The Lord's Prayer - part 2

"When ye pray, say Our Father."  Luke 11.2.

MB 103  "Jesus teaches us to call His Father our Father.  He is not ashamed to call us brethren.  Hebrews 2:11.  So ready, so eager, is the Savior's heart to welcome us as members of the family of God, that in the very first words we are to use in approaching God He places the assurance of our divine relationship, 'Our Father.'  Here is the announcement of that wonderful truth, so full of encouragement and comfort, that God loves us as He loves His Son. This is what Jesus said in His last prayer for His disciples, 'Thou has loved them as Thou as loved Me."  John 17:23.
      The world that Satan has claimed and has ruled over with cruel tyranny, the Son of God has, by one vast achievement, encircled in His love and connected again with the throne of Jehovah. Cherubim and Seraphim, and the unnumbered host of all the unfallen worlds, sang anthems of praise to God and the Lamb when this triumph was assured.  They rejoiced that the way of salvation had been opened to the fallen race and that the earth would be redeemed from the curse of sin.  How much more should those rejoice who are the objects of such amazing love!

Are we rejoicing today for the privilege of being redeemed from the curse of sin in this world and are objects of such amazing love?  We should be shouldn't we?  Grandma Joan

The Lord's Prayer - part 1

Matthew 6;9  "After this manner therefore pray ye."

MB 102  "The disciples had been for a short time absent from their Lord, when on their return, they found Him absorbed in communion with God.  Seeming unconscious of their presence, He continued praying aloud.  The Savior's face was irradiated with a celestial brightness.  He seemed to be in the very presence of the Unseen, and there was a living power in His words as of one who spoke with God.
     The hearts of the listening disciples was deeply moved.  They had marked how often he spent long hours in solitude in communion with His Father...It was from hours spend with God that He came forth, morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men.  The disciples had come to connect His hours of prayer with the power of His words and works.  Now as they listened to His supplication, their hearts were awed and humbled.  As He ceased praying, it was with a conviction of their own deep need that they exclaimed, 'Lord teach us to pray." Luke 11:1.

My prayer today is, 'Lord teach me how to pray' I need to spend more time in prayer so that I can be more like Him in my words and my deeds.  How about you, I hope you have the same desire.  Grandma Joan

Noble And Holy Aims

SC 17  "Man was originally endowed with noble powers and a well-balanced mind.  He was perfect in his being, and in harmony with God.  His thoughts were pure, his aims holy.  But through disobedience, his powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place of love.  His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil.  He was made captive by Satan, and would have remained so forever had not God specially interposed.  It was the tempter's purpose to thwart the divine plan in man's creation, and fill the earth with woe and desolation.  And he would point to all this evil as the result of God's work in creating man.
     In his sinless state, man held joyful communion with Him "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."  Colossians 2:3.  But after his sin, he could no longer find joy in holiness, and he sought to hide from the presence of God.  Such is still the condition of the unrenewed heart.  It is not in harmony with God, and finds no joy in communion with Him."

As you continue to read my blogs, you will find out how we can have that joyful communion with Him again.
I pray each day that God will bless my readers with His Holy Spirit and give you joy in your hearts as you continue on in your Christian life.  Grandma Joan

"By His Stripes We Are Healed." Isaiah 53:5

Steps to Christ p. 13  "It was to redeem us that Jesus lived and suffered and died.  He became a "Man of Sorrows" that we might be made partakers of everlasting joy.  God permitted His beloved Son, full of grace and truth, to come from a world of indescribabale glory, to a world marred and blighted with sin, darkened with the shadow of death and the curse.  He permitted Him to leave the bosom of His love, the adoration of the angels, to suffer shame, insult, humiliation, hatred and death.  "The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.  Isaiah 53:5.  Behold Him in the wilderness, in Gethsemane, upon the cross!  The spotless Son of God took it upon Himself the burden of sin.  He who had been One with God felt the awful separation that sin makes between God and man.  This wrung from His lips the anguished cry, 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?'  Matthew 27:46.  It was the burden of sin, the sense of it's terrible enormity, of it's separation of the soul from God--it was this that broke the heart of the Son of God.
     But this great sacrifice was not made in order to create in the Father's heart a love for men, not to make Him willing to save. No, no!  "God so love the world, that He gave His only begotten Son."  John 3:16  The Father loves us, not because of the great propitiation, but He provided the propitiation because He loves us."

