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Oil in Your Vessels

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They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Matthew 25:3, 4.
Many receive the truth readily, but they fail to assimilate truth, and its influence is not abiding. They are like the foolish virgins, who had no oil in their vessels with their lamps. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, which is brought into the soul through faith in Jesus Christ. Those who earnestly search the Scriptures with much prayer, who rely upon God with firm faith, who obey His commandments, will be among those who are represented as wise virgins. The teachings of the Word of God are not yea and nay, but yea and amen.
The requirement of the gospel is far-reaching. Says the apostle, “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Practical piety will not be attained by giving the grand truths of the Bible a place in the outer courts of the heart. The religion of the Bible must be brought into the large and the little affairs of life. It must furnish the powerful motives and principles that will regulate the Christian’s character and course of action….
The oil so much needed by those who are represented as foolish virgins, is not something to be put on the outside. They need to bring the truth into the sanctuary of the soul, that it may cleanse, refine, and sanctify. It is not theory that they need; it is the sacred teachings of the Bible, which are not uncertain, disconnected doctrines, but are living truths, that involve eternal interests that center in Christ. In Him is the complete system of divine truth. The salvation of the soul, through faith in Christ, is the ground and pillar of the truth.
Those who exercise true faith in Christ make it manifest by holiness of character, by obedience to the law of God. They realize that the truth as it is in Jesus reaches heaven, and compasses eternity. They understand that the Christian’s character should represent the character of Christ, and be full of grace and truth. To them is imparted the oil of grace, which sustains a never-failing light. The Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer makes him complete in Christ.—The Review and Herald, September 17, 1895.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 16
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Kim. The hospital is pushing for her to go on hospice, but the family does not want her to. Her boss is trying to get her into another hospital who will give her the operation she needs. Please pray that her boss will be successful in getting her the treatment she needs. Brenda
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Dear Friends,
Before I was five, my aunt Joyce still lived with my grandparents. So did I as they had adopted me when I was a baby. My aunt loved all children, but I was especially dear to her. So, for those first five years, she used quite a bit of her paycheck to shower me with expensive gifts. Imagine her disappointment when as a very little girl, I played with the box instead of the toy.
As I got older, her gifts were enjoyed, but I did not appreciate the hours of work that she put in at the factory in order to buy these expensive gifts. Gilmore’s Department Store was the fanciest and most expensive store in Kalamazoo; and because Auntie Joyce loved me, she bought my presents there. One time when I was very little, she saw a portable dollhouse with very expensive and realistic miniature furnishings. Each week she would buy a piece of furniture, so that by the time I was old enough to enjoy playing with it, I had the complete set. How I loved that dollhouse! It was one of the few things that I really enjoyed playing with.
I can never remember really thanking Auntie Joyce for all the lovely things she bought me. Oh, when I was old enough to talk, I said “thank you,” because I had been taught to be polite; but I took her gifts for granted as though as though I had a perfect right to them.
How often do we do the same with our Great Creator’s gifts. How often we enjoy His wonderful blessings with scarcely a thought of the Giver. We might even thank Him politely for something special, but our heart is not filled with gratefulness. We are as He sadly described His followers of old, “this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” Isa 29:13 How often we forget that, “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17
How little we appreciate His Greatest Gift of all and take this Greatest Gift for granted.. Because of His great love for us, He sent Jesus, His only Begotten Son, to suffer and die for us. “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 Yet, how often we live our life as though we were worthy of such a sacrifice! We can never be worthy, “but God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8
Do we daily thank Him for the great sacrifice that He made for us? Do we have thankfulness and love for His goodness welling up within our hearts? Do we respond to Him by loving obedience? Can others see His character shining through us? Are His praises continually on our lips? “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps 107:8 Paul advises, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thes 5:18
May He open our eyes to His blessings each day. May we thank Him for bearing our griefs, and carrying our sorrows, being wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. (Isa 53) May we praise Him from from a heart filled with love and gratitude for His marvelous grace.
Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/oil-in-your-vessels.html

Christ’s Representative

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Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7.

