Thursday, June 30, 2022
The Union of Christ and His Church, June 30
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready....
And He saith unto me, Write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Revelation 19:7, 9.
In both the Old and the New Testament, the marriage relation is employed to represent the tender and sacred union that exists between Christ and His people.—The Desire of Ages, 151.
A Jewish marriage was an impressive occasion, and its joy was not displeasing to the Son of man.... To the mind of Jesus the gladness of the wedding festivities pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day when He shall bring home His bride to the Father’s house, and the redeemed with the Redeemer shall sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb. He says, “As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; ... but thou shalt be called My Delight; ... for the Lord delighteth in thee.” “He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” When the vision of heavenly things was granted to John the apostle, he wrote, “I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia; for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.” “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”—The Desire of Ages, 151.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Christ Will Rejoice Over His Bride, June 29
For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. Isaiah 62:5.
God celebrated the first marriage. Thus the institution has for its originator the Creator of the universe. “Marriage is honorable;” it was one of the first gifts of God to man, and it is one of the two institutions that, after the fall, Adam brought with him beyond the gates of Paradise. When the divine principles are recognized and obeyed in this relation, marriage is a blessing; it guards the purity and happiness of the race, it provides for man’s social needs, it elevates the physical, the intellectual, and the moral nature.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 46.
He who gave Eve to Adam as a helpmeet, performed His first miracle at a marriage festival. In the festal hall where friends and kindred rejoiced together, Christ began His public ministry. Thus He sanctioned marriage, recognizing it as an institution that He Himself had established. He ordained that men and women should be united in holy wedlock, to rear families whose members, crowned with honor, should be recognized as members of the family above.
Christ honored the marriage relation by making it also a symbol of the union between Him and His redeemed ones. He Himself is the Bridegroom; the bride is the church, of which, as His chosen one, He says, “Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee.”—The Ministry of Healing, 356.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Father Should in Love Enforce the Sterner Virtues, June 28
Whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Proverbs 3:12.
The father should enforce in his family the sterner virtues,—energy, integrity, honesty, patience, courage, diligence, and practical usefulness. And what he requires of his children he himself should practice, illustrating these virtues in his own manly bearing.
But, fathers, do not discourage your children. Combine affection with authority, kindness and sympathy with firm restraint. Give some of your leisure hours to your children; become acquainted with them; associate with them in their work and in their sports, and win their confidence. Cultivate friendship with them, especially with your sons. In this way you will be a strong influence for good.
The father should do his part toward making home happy. Whatever his cares and business perplexities, they should not be permitted to overshadow his family; he should enter his home with smiles and pleasant words.—The Ministry of Healing, 391.
Monday, June 27, 2022
Sunday, June 26, 2022
Children Are Reflectors of Their Parents, June 26
The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. Proverbs 23:24, 25.
What the parents are, that, to a great extent, the children will be.—The Ministry of Healing, 371.
Great is the honor and the responsibility placed upon fathers and mothers, in that they are to stand in the place of God to their children. Their character, their daily life, their methods of training, will interpret His words to the little ones. Their influence will win or repel the child’s confidence in the Lord’s assurances.
Happy are the parents whose lives are a true reflection of the divine, so that the promises and commands of God awaken in the child gratitude and reverence; the parents whose tenderness and justice and long-suffering interpret to the child the love and justice and long-suffering of God; and who, by teaching the child to love and trust and obey them, are teaching him to love and trust and obey his Father in heaven. Parents who impart to a child such a gift have endowed him with a treasure more precious than the wealth of all the ages,—a treasure as enduring as eternity.—The Ministry of Healing, 375.
Saturday, June 25, 2022
The Faithful Mother Is a Blessing, June 25
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come....
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Proverbs 31:25, 28.
The mother should cultivate a cheerful, contented, happy disposition. Every effort in this direction will be abundantly repaid in both the physical well-being and the moral character of her children.—The Ministry of Healing, 374.
