Jesus Our Lord

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luk_4:18-19.

Christ spoke no words revealing His importance, or showing His superiority; He did not ignore His fellow beings. He made no assumption of authority because of His relation to God, but His words and actions showed Him to be possessed of a knowledge of His mission and character. He spoke of heavenly things as one to whom everything heavenly was familiar. He spoke of His intimacy and oneness with the Father as a child would speak of its connection with its parents. He spoke as one who had come to enlighten the world with His glory. He never patronized the schools of the rabbis; for He was the teacher sent by God to instruct mankind. As one in whom all restorative power is found, Christ spoke of drawing all men unto Him, and of giving the life everlasting. In Him there is power to heal every physical and every spiritual disease.

Christ came to our world with a consciousness of more than human greatness, to accomplish a work that was to be infinite in its results. Where do you find Him when doing this work? In the house of Peter the fisherman. Resting by Jacob's well, telling the Samaritan woman of the living water. He generally taught in the open air, but sometimes in the Temple, for He attended the gatherings of the Jewish people. But oftenest He taught when sitting on a mountainside, or in a fisherman's boat. He entered into the lives of these humble fishermen. His sympathy was enlisted in behalf of the needy, the suffering, the despised; and many were attracted to Him.

When the plan of redemption was laid, it was decided that Christ should not appear in accordance with His divine character; for He could not then associate with the distressed and the suffering. He must come as a poor man. He could have appeared in accordance with His exalted station in the heavenly courts; but no, He must reach to the very lowest depths of human suffering and poverty, that His voice might be heard by the burdened and disappointed.--Signs of the Times, June 24, 1897.
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Prayer: My Heavenly Father. Thank You for sending Your Son to this lost world to save me. Thank You for loving me even though I am so unfaithful and unjust towards You. My Father thank You for Your  plan to redeem me, my children and my whole family and friends. Father show me today how I could spread Your everlasting Love to those who need it. Give me today just one person to whom I can proclaim Your grace and mercy. Guide me in my ways today. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Keep the influences of all who are unlike You away from my heart, but allow me to influence them with Your Love. I pray this in Jesus Christ name. Amen.

Source of Right Influence

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. 

Isa_58:8.

The Lord has a special work to do for us individually. As we see the wickedness of the world brought to light in the courts of justice and published in the daily papers, let us draw near to God, and by living faith lay hold of His promises, that the grace of Christ may be manifest in us. We may have an influence, a powerful influence, in the world. . . . We are to have an eye single to the glory of God. We are to work with all the intelligence that God has given us, placing ourselves in the channel of light, that the grace of God can come upon us to mold and fashion us to the divine similitude. Heaven is waiting to bestow its richest blessings upon those who will consecrate themselves to do the work of God in these last days of the world's history.

There is nothing in us of ourselves by which we can influence others for good. If we realize our helplessness and our need of divine power, we shall not trust to ourselves. We know not what results a day, an hour, or a moment may determine, and never should we begin the day without committing our ways to our heavenly Father. His angels are appointed to watch over us, and if we put ourselves under their guardianship, then in every time of danger they will be at our right hand. When unconsciously we are in danger of exerting a wrong influence, the angels will be by our side, prompting us to a better course, choosing our words for us, and influencing our actions. Thus our influence may be a silent, unconscious, but mighty power in drawing others to Christ and the heavenly world.

Personal influence is a power. It is to work with the influence of Christ, to lift where Christ lifts, to impart correct principles, and to stay the progress of the world's corruption. It is to diffuse that grace which Christ alone can impart. It is to uplift, to sweeten the lives and characters of others by the power of a pure example united with earnest faith and love.

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Prayer: My Heavenly Father, Your Truth and Your Light guide me through each day. I pray my Lord that Your influence in my life may become a light to others. God let my life today be of good influence to those whom I will meet today for the glory of Your kingdom. Help me to lift Christ in all that I do today and lead others to Him. My Father keep Your holy angels close to me today. Command them to keep watch over me. Help them to prompt me when I loose my way and instruct them to help me choose my words and influence my actions through Your Holy Spirit. I pray this in Jesus Christ's name.  Amen.

That We May Excel

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. Pro_12:26.