The Comforter is called “the Spirit of truth.” His work is to define and maintain the truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth, and thus He becomes the Comforter. There is comfort and peace in the truth, but no real peace or comfort can be found in falsehood. It is through false theories and traditions that Satan gains his power over the mind. By directing men to false standards, he misshapes the character. Through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind, and impresses truth upon the heart. Thus He exposes error, and expels it from the soul. It is by the Spirit of truth, working through the Word of God, that Christ subdues His chosen people to Himself.

In describing to His disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with the joy and hope that inspired His own heart. He rejoiced because of the abundant help He had provided for His church. The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character on His church.—The Review and Herald, November 19, 1908.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 13
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my granddaughter Robin. her husband is very sick has been for several years she has been taking care of him he is on several kinds of pain pills and they had a hearing per phone on social security. he was denied it wasa blow for them she is elderly herself. please pray as they try again for him to get S.S. the Lord knows the situation and He is still in charge thank you keep looking up we are almost home home at last. , M.
—-Update on my son-in-law: he’s a little better, but still having vision issues. On top of that, my 5 y/o grandson has Covid! Mary
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Dear Friends,

A couple of days ago, I noticed that Peter had a couple of absolutely worthless limestone rocks that he had found somewhere. As Ron and I looked at them, we began to smile. We were both thinking the same thing.

One day so many years ago, my friend Darlene went walking with us. She was much more knowledgeable in natural things than we could ever hope to be. The places she normally went hiking yielded beautiful and valuable specimens—garnets, agates, geodes, etc. There were none of those items on this walk, however.

As one of the children picked up a pretty stone, and asked her what kind it was, Darlene said, “That’s a leaverite.” They were excited. Imagine finding a leaverite right there on the trail. Then she laughed and said, “Yup, leave ‘er right there!” We all laughed at her funny joke.

There are many “leaverites” in life. Even gossip is a leaverite. When someone tells us some “juicy” bit of gossip, we should leave it alone and never repeat it. That tidbit of gossip may appear to be exciting; it may even be true, yet if we repeat it, it will cause untold misery and heartache to the object of the gossip. Gossip grows with the telling until it bears little resemblance to the truth. God commands, “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.” Lev 19:16 The wise man observed, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” “A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. . . . and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.” “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” Prov 18:8; 17:4, 5; 11:13

Over the years, I have found the truth in Solomon’s words. ” He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” Prov 20:19 How often those who gossip are nice to the person’s face and appear to be their friend. Later that gossip goes wandering about from house to housea tattler and a busybody, speaking things which they ought not. (1 Tim 5:13) That bit of “news” circulates and changes and grows until the reputation of the one who put confidence in the gossiper is ruined and left heart broken.

May we shun that old “leaverite” gossip. May we remember the advice of David, “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” Psa 34:12-15 May we walk righteously, speak uprightly, stop our ears from hearing of blood, and shut our eyes from seeing evil; that we may someday soon see the King in His beauty in His Heavenly Kingdom. (Isa 33:15, 16)

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/christs-representative.html

The Promise of the Spirit

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Note: This year we will be reading the devotional book Ye Shall Receive Power by E. G. White. It is my hope that it will be a blessing for you.
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And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. John 14:16.

When Christ gave His disciples the promise of the Spirit, He was nearing the close of His earthly ministry. He was standing in the shadow of the cross, with a full realization of the load of guilt that was to rest upon Him as the Sin Bearer. Before offering Himself as the sacrificial victim, He instructed His disciples regarding a most essential and complete gift which He was to bestow upon His followers—the gift that would bring within their reach the boundless resources of His grace.

“I will pray the Father,” He said, “and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16, 17). The Saviour was pointing forward to the time when the Holy Spirit should come to do a mighty work as His representative. The evil that had been accumulating for centuries was to be resisted by the divine power of the Holy Spirit….

