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Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Phil. 3:8.
What is God's will? What shall I do to glorify God? I am pledged to serve my Saviour with undivided affection. I count everything but dross that I may win Christ. Heaven, eternal life, is worth everything to me, and Christ has died that I might come into possession of the eternal weight of glory. . . .
I/we cannot afford to make any mistake where eternal interests are involved. To be indifferent to the claims of God upon us is most ungrateful. I/we cannot neglect this great salvation and be guiltless. An eternity of bliss has been purchased for every son and daughter of Adam, and all may have a clear title to the immortal inheritance, the eternal substance, if we will in probationary time (Rev 2:11) prove our obedience to the commandments of God. All will be tested in this life. If we by faith lay hold on the merits of Christ and serve God with all our hearts we will have a title to those mansions that Jesus has prepared for all that love Him. . . .
Let us love God supremely, allowing no influence to come between us and our God. We must give heed to the light which God has permitted to shine upon our pathway; we must show before all heaven that we appreciate every ray of light; we must reflect that light upon others. We are responsible to God for our influence. Even if we are compelled to stand apparently alone, we are not alone, for Christ is with us to encourage and strengthen and bless us. He is acquainted with every desire of our heart, with every purpose of our soul. He says, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:18). Let us believe that God will do just as He has promised.
We must not allow our minds to drift and come to no point. We know that the Lord is soon to come, and we must serve God from principle and be firm as a rock to follow in the path of obedience, because it is the only safe path.
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Good Day Saints
May we find strength in these words.
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine
them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they
shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my
people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Zech. 13:9.
By trial the Lord proves the strength of His children. Is the heart
strong to bear? Is the conscience void of offense? Does the Spirit
bear witness with our spirit that we are the children of God? This
the Lord ascertains by trying us. In the furnace of affliction He
purifies us from all dross. He sends us trials, not to cause needless
pain, but to lead us to look to Him, to strengthen our endurance, to
teach us that if we do not rebel, but put our trust in Him, we shall
see of His salvation.
Christ's love for His children is as strong as it is tender. It is a
love stronger than death, for He died for us. It is a love more true
than that of a mother for her children. The mother's love may change,
but Christ's love is changeless. "I am persuaded," Paul says, "that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor
any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Rom. 8:38, 39
In every trial we have strong consolation. Is not our Saviour touched
with the feeling of our infirmities? Has He not been tempted in all
points like as we are? And has He not invited us to take every trial
and perplexity to Him? Then let us not make ourselves miserable over
tomorrow's burdens. Bravely and cheerfully carry the burdens of
today. Today's trust and faith we must have. But we are not asked to
live more than a day at a time. He who gives strength for today will
give strength for tomorrow.
Nothing wounds the soul like the doubts and unbelief. When trial
comes, as it will, do not worry or complain. "Then are they glad
because they be quiet" (Ps. 107:30). Remember that underneath you are
the everlasting arms. "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him"
(Ps. 37:7). He is guiding you into a harbor of gracious experience.
God bless
Sister Stephanie
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Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4: 16.
After pointing to Christ, the compassionate intercessor who is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities," the apostle says: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace. . . ." The throne of grace represents the kingdom of grace; for the existence of a throne implies the existence of a kingdom.
God's appointments and grants in our behalf are without limit. The throne of grace is itself the highest attraction because occupied by One who permits us to call Him Father. But God did not deem the principle of salvation complete while invested only with His own love. By His appointment He has placed at His altar an Advocate clothed with our nature. As our Intercessor, His office work is to introduce us to God as His sons and daughters. Christ intercedes in behalf of those who have received Him. To them He gives power, by virtue of His own merits, to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. And the Father demonstrates His infinite love for Christ, who paid our ransom with His blood, by receiving and welcoming Christ's friends as His friends. He is satisfied with the atonement made. He is glorified by the incarnation, the life, death, and mediation of His Son.
No sooner does the child of God approach the mercy seat than he becomes the client of the great Advocate. At his first utterance of penitence and appeal for pardon Christ espouses his case and makes it His own, presenting the supplication before the Father as His own request.
As Christ intercedes in our behalf, the Father lays open all the treasures of His grace for our appropriation, to be enjoyed and to be communicated to others. "Ask in my name," Christ says; "I do not say that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loveth you, because you have loved Me. Make use of My name. This will give your prayers efficiency, and the Father will give you the riches of His grace; wherefore, 'ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full' (John 16: 24)."
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Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God. Heb. 12: 12- 15.
These words should teach us to be very careful how we snap the thread of our faith by dwelling on our difficulties until they are large in our own eyes, and in the eyes of others, who cannot read our inner, heart life. All should remember that the conversation has a great influence for good or for ill. . . . Do not allow the enemy so to use your tongue. . . . Do not exert an influence that will break the hold of any trembling soul from God. . . .
"Ye are God's husbandry" (1 Cor. 3: 9). As one takes pleasure in the cultivation of a garden, so God takes pleasure in His believing sons and daughters. A garden demands constant labor. The weeds must be removed; new plants must be set out; branches that are making too rapid development must be pruned back. So the Lord works for His garden, so He tends His plants. He cannot take pleasure in any development that does not reveal the graces of the character of Christ. The blood of Christ has made men and women God's precious charge. Then how careful should we be not to manifest too much freedom in pulling up the plants that God has placed in His garden! Some plants are so feeble that they have hardly any life, and for these the Lord has a special care.
In all your transactions with your fellow men, never forget that you are dealing with God's property. Be kind; be pitiful; be courteous. Respect God's purchased possession. Treat one another with tenderness and courtesy. Exert every God- given faculty to become examples to others. . . .
Let Him who knows the heart and all its waywardness be able to deal with you in mercy because you have shown mercy and compassion and love. . . . (Heb. 12: 13).
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Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Corinthisans 16:13
The truth of God obeyed, the living by every word of God, is alone sufficient to make any of us stand in these evil times. Satan is playing the game of life for the soul. . . .
There are opportunities and advantages which are within the reach of all to strengthen the moral and spiritual powers. The mind can be expanded and ennobled and should be made to dwell upon heavenly things. . . . Unless it flows in a heavenward direction it becomes an easy prey to the temptation of Satan to engage in worldly projects and enterprises that have no special connection with God. And all zeal and devotion and restless energy and feverish desire are brought into this work, and the devil stands by and laughs to see human effort wrestling so perseveringly for an object that it will never gain, which eludes its grasp. . . . Schemes and projects which Satan invents ensnare the soul, and poor, deceived human beings go on blindfolded to their own ruin. . . .
There is one safeguard against Satan's deceptions and snares, that is the truth as it is in Jesus. The truth planted in the heart, nourished by watchfulness and prayer, nourished by the grace of Christ, will give us discernment. The truth must abide in the heart, be felt in its power in spite of all the alluring enchantments of Satan, and your experience and mine must be that the truth can purify, guide, and bless the soul. . . .
The enemy is on the track of every one of us, and if we would resist temptations which assail us from without and from within, we need to make sure we are on the Lord's side, that His truth is in our hearts, that it keeps watch in our souls, ready to sound an alarm and summon us to action against every enemy. Without this defense amid unseen foes we shall be like the willow bending to the blast, driven of the wind and tossed. But if Christ abides in the soul we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
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