The Lord expects His servants to excel others in life and character. He has placed every facility at the command of those who serve Him. The Christian is looked upon by the whole universe as one who strives for the mastery, running for the race set before him, that he may obtain the prize, even an immortal crown; but if he who professes to follow Christ does not make it manifest that his motives are above those of the world in this great contest where there is everything to win and everything to lose, he will never be a victor. He is to make use of every entrusted power, that he may overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil through the power of the Holy Spirit, by grace abundantly provided. . . .

Those who would be victors should contemplate and count the cost of salvation. Strong human passions must be subdued; the independent will must be brought into captivity to Christ. The Christian is to realize that he is not his own. He will have temptations to resist, and battles to fight against his own inclinations; for the Lord will accept no half-way service. Hypocrisy is an abomination to Him. The follower of Christ must walk by faith, as seeing Him who is invisible. Christ will be his dearest treasure, his all and in all.

This experience is essential to those who profess the name of Christ, for its influence pervades the conduct, and sanctifies the influence of the Christian's life in its effect upon others. The business connections and intercourse of Christians; with men of the world will be sanctified by the grace of Christ; and wherever they are, a moral atmosphere will be created, that will have power for good; for it will breathe the spirit of the Master.

He who has the mind of Christ knows that his only safe course is to keep close to Jesus, following the light of life. He will not accept work, or engage himself in business, that will hinder him from reaching the perfection of Christian character. . . . "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2Ti_2:4).

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Prayer: My Heavenly Father, this world has so many traps set for me. Grant me the gift of discernment so that my foot my not be buckled by this world. Oh Father as your child I humbly want to excel in everything that I do, but not for the reward of this world, for the reward of Your heavenly kingdom. I want to have the mind that Christ has. Help me to profess the name of Christ in everything that I do today. Guard me from temptation and those inclinations of my flesh that would cause me to stumble and fall. My Father, I want to be a victor in Christ so that my salvation may be secured. Help me to live a life that is pleasing in Your sight. I pray this in Jesus Christ's name. Amen

For the Humble

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 1Pe_5:6.

To be clothed with humility does not mean that we are to be dwarfs in intellect, deficient in aspiration, and cowardly in our lives, shunning burdens lest we fail to carry them successfully. Real humility fulfills God's purposes by depending upon His strength.

God works by whom He will. He sometimes selects the humblest instrument to do the greatest work, for His power is revealed through the weakness of men. We have our standard, and by it we pronounce one thing great and another small; but God does not estimate according to our rule. We are not to suppose that what is great to us must be great to God, or that what is small to us must be small to Him.

All boasting of merit in ourselves is out of place. . . . The reward is not of works, lest any man should boast; but it is all of grace. . . .

There is no religion in the enthronement of self. He who makes self-glorification his aim will find himself destitute of that grace which alone can make him efficient in Christ's service. Whenever pride and self-complacency are indulged the work is marred. . . .

The Christian who is such in his private life, in the daily surrender of self, in sincerity of purpose and purity of thought, in meekness under provocation, in faith and piety, in fidelity in that which is least, the one who in the home life represents the character of Christ--such a one may in the sight of God be more precious than even the world-renowned missionary or martyr. . . .

Not in our learning, not in our position, not in our numbers or entrusted talents, not in the will of man, is to be found the secret of success. Feeling our inefficiency we are to contemplate Christ, and through Him who is the strength of all strength, the thought of all thought, the willing and obedient will gain victory after victory. . . .  Blessed will be the recompense of grace to those who have wrought for God in the simplicity of faith and love.

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Prayer: My dear Heavenly Father, I pray that You teach me today what humbleness in Your Mighty sight is. Oh Lord I surrender myself to Your Will today. Father guide me in sincerity of purpose, in purity of thought, in meekness under provocation, in faith and piety, in fidelity in that which is least so that I may be acceptable to You my Lord. I pray this in Jesus Christ's name. Amen 

Truth Transforms

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. Psa_15:1-2

We must present the principles of truth, and let them work upon the hearts of the people. We may pick the leaves from a tree as often as we please, but this will not cause the tree to die; the next season the leaves will come out again as thick as before. But strike the ax at the root of the tree, and not only will the leaves fall off of themselves, but the tree will die. Those who accept the truth, in the love of it, will die to the world, and will become meek and lowly in heart like their divine Lord. Just as soon as the heart is right, the dress, the conversation, the life, will be in harmony with the Word of God. We all need to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. May He help us to plant our feet firmly upon the platform of eternal truth.