The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service. To all who have accepted Christ as a personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanctifier, guide, and witness. The more closely believers have walked with God, the more clearly and powerfully have they testified of their Redeemer’s love and of His saving grace. The men and women who through long centuries of persecution and trial enjoyed a large measure of the presence of the Spirit in their lives have stood as signs and wonders in the world. Before angels and men they have revealed the transforming power of redeeming love.—The Acts of the Apostles, 47-49.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 9
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Sharon who in the hospital with a possible stroke. Also pray for Evia, age 14 or so, as she spilled hot liquid on her hand and is in a lot of pain. Pray also for Paul who just had heart surgery. Mike
—-My good friend, Linda, has passed due to complications with covid. Please pray for her family and friends. Rose
—-Please continue to pray that God will guide in E and her children’s future. R
—-Please pray for my elderly father. He’s in the hospital with UTI, compression fracture in back, low oxygen to name just a few things going on. Louise
—-Please pray for my little Alan. He had a reaction to eggs and it’s been a rough morning. He’s okay, we just don’t know how bad his allergy is, and eggs are in so many products. His meds are making him a little loopy right now, but he won’t settle down and rest. Jennifer
—-Please pray for my cousin Cynthia, she lost her baby a year ago this day, and today lost the baby’s father as well. She’s only 22 and this is extremely hard on her, she feels like it’s her fault and just isn’t okay. Jessica
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Dear Friends,

Some years ago, I had a appointment to meet a certain lady in order to practice a piano/organ duet for a weekend convocation. We were to meet at 6:30 PM. I was there at 6:05 as I wanted to practice some other pieces. I had accidentally left my organ music the week before and had asked the church secretary to put it in her office. The lady, I was supposed to meet was supposed to get the music while the office was open and put it on the organ for me. She was going to be at the church earlier that day and assured me that it would not be a problem. She forgot. I peeked in the office window. There it was sitting on the secretary’s desk. So near and yet so inaccessible.

I decided to practice a few hymns until she came at 6:30. I practiced until 7:00. The church is unheated during the week so I was getting chilled by that time. At 7:00, I decided that I was going home. I walked down the long hall to the fellowship room and told the cleaning people that if the lady I was to meet ever showed up to tell her I had left.

As I was walking back to the church sanctuary for my boots and coat, the pastor walked in. I explained my problem. One glance at my face told him that I was not at all happy. He unlocked the office door, called the lady I was to meet, and handed the phone to me. In the course of the conversation, she admitted that she had forgotten all about our appointment. She was in Wal-mart buying a few needed items and assured me she would be there in ten minutes.

I went back into the cold sanctuary and practiced my music. By 7:35, she still had not arrived. My feet felt frozen by this time. I turned off the organ, got on my boots and coat, grabbed my purse and music and headed for the door. Just as I was ready to step outside, she was getting out of her car. Oh, NO! She sincerely apologized and asked if we still could practice. I said ok, but I was going to play it through only once. Then I was going home.

Later that evening, I called Ronnie Jay and was telling him about my miserable evening. He said, “Well, I suppose you’ve never forgotten anything—like 8:00AM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Suddenly, I felt ashamed for getting upset with her, when I kept forgetting to call him on those mornings to make sure he has heard his alarm clock.
“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” Rom 2:1-3 Jesus warns us, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matt 7:1-3

When tempted to complain of the faults and failings of others, may we remember our own shortcomings. May we “judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.” 1 Peter 3:8-12

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/the-promise-of-the-spirit.html

Wild Beasts Will Not Destroy

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The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. Isaiah 65:25.

