But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. Matthew 9:34.
In Christ’s mighty works there was sufficient evidence for faith. But these people did not want truth. They could not but acknowledge the reality of the works of Christ, but they cast condemnation upon them all. They must acknowledge that supernatural power attended His work, but this power, they declared, was derived from Satan. Did they really believe this? No; but they were so determined that the truth should not affect their hearts and they be converted that they charged the work of the Spirit of God to the devil….
All-compassionate Redeemer! What love, what matchless love, was Thine! Charged by the great men of Israel with doing His works of mercy through the prince of devils, scorned and maligned, He was yet as one who saw and heard not. The work He came from heaven to do must not be left undone. He saw that truth must be unfolded to the people. The Light of the world must flash His beams into the darkness of sin and superstition and reveal error in contrast with truth….
Christ does not use force or compulsion in drawing people to Him. But while truth was being proclaimed, the hearts of those who professed to be children of God were barricaded against it, and those who had not been so highly privileged, those who were not clothed with the garment of self-righteousness, were drawn to Christ. Their minds were convinced and quickened into activity, and light and truth vibrated through the universe….
Satan endeavored to keep hidden from the world the great atoning sacrifice, which reveals the law in all its sacred dignity and impresses hearts with the force of its binding claims. He was warring against the work of Christ and united all his evil angels with human instrumentalities in opposition to that work. But while he was carrying on this work, heavenly intelligences were combining with human instrumentalities in the work of restoration….
Here are the two great powers, the power of truth and righteousness and the working of Satan to make of none effect the law of God. The human agent, magnetized by the power of Satan, works in the lines of the enemy; the Saviour employs His human instrumentalities to be laborers together with God…. Those who expect to be children of God are not to expect an easy time in this life…. We are not left alone to engage in this conflict. Jesus Christ is the Captain of our salvation.—Manuscript 61, 1899.
Christ Triumphant p. 245
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for the L family in the loss of Bob. Rose
—-I’m asking for prayers for my arm and shoulder.im in so much pain I can hardly stand it. Heather
—-Please pray for my son David who needs some special help from God right now for many needs. Louise
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Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl, I spent most of my time in a “fog.” My grandmother had never heard of allergies and thought that all of my sniffling and sneezing was because I had a cold. Whenever she heard me sneeze, she gave me cold medicine. Sometimes, my mother, not knowing that my grandmother had given me an antihistamine would give me another pill a short time later. Worse still, my aunt, who lived at home until I was five, would sometimes do the same. Of course, that made me sleepy and sluggish most of the time. It’s a wonder I survived.
The older I got, the worse my allergies became. My list of allergens continued to grow until nearly everything caused a reaction. When Ron finally got a job that offered health insurance, I was able to afford to be tested and found that I was literally allergic to everything except pigweed and poplar trees. The doctor assured me that by taking allergy shots he could cure me of my allergies. I, who have always hated shots, was actually looking forward to the four shots twice a week that he prescribed. Unfortunately, the shots caused a worse reaction each time I took them. When my joints began to ache and I began to swell, I knew that if I didn’t stop, the next set of shots might be fatal. That was very disappointing.
When I moved to Kansas a short time later, I was miserable. Everything that I was allergic to was abundant here. After only three months, I was so sick that we thought that we were going to have to move again. Then someone at church suggested that I stop using all dairy products and see if that would help. I was willing to try anything, but I knew that it would be difficult. Dairy products were a staple in my diet, but I was so miserable that I was willing to give it a try. My allergies began to lessen, but I found that if I ate anything that even had a component of milk in it, I would get an allergy attack, so I had to read labels carefully to see if casein, lactic acid, or whey was listed. Soon my allergies were so much better that I lost my desire for the food I had formerly loved.
I found that just a little bit of dairy acts as a catalyst to trigger a reaction to everything else that I am allergic to. Just so allowing just a little sin to dwell within our life effects our entire being. Toying with sin affects our judgment. Moreover, clinging to sin affects the lives of those around us. Paul tells us, “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Cor 5:6-8 Just as yeast makes the dough to rise, so the leaven of sin permeates the entire being until “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 putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 1:5, 6
Praise God! There is a Remedy for sin! He has promised, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” verse 18 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 John assures us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. . . . My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” 1 John 1:9-2:1
May we avoid sin even more diligently than I avoid dairy. May we “refuse the evil, and choose the good.” Isa 7:15 May we “give diligence to make [our] calling and election sure” that we may someday soon dwell with our Great Redeemer.