There is a God above, and the light and glory from His throne rests upon the faithful mother as she tries to educate her children to resist the influence of evil. No other work can equal hers in importance. She has not, like the artist, to paint a form of beauty upon canvas, nor, like the sculptor, to chisel it from marble. She has not, like the author, to embody a noble thought in words of power, nor, like the musician, to express a beautiful sentiment in melody. It is hers, with the help of God, to develop in a human soul the likeness of the divine.—The Ministry of Healing, 377.
Teach your children from the cradle to practise self-denial and self-control. Teach them to enjoy the beauties of nature, and in useful employments to exercise systematically all the powers of body and mind. Bring them up to have sound constitutions and good morals, to have sunny dispositions and sweet tempers. Impress upon their tender minds the truth that God does not design that we should live for present gratification merely, but for our ultimate good. Teach them that to yield to temptation is weak and wicked; to resist, noble and manly. These lessons will be as seed sown in good soil, and they will bear fruit that will make your hearts glad.—The Ministry of Healing, 386.
Friday, June 24, 2022
Obedient Children Bring Joy, June 24
A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. Proverbs 15:20.
Children who are Christians will prefer the love and approbation of their God-fearing parents above every earthly blessing. They will love and honor their parents. It should be one of the principal studies of their lives how to make their parents happy.—Messages to Young People, 335.
Children, God has seen fit to intrust you to the care of your parents, for them to instruct and discipline, and thus act their part in forming your character for heaven. And yet it rests with you to say whether you will develop a good Christian character by making the best of the advantages you have had from godly, faithful, praying parents. Notwithstanding all the anxiety and faithfulness of parents in behalf of their children, they alone cannot save them. There is a work for the children to do. Every child has an individual case to attend to.
Believing parents, you have a responsible work before you, to guide the footsteps of your children, even in their religious experience. When they truly love God, they will bless and reverence you for the care which you have manifested for them, and for your faithfulness in restraining their desires and subduing their wills.—The Ministry of Healing, 338.
They will love the Lord Jesus, and it will be their delight to please Him. They will not be impatient if reproved; but will make glad the heart of father and mother by their kindness, their patience, their willingness to do all they can in helping to bear the burdens of daily life.—The Ministry of Healing, 333.
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Marriage Only the Beginning of Love, June 23
Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Proverbs 5:18.
Let the husband aid his wife by his sympathy and unfailing affection. If he wishes to keep her fresh and gladsome, so that she will be as sunshine in the home, let him help her bear her burdens. His kindness and loving courtesy will be to her a precious encouragement, and the happiness he imparts will bring joy and peace to his own heart.—The Ministry of Healing, 374.
Let the husband and wife study each other’s happiness, never failing in the small courtesies and little kindly acts that cheer and brighten the life.—The Ministry of Healing, 393.
Though difficulties, perplexities, and discouragements may arise, let neither husband nor wife harbor the thought that their union is a mistake or a disappointment. Determine to be all that it is possible to be to each other. Continue the early attentions. In every way encourage each other in fighting the battles of life.... Let there be mutual love, mutual forbearance. Then marriage, instead of being the end of love, will be as it were the very beginning of love.—The Ministry of Healing, 360.
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Family Happiness Through Christ’s Love, June 22
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which He hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9.
The spirit that Christ manifests toward us is the spirit that husband and wife are to manifest toward each other. “As Christ also hath loved us,” “walk in love.” “As the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.”
Neither the husband nor the wife should attempt to exercise over the other an arbitrary control. Do not try to compel each other to yield to your wishes. You cannot do this and retain each other’s love. Be kind, patient, and forbearing, considerate, and courteous. By the grace of God you can succeed in making each other happy, as in your marriage vow you promised to do.—The Ministry of Healing, 361.
Home should be a place where cheerfulness, courtesy, and love abide; and where these graces dwell, there will abide happiness and peace. Troubles may invade, but these are the lot of humanity. Let patience, gratitude, and love keep sunshine in the heart, though the day may be ever so cloudy. In such homes angels of God abide.—The Ministry of Healing, 393.
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
In the Return of the Erring, June 21
When she hath found it, she called her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Luke 15:9.
