kingdom.html

Leaven in Our Heart

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And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Luke 13:20, 21.
This parable illustrates the penetrating and assimilating power of the gospel, which is to fashion the church after the divine similitude by working on the hearts of the individual members. As the leaven operates on the meal, so the Holy Spirit operates on the human heart, absorbing all its capabilities and powers, bringing soul, body, and spirit into conformity to Christ.
In the parable the woman placed the leaven in the meal. It was necessary to supply a want. By this God would teach us that, of himself, man does not possess the properties of salvation. He cannot transform himself by the exercise of his will. The truth must be received into the heart. Thus the divine leaven does its work. By its transforming, vitalizing power it produces a change in the heart. New thoughts, new feelings, new purposes are awakened. The mind is changed, the faculties are set to work. Man is not supplied with new faculties, but the faculties he has are sanctified. The conscience hitherto dead is aroused. But man cannot make this change himself. It can be made only by the Holy Spirit. All who would be saved, high or low, rich or poor, must submit to the working of this power.
This truth is presented in Christ’s words to Nicodemus: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:3-8).
When our minds are controlled by the Spirit of God, we shall understand the lesson taught by the parable of the leaven. Those who open their hearts to receive the truth will realize that the Word of God is the great instrumentality in the transformation of character.—The Review and Herald, July 25, 1899
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 18
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Prayer Requests
—-E continues to need God’s leading. Please pray for her and her children. R
—-Prayers needed again for my father Randy who is still in the hospital, he’s very depressed and now battling Covid. He can only have one visitor for 1 hour a day. Louise
—-Please continue to pray for Sharon who had a stroke recently. Mike
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Dear Friends,
As a little girl, I would spend every evening with my grandfather, Edwin Harmon, as soon as he came home from work. I would beg for him to tell the same stories of his life. Sometimes he must have tired of repeating those familiar stories as occasionally he would tell me something new and different. One day in answer to my request for a story, he took a pad of paper and wrote something on it. Then he tore it off and threw it away. I thought that was very strange. He began to tell me a story that had happened to a friend of his in the early part of the last century. Then he took a soft lead pencil, tipped it to the side and began to color the paper softly. To my amazement, the message that my grandfather had written appeared.
When he had written a message on the pad of paper, the pressure of the pencil had affected the page underneath. That page, although seemly untouched, had taken on the impress of what was written above. When shaded lightly by the soft pencil, the message became clearly visible. Then he told me that if I ever needed to see what someone had written, I could do what he had just done.
He did not bring out any spiritual lesson in his story even though there is one. All that we do and say has an effect on those around us. In everything we are an example for good or for evil. In scientific studies, they have shown that a person takes on the characteristics of another after being around them for as little as ten minutes. That is something to ponder when we think of the friends we have, the programs we watch, the music we listen to. Paul gives us a rule with which to measure all we look at on TV, what we listen to on the radio, our words, and our associations with others, “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:8 Peter adds, “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:22-24
May we carefully guard the “avenues of the soul.” May we be “an example of the believers, in word, in conversation [conduct], in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12 May we so live that our words, our thoughts, our actions will affect those around us for the right, that they may be drawn to our Dear Saviour is my prayer.
Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/leaven-in-our-heart.html

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