Rose

The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. Matthew 13:24, 25, NRSV.
The Lord has a work to do in our world, but He will not trust His work in the hands of people who know nothing of the Bible or of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. The Lord presents in parables the rise and progress of the work that results from the preaching of His Word, the present truth for this time. He brings before us the fashioning of a church that shall stand before the world as chosen and faithful. The parable of the sower shows the manner in which we should work. The work of the gospel ministry is the sowing of the seed….
The parable of the wheat and the tares shows the mystery of the divine and the satanic agencies working in direct opposition, in vital conflict. The conflict continues till the close of this earth’s history. The incorruptible seed is the living Word of God, which works in the personal sanctification of the receivers, elevating them by bringing them into the participation of the divine nature.
Many matters need to be considered. Those who have all their lifetime been the servants of sin, desiring to act in direct opposition to the divine will, need to be most thoroughly converted. Otherwise the leaven of evil will work under cover, as Satan appearing like an angel of light tempted Christ to oppose the divine will. God’s great standard of righteousness is obnoxious to the tastes and appetites of sinful men and women. The active energy of the Saviour and that of the destroyer are in conflict.
The wheat is to be gathered for Christ’s garner. The tares have the appearance of wheat, but when the harvest comes they must be rejected. Yet there is an imitation of the wheat through a long period of time. Satan puts forth a determined effort to deceive and lead into strange paths those who have any connection with the Word of God, and he will devise every possible scheme to lengthen the period of his control. The Lord God of heaven gives no sanction to mix and corrupt church associations. The Lord would have His work in the preaching of the gospel so done that there will be no encouragement to evil workers, no toleration of evil associations in Christian assemblies.—Manuscript 7, 1900.
Christ Triumphant p. 236
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Prayer Requests
—-My middle son just had serious oral surgery so please keep him in your prayers. Alisha
—-Please pray for Esther and her children as they are battling a stomach bug and need to travel home Sunday and Monday. Pray that they get well before they need to travel and that they will have a good trip home. Rose
—-Please pray for Willie, he’s my friends brother, he has cancer and is so so weak.. please pray for him to Make it to his cancer trial it starts next week and for healing. Shannon
—-Asking for prayer for a close friend and mentor. He’s suffering from shingles and balance issues. I’m praying that God will restore his health. Erik
—-Please pray for my friend’s children who have been relocated against court order. Tanya
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Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl, my mother used to take me to the carnival when it would come to town. The fair grounds were at that time only about a mile north of my grandparents’ house, so it was not far to walk. I always looked forward to the carnival. There were rides, that I would never think of going on, looming overhead, little kiddie rides that I enjoyed, booths where I could go “fishing” for a prize or watch my mother shoot a rifle after which she let me get choose the prize she won, rough looking men hawking their wares, watching the sword swallower, and many other wonders captivated my attention.
One time, as we were walking along, we passed the House of Mirrors. This was the first time we had seen such an attraction so my mother paid the entrance fee and we walked through the dark green door. When we got inside, there were mirrors of all types. When we stood in front of one, we looked very tall and skinny (the only time I’ve been tall or skinny). Another one made us look very short and fat. Still another made us look misshapen. I laughed and laughed at that one.
Then we entered a corridor of mirrors and soon we became lost in a maze. It was impossible to find our way out by sight. The mirrors were set up in such a way that we could see many reflections of ourselves, but not the way out. I felt panic-stricken! After attempting to find the exit for what seemed like an eternity, my mother began to panic too. Then I was terrified! Finally, she stopped and began to think of what to do. She began feeling her way along the maze. That worked! Once on the outside, we determined never to enter a maze of mirrors again.
How often our life is like that maze of mirrors. Without God’s special leading, we can get ourselves into circumstances where there seems to be no way out. Without our Great Redeemer’s guidance, we become lost in a tangle of trials and troubles by listening to the evil “hawker” who wants us to lose our way. The more we try to extricate ourselves from the situation, the deeper we get in the devil’s trap.
