Monday, April 1, 2019

First of April


April 1 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:KJV — Luke 14:16 17. And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.KJV — Luke 14:17 18. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.KJV — Luke 14:18 19. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.KJV — Luke 14:19 20. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.KJV — Luke 14:20 21. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.KJV — Luke 14:21 22. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.KJV — Luke 14:22 23. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.KJV — Luke 14:23 24. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. This parable correctly represents the condition of many professing to believe the present truth. The Lord has sent them an invitation to come to the supper which He has prepared for them at great cost to Himself, but worldly interests look to them of greater importance than the heavenly treasure. They are invited to take part in the things of eternal value, but their farms, their cattle, and their home interest, seem of so much greater importance than obedience to the heavenly invitation that they overpower every divine attraction, and these earthly things are made the excuse for their disobedience to the heavenly command, "Come; for all things are now ready."...FH 103.2 The very blessings which God has given to these individuals, to prove them, to see if they will render "unto God the things that are God's," they use as an excuse that they cannot obey the claims of truth. They have grasped their earthly treasure in their arms and say, I must take care of these things; I must not neglect the things of this life; these things are mine. Thus the hearts of these people have become as unimpressible as the beaten highway....FH 103.3 Their hearts are so overgrown with thorns and cares of this life that heavenly things can find no place. Jesus invites the weary and heavy laden with promises of rest if they will come to Him.... He would have them lay aside the heavy burdens of worldly cares and perplexities, and take His yoke, which is self - denial and sacrifice for others. This burden will prove to be light. Those who refuse to accept the relief Christ offers them, and will continue to wear the galling yoke of selfishness, tasking their souls to the utmost in plans to accumulate money for selfish gratification, have not experienced the peace and rest found in bearing the yoke of Christ and lifting the burdens of self - denial and disinterested benevolence which Christ has borne in their behalf....FH 103.4 Souls for whom Christ died might be saved by their personal effort and godly example.... But the precious light is hid under a bushel, and it gives no light to those who are in the house. - The Review and Herald, August 25, 1874

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