Just behold Him in all that He has done to save you!  It makes an enormous difference in our lives if we serve Him out of love too.  He needs our love and appreciation, don't you think?  Grandma Joan

Peace I Leave With You

John 14:27  "Peace I leave with you, My peace, I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

MB 27  "Christ is the 'Prince of peace' Isaiah 9:6, and it is His mission to restore to earth and heaven the peace that sin has broken.  'Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Romans 5:1.  Whoever consents to renounce sin and open his heart to the love of Christ, becomes a partaker of this heavenly peace.
     There is no other ground of peace than this.  The grace of Christ received into the heart, subdues enmity; it allays strife and fills the soul with love. He who is at peace with God and his fellowmen, cannot be made miserable.  Envy will not be in his heart; evil surmisings will find no room there; hatred cannot exist.  The heart that is in harmony with God is a partaker of the peace of heaven and will diffuse its blessed influence on all around.  The spirit of peace will rest like dew upon hearts weary and troubled with worldly strife.
     Christ's followers are sent to the world with a message of peace. Whoever, by the quiet, unconscious influence of a holy life, shall reveal the love of Christ; whoever, by word or deed, shall lead another to renounce sin yield his heart to God , is a peacemaker."

I don't know of anyone who likes a restless spirit and finds no peace in his heart.  Everyone is searching for something to fill that void in the heart when all we need is the grace of Christ in the heart.  It subdues all the other stuff that is taking away our peace.  Pray for peace in your heart today and see what God will do for you.  Grandma Joan

Salt

Matthew 5:13  "Ye are the salt of the earth."

MB 36  "The savor of the salt represents the vital power of the Christian--the love of Jesus in the heart and the righteousness of Christ pervading the life.  The love of Christ is diffusive and aggressive.  If it is dwelling in us it will flow out to others.  We shall come close to them till their hearts are warmed by our unselfish interest and love.  When love fills the heart, it will flow out to others, not because of favors received from them, but because love is the principle of action.  Love modifies the character, governs the impulses, subdues enmity, and ennobles the affections.  This love is as broad as the universe, and is in harmony with that of the angel workers. Cherished in the heart, it sweetens the entire life and sheds its blessing upon all around.  It is this and this alone that can make us the salt of the earth."

I want to be the salt of the earth that can sweeten the world, don't you?  A Christian that isn't salt would be a bland Christian without any flavor or sweet character.  We don't want to be like that do we?  Grandma Joan

Light

Matthew 5:14  "Ye are the light of the world."

MB 41  "Jesus did not bid the disciples, 'Strive to make your light shine;' He said, 'Let it shine.'  If Christ is dwelling in the heart, it is impossible to conceal the light of His presence.  If those who profess to be followers of Christ are not the light of the world, it is because the vital power has left them; if they have no light to give, it is because they have no connection with the Source of light..  The divine love glowing in the heart, the Christlike harmony manifested in the life, are as a glimpse of heaven to men of the world, that they may appreciate its excellence."
   
MB 44  "The cross of Calvary is to be lifted high above the people, absorbing their minds and concentrating their thoughts.  Then all the spiritual faculties will be charged with divine power, direct from God.  Then there will be a concentration of the energies in genuine work for the Master.  The workers will send forth beams of light, as living agencies to enlighten the earth.
     Christ accepts, oh so gladly, every human agency that is surrendered to Him."

Let's surrender our hearts to Him today and be a light to the world.  Grandma Joan