There is only one way of escape. If we ask Him, Jesus will help us disentangle ourselves from the mess we have gotten into. All we need to do is ask. Our Dear Saviour promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Psa 32:8; Isa 30:21 He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! (John 14:6) No matter what our circumstance, no matter how deeply we are ensnared in our own “house of mirrors, “if we cry unto the Lord in our trouble, He will save us out of all of our distresses, deliver us from self- destruction, teach us His way, and make a plain path for our feet. ( Psa 107:19,20; 27:11)
May we, while the door of mercy is still open, ask our Loving Saviour to take complete control of our life. May we declare as did David, “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Psa 73:24 May we “ponder the path of [our] feet, and let all [our] ways be established [turning] not to the right hand nor to the left: [but removing our] foot from evil.” Prov 4:26, 27
Rose

The steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” John 2:10, NRSV.
The joyous festivities of a Jewish wedding were preceded by solemn religious ceremonies. In preparation for their new relationship, the parties performed certain rites of purification and confessed their sins.
A most interesting part of the ceremony took place in the evening when the bridegroom went to meet his bride and bring her to his home. At the house of the bride a company of invited guests awaited the appearance of the bridegroom. As he approached, the cry went forth, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” The bride, clothed in pure white, her head encircled with flowers, received the bridegroom, and, accompanied by the guests, they went from her father’s house. By torchlight, with impressive display, with sounds of singing and instruments of music, the procession slowly proceeded to the house of the bridegroom, where a feast was provided for the guests.
For the feast the best food that could be secured was provided. Unfermented wine was used as a beverage. It was the custom of the time for marriage festivities to continue several days. On this occasion, before the feast ended it was found that the supply of wine had failed. When a call was made for more wine, Jesus’ mother, thinking that He might suggest something to relieve the embarrassment, came to Him and said, “They have no wine.” … The active part that Mary took in this feast indicates that she was not merely a guest, but a relative of one of the parties. As one having authority, she said to the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” …
Jesus said unto them, “Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.” … The action of Christ at this time was left on record for all ages, that we might see that Christ did not fail even in such a perplexity as arose on this occasion. Yet He never worked a miracle to help Himself. A few days before this He had refused to satisfy His own hunger by changing a stone into bread at Satan’s suggestion.—Manuscript 126, 1903.
Christ Triumphant p. 229
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for travelling mercies for Esther and her children and Ken and Jamie and their children. Rose
—-Prayer please for my brother Shem.. pain in chest, kidney and vomit when eating. He has been in hospital for months. Other problems are not known, doctors working hard to find out. Please keep him in prayer for complete recovery. Daniel
—-Pray for me. I gave in to lust and let an abusive man into my life. Today I told him we were done and I wanted to leave and he began beating me. anonymous
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Dear Friends,
I’ve been looking at old photos lately. One was taken when Ronnie Jay was outside on the deck holding a caddis fly that had landed on him. Somehow, this insect had flown away from its natural habitat and visited our yard.
How often we, like that caddis fly, wander far from the path that leads to Heaven. How many times we stray from the narrow way that leads to eternal life. Jesus bids us, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13,1
How much we need a Shepherd to keep us from straying. Praise God! We have such a One. Jesus assures us, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:11-15
David desired to be led by his Heavenly Shepherd. He prayed, “Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth,and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.” “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path.” “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Ps 25:4-12; 27:5; 61:1-4
Our Great Redeemer tells us, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.” 32:8-10
May we allow our Good Shepherd to lead us in the straight and narrow way. May we cooperate with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth. (John 16:13) May we daily give our Dear Saviour our whole heart for He desires to fit us to dwell with Him forevermore.
Rose

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. John 1:10.
All that the world could endure of their Redeemer was the few years He was with them upon the earth, and they wanted to get rid of Him almost as soon as His mission commenced…. The question that every one of us has to settle is: Am I prepared for the coming of the Son of man? If you have accepted your Saviour by living faith, if you have repented of your sins, then you are in a position of acceptance with God so that if Christ should come you would meet Him in peace….