The transforming influence of truth sanctifies the soul. He loves the commandments of God. His fear and condemnation are one. The love of Christ, expressed in His great sacrifice to save man, has broken every barrier down. The love of God flows into the soul, and gratitude springs up in the heart that was as cold as a stone. Christ crucified, Christ our righteousness, wins the heart and brings it to repentance. This theme is so simple that children can grasp it, the wise and learned are charmed with it, while they behold it in its depths of wisdom, love, and power which they can never fathom. We want to present this precious truth to the people who are bound in sin. Let all see that Christ was slain for their transgressions, that He desires to save them.

Let us remember that there is need of sanctified pens and sanctified tongues. When we as a people live as God would be pleased to have us live, we shall see the deep movings of His Spirit. Much will then be done for those who have never heard the truth.

We should be pervaded with a deep, abiding sense of the value, sanctity, and the authority of the truth.

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Prayer: My Heavenly Father, teach me today to humble myself under Your mighty hand. Help me to plant my feet firmly upon the platform of Your eternal truth. Guide me to live my life that pleases You, Oh Lord, so that Your Holy Spirit may dwell in me. Create in me a deep abiding sense of value, sanctity and truth. I pray this in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

Truth Enlightens

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Eph_1:18

In a knowledge of God, all true knowledge and real development have their source. Wherever we turn, in the physical, the mental, or the spiritual realm; in whatever we behold, apart from the blight of sin, this knowledge is revealed. Whatever line of investigation we pursue with a sincere purpose to arrive at truth, we are brought in touch with the unseen, mighty Intelligence that is working in and through all. The mind of man is brought into communion with the mind of God, the finite with the Infinite. The effect of such communion on body and mind and soul is beyond estimate.

In this communion is found the highest education. It is God's own method of development. "Acquaint now thyself with Him," is His message to mankind.

As he studies and meditates upon the themes into which "the angels desire to look," he may have their companionship. . . . He may dwell in this world in the atmosphere of heaven, imparting to earth's sorrowing and tempted ones thoughts of hope and longings for holiness; himself coming closer and still closer into fellowship with the Unseen; like him of old who walked with God, drawing nearer and nearer and threshold of the eternal world, until the portals shall open, and he shall enter there. He will find himself no stranger. The voices that will greet him are the voices of the holy ones, who, unseen, were on earth his companions--voices that here he learned to distinguish and to love. He who through the word of God has lived in fellowship with Heaven will find himself at home in heaven's companionship.

Guided by "the Spirit of truth," he will be led into all truth. . . . He will be precious in the sight of heaven.


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Prayer: My Heavenly Father, You are Omniscience. True knowledge and Truth only lies in You. Father I pray today that You lead me in Your ways and whatever I endeavour to do today that it be through Your infinite wisdom. I pray that You guide my every step and that I seek councel from You, Oh Lord, in every decision which I intend to make today. I pray this in Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.

House-Band of the Family

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 Eph_6:4.  

Great as is the work of the mother, it should never be forgotten that the father also has a part to act in the education and training of his children. . . . Especially as the children advance in years is the father's influence needed, in union with that of the mother, to restrain, control, and guide.  
A Christian father is the house-band of his family, binding them close to the throne of God. Never is his interest in his children to flag. The father who has a family of boys should not leave these restless boys wholly to the care of the mother. . . . He should make himself their companion and friend. He should exert himself to keep them from evil associates. . . . He should take more of the burden upon himself, doing all in his power to lead his boys to God.  
When children lose their self-control and speak passionate words, the parents should for a time keep silent. . . . Silence is golden, and will do more to bring repentance than any words that can be uttered. Satan is well pleased when parents irritate their children by speaking harsh, angry words. . . . "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." Col_3:21. . . . Let your calmness help to restore them to a proper frame of mind.  
By kind and judicious management, fathers as well as mothers should bind their children to them by the strong ties of reverence, gratitude, and love, and should kindle in their young hearts an earnest longing for righteousness and truth. While the mother seeks to implant good principles, the father should see that the precious seed is not choked by the growth of evil. His sterner discipline is needed that his children may learn firmness and self-control. . . .  
Christian father, labor kindly, patiently, for the welfare of your children. Seek to turn their hearts to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Teach them by precept and example that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of doing good.  

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Prayer: My Heavenly Father, please guide me as a parent to teach my children your ways and  help plant the seed of righteousness within them so that your Holy Spirit can develop their character to be like Yours. Lord please teach me to be as patient as You are and birth in me your long suffering nature. Be with us today and protect my family against anything that is unlike You. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.