Then we entered a field full of all kinds of beasts—the lion, the lamb, the leopard, and the wolf, all together in perfect union. We passed through the midst of them, and they followed on peaceably after. Then we entered a wood, not like the dark woods we have here; no, no; but light, and all over glorious; the branches of the trees waved to and fro, and we all cried out, “We will dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.” We passed through the woods, for we were on our way to Mount Zion. As we were traveling along, we met a company who also were gazing at the glories of the place. I noticed red as a border on their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were. He said they were martyrs that had been slain for Him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones; they also had a hem of red on their garments. Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount was a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies. And I saw the little ones climb, or, if they chose, use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never-fading flowers. There were all kinds of trees around the temple to beautify the place; the box, the pine, the fir, the oil, the myrtle, the pomegranate, and the fig-tree bowed down with the weight of its timely figs—these made the place all over glorious…. And I saw a table of pure silver; it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it.—Early Writings, 18, 19.
With God at Dawn p. 365
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Prayer Requests
—-My nephew is on his way to the hospital with blood clots around his heart. Please pray for his healing. Marlene
—-prayer request for dear friends of mine they left this morning from here to get to ______ his mom was taken to the hospital last night with heart failure. their name is J & J. hope he makes it in time she is my friend. And my friend in ____ passed away in October and a very dear friend passed away on the 9th of December. the Lord is laying those who will not be able to go through what is coming. keep looking up we are almost home. M.
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Dear Friends,

When Esther Marie was four or five, she saw a commercial on TV for “No Tears Baby Shampoo.” In her childish mind, she thought this would be the perfect solution for the usual problem of the uncomfortable stinging that she usually felt from our normal shampoo. The next time we went to the store, she asked for that brand, so I got it for her.

When we got home, she wanted to take a bath right away. Soon I heard strong crying coming from the direction of the tub. There was little Esther sobbing away. Mounds of suds were sliding down her face. As I rinsed away the shampoo, she began to tell me how she had kept her eyes open while she was washing her hair like the child in the commercial. She could not understand why the soap stung her eyes when the child in the advertisement was all smiles while getting her hair washed. As I comforted my little girl, she began to explain that she was crying in disappointment. She was not crying because of her stinging eyes.

How often, we too, are hurt and disillusioned by the promises of this world. How many times we find that it has betrayed us. Praise God! This sinful, old planet is only temporary. It and all of its false guarantees will soon pass away. Peter assures us, “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

Because of Jesus’ great sacrifice, we have a Heavenly home awaiting us! He is faithful Who has promised, “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 Think of it! Our Dear Saviour is working even now on our dwelling place in that Fair Land. He is making it just the way we would like it to be. How much fun it is to imagine what our Heavenly home will be like. As we do this, the false promises of this world, no longer allure us. Read Revelation chapters 21 and 22 for a glimpse of that bright and glorious land that will soon be our home. Nothing false will be there. No disillusionment will cause us pain. Indeed, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev 21:4

May “our conversation be 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. Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord.” Phil 3:20-4:1

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/wild-beasts-will-not-destroy.html

There Shall Be No More Curse

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And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. Revelation 22:3.
The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.—The Great Controversy, 678.
The voice of the Son of God is heard calling forth the sleeping saints, and as the prophet beholds them coming from the prison-house of death, he exclaims: “Thy dead men shall live…. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.”
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart,
And the tongue of the dumb sing.”
In the visions of the prophet, those who have triumphed over sin and the grave are now seen happy in the presence of their Maker, talking freely with Him as man talked with God in the beginning.—Prophets and Kings, 728, 729.
Language is altogether too feeble to attempt a description of heaven. As the scene rises before me, I am lost in amazement. Carried away with the surpassing splendor and excellent glory, I lay down the pen, and exclaim, “Oh, what love! what wondrous love!”—Early Writings, 289.
With God at Dawn p. 359
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for E that she will make the right decisions. She needs God’s protection and guidance for her and her children. R
—-I have an urgent unspoken prayer request that’s going to need a miracle. My wife’s bronchitis is acting up again out of the blue. David
—-Please pray for my sister Zena. She is homeless and has other thing going on.. Pray she comes to rely on the Lord and know him as her best friend. Beverly
—-My friend of 20 yrs. Jill died peacefully at her home today. She battled lung cancer for 4 years. . . . Please pray for her son Ethan who had also lost his father to ALS some years back. N

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/there-shall-be-no-more-curse.html

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