Let us notice the steps that the Son of man had to take in order to carry out the plan of salvation. He stepped down from the royal throne, laid aside His royal robes, clothed His divinity with humanity, and consented to come to this world. This world—right here—was to be the field of battle where Christ and Satan, the prince of this earth, should engage in conflict. And the question to be settled was How could God be just and true to His law and yet justify the sinner? This could be done only by the sacrifice of the Son of God….
It was difficult to uproot Satan from the affection of the angels in heaven. He took the position that the law of God was against the heavenly intelligences, and the warfare and controversy between Christ and Satan was started in heaven and is going on in the earth to the present day. The controversy between Christ and Satan was witnessed not only by the heavenly intelligences but by all the worlds that God had created. Here the power arises that claims to have the right to change times and laws—it is the man of sin. But does he have power to change times and laws? No; because God’s law is written in the tables of stone, engraven with His own finger, and placed in the temple of God in heaven. That great moral standard will be the criterion that will judge every being upon the face of the earth, both dead and living….
Christ went into the wilderness of temptation to bear the severest temptations, He was tempted in all points as Adam was tempted, and He passed over the very ground where Adam stumbled and fell…. Christ was now to stand where Adam stood, bearing humanity and overcoming in behalf of the race where Adam fell. And Christ withstood the test on every point; He resisted on the point of appetite…. He was tempted upon the point of ambition, and presumption, and He overcame the enemy on these points…. The Saviour of the world overcame and obtained the victory on every point.—Manuscript 11, 1886.
Christ Triumphant p. 216
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for David who is having major health problems. RB
—-Please pray for me as I was given the wrong forms to fill out for employment and I have already quit my other job. Pray that the new paperwork that I have filled out will be accepted. JT
—-Prayers for my mom. This summer was very successful in the ministry feeing the children with sack lunches twice a week. Her pastor has signed them up to walk the neighborhoods and offer a DVD movie to each household and invite them all to church. My mom is feeling very physically drained from all the recent work and now recuperating form her eye surgery as well as getting my nephews all ready for school to start. She’s worried as there are few workers that want to volunteer for anything in the church, so it’s all on the shoulders of my mom and 3 other older ladies Jennifer
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Dear Friends,
Over the years, I’ve known people who struggle with forgiveness. They remember everything that someone has said, everything that someone has done that has hurt or annoyed them. They go over and over these misdeeds until they loom large in their thinking and fill them with the hurt or anger all over again. I know how easy it is too dwell upon such things for I have had the same struggle with those who have said or done things in the past against my children. Yet, forgiveness is so important that Jesus included it as a condition to our sins being forgiven. He taught His disciples to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matt 6:12
How important it is to our Heavenly Father that we treat each other with the kindness and forgiveness that He shows us. Jesus gives us a glimpse of His forgiveness that also serves as a warning to us. “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matt 18:23-35
“Love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:35-38 This is not an easy task, but it is a necessary one. Of our own selves it is well nigh impossible but in God’s strength all things are possible even forgiveness of those who have wronged us or our loved ones.
May we forgive others as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven us is my prayer.
Rose

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Luke 4:1.
Why was it that at the beginning of His public ministry Christ was led into the wilderness to be tempted? It was the Spirit that led Him thence, and He went, not in His own behalf, but in our behalf, to overcome for us. There was no compulsion about it. He was led by the Spirit, His humanity to be proved, as one who had undertaken to stand at the head of the fallen race.
Christ had been, and was then, in perfect harmony with the Father. He was to be tried and tested as a representative of the race. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to meet the foe in personal encounter, to overthrow him who claimed to be the head of the kingdoms of the world.
While in the wilderness Christ fasted, but He was insensible to hunger. Engaged in constant prayer to His Father for a preparation to resist the adversary, Christ did not feel the pangs of hunger. He spent the time in earnest prayer, shut in with God. It was as if He were in the presence of His Father. He sought for strength to meet the foe, for the assurance that He would receive grace to carry out all that He had undertaken in behalf of humanity. The thought of the warfare before Him made Him oblivious to all else, and His soul was fed with the bread of life, just as today those tempted souls will be fed who go to God for aid. He ate of the truth that He was to give to the people as having power to deliver them from Satan’s temptations. He saw the breaking of Satan’s power over fallen and tempted ones. He saw Himself healing the sick, comforting the hopeless, cheering the desponding, and preaching the gospel to the poor—doing the work that God had outlined for Him; and He did not realize any sense of hunger until the forty days of His fast were ended….
Christ is in the wilderness, the wild beasts His only companions, and everything around Him tending to make Him realize His humanity. Suddenly an angel appears before Him, apparently one of the angels that He saw not long since, and addresses Him with the words “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” “If thou be the Son of God” here is the insinuation of distrust. The words rankle with the bitterness in his [Satan’s] mind. In the tones of his voice is an expression of utter incredulity.—Letter 159, 1903 (Manuscript Releases 21:8, 9)
Christ Triumphant p.189
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Mike’s doctor’s appointment this week. Rose
—–I have two prayer requests. URGENT – Family on camping trip and the following has happened. Ivan and Ethan had a head on collision on trail ride. They were 2 hours from civilization. Ethan has small brain bleed and broken cheek bone. Ivan has broken collar bone, nose, and thumb. Bleeding on the brain is dangerous. Kari, Ethan’s mom is 20 hours away and heading to where he is at in the hospital.
URGENT – An X Amish friend’s brother was in a motorcycle accident. In CRITICAL CONDITION AND COMA. Has 2 BRAIN BLEEDS, BORKEN SPINE, BROKEN COLLAR BONE. Still in a coma. His other siblings . . . are all traveling to get there and asking for traveling mercies.
Praying for a miracle and God’s will be done. MM
—-Please pray for my friend Pam. She has been sick all night and can’t keep anything down. This will probably mess with her blood sugar, making her feel even worse. Also please pray for my mom. She will be having surgery on her eyes the next 2 Mondays. She had her cataracts removed and developed adhesions, but has had to wait until her eyes healed enough from THAT surgery to do this. They say it is a very easy, outpatient procedure. Jennifer
—-Please pray for my sister Nancy as she has an aneurism on a heart vessel and not scheduled for surgery until August. Sheryl
—–Please pray for Carol who has vertigo really bad. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Many years ago, I read a very sad story about a woman who was driving along a narrow, mountain road. Suddenly, a huge logging truck sped around the curve and forced her off the road. Her car plunged down the embankment and into the icy water of the river that ran alongside the road. This woman’s foot was caught because of the impact and although she could see that the car was not that far below the surface of the water, there was no way that she could get out. She must have tried with all of her might to free herself, but soon realized that it was useless. Her thoughts turned toward her baby beside her. She had a choice of continuing to try to free herself or saving her little one. Looking around she realized that if she held her precious baby up by stretching out her arm fully out of the open window, he would be above the water. Picking him up and giving him a kiss, she quickly raised him above the water’s surface. Hours later someone found her in that position. Although she had drowned, she was still in that outstretched position and her precious baby was alive and well.
Just as that mother loved her little child more than life itself, so God loves us more than He loves Himself! Indeed, He “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14 Think of it! He is interested in each one of us as if there were no other person in all the universe. He greatly desires a closeness with us that is “closer than a brother.” (Prov 18:24) Indeed, He longs to fellowship with us every moment to dwell within us and lead and guide us in every aspect of our life.
When our first parents sinned, the Great Creator of the Universe could not be happy until he had provided a way for us to be reconciled to Himself . “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 What wonderful love He has for us! It is beyond comprehension!
Jesus gave a parable that illustrates our Heavenly Father’s great love and care for us. “A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
How many times are we like that prodigal son. How often we rebel against our loving Heavenly Father. How often we want our own way even though it leads us far from home. We soon find ourselves in the same condition as the prodigal son. Yet, even while we are so far from our Loving Redeemer, He is seeking us. He is watching with longing desire for the first indication that we are sorry and want to come back to Him.
Even while we are still a long way off, He runs to us, embraces us, removes our filthy garments from us, wraps us in the pure spotless robe of His righteousness, and leads us Homeward. Praise God! He develops within us His perfect character, that we may be like Him and show His glory to others.
Our Loving Heavenly Father does not scold us because of all the talents, all the years we have wasted “doing our own thing.” Instead, He rejoices when we come back to Him. He is pleading with us now to open our heart’s door to Him, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:20 May we open the door and let Him come in. May we love Him, Who gave His life for us, with all of our heart, with all of our soul, with all of our strength, and with all of our mind is my prayer.
Rose