In the East the houses of the poor usually consisted of but one room, often windowless and dark. The room was rarely swept, and a piece of money falling on the floor would be speedily covered by the dust and rubbish. In order that it might be found, even in the daytime, a candle must be lighted, and the house must be swept diligently.
The wife’s marriage portion usually consisted of pieces of money, which she carefully preserved as her most cherished possession, to be transmitted to her own daughters. The loss of one of these pieces would be regarded as a serious calamity, and its recovery would cause great rejoicing, in which the neighboring women would readily share.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 193.
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” If angels of God rejoice over the erring who see and confess their wrongs, and return to the fellowship of their brethren, how much more should the followers of Christ, who are themselves erring, and who every day need the forgiveness of God and of their brethren, feel joy over the return of a brother or a sister who has been deceived by the sophistry of Satan.—Testimonies for the Church 3:100.
Monday, June 20, 2022
In Labor for the Erring, June 20
When he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Luke 15:6.
Thank God, He has presented to our imagination no picture of a sorrowful shepherd returning without the sheep. The parable does not speak of failure, but of success, and joy in the recovery.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 188.
And when the straying one is found, does he command it to follow him? Does he threaten or beat it, or drive it before him, thinking of the discomfort and anxiety that he has suffered on its account? No; he lays the exhausted sheep on his shoulder, and with cheerful gratitude that his search has not been in vain, he returns to the fold. His gratitude finds expression in songs of rejoicing. And “when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
So when the lost sinner is found by the Good Shepherd, heaven and earth unite in rejoicing and thanksgiving. For “joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”—Gospel Workers, 182.
This illustrates the blessed, joyful work of laboring for the erring. The church that engages successfully in this work, is a happy church.—Testimonies for the Church 2:22.
Saturday, June 18, 2022
By Entering into Joys and Sorrows, June 18
I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 2 Corinthians 2:3.
“I felt sure that my joy would be a joy for every one of you.” Moffatt.
In your association with others, put yourself in their place. Enter into their feelings, their difficulties, their disappointments, their joys, and their sorrows. Identify yourself with them, and then do to them as, were you to exchange places with them, you would wish them to deal with you. This is the true rule of honesty. It is another expression of the law, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” And it is the substance of the teaching of the prophets. It is a principle of heaven, and will be developed in all who are fitted for its holy companionship.
The golden rule is the principle of true courtesy, and its truest illustration is seen in the life and character of Jesus. Oh what rays of softness and beauty shone forth in the daily life of our Saviour! What sweetness flowed from His very presence. The same spirit will be revealed in His children. Those with whom Christ dwells will be surrounded with a divine atmosphere. Their white robes of purity will be fragrant with perfume from the garden of the Lord. Their faces will reflect light from His, brightening the path for stumbling and weary feet.—Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 135.
Friday, June 17, 2022
In Self-Sacrifice to Bless Others, June 17
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:17, 18.
God does not accept the most splendid service, unless self is laid upon the altar, a living, consuming sacrifice.—Testimonies for the Church 7:248.
Not one nook or corner of the soul is to be a hiding-place for selfishness. God desires that heaven’s plan shall be carried out, and heaven’s divine order and harmony prevail, in every family, in every church, in every institution. Did this love leaven society, we should see the outworking of noble principles in Christian refinement and courtesy, and in Christian charity toward the purchase of the blood of Christ.—Testimonies for the Church 8:139.
It was to give in His own life an illustration of unselfishness that Jesus came in the form of humanity. And all who accept this principle are to be workers together with Him in demonstrating it in practical life.—Education, 154.
We cannot be happy while we are wrapped up in our interest for ourselves.... If we injure others, we injure ourselves also. If we bless others, we also bless ourselves; for the influence of every good deed is reflected upon our own hearts.—Testimonies for the Church 4:72.
In order to be happy ourselves, we must live to make others happy. It is well for us to yield our possessions, our talents, and our affections in grateful devotion to Christ, and in that way find happiness here and immortal glory hereafter.—Testimonies for the Church 3:251.
Thursday, June 16, 2022
In Friendly Happiness, June 16
Her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. Luke 1:58.
Friendly sympathy and real feelings of tender interest for others would bring to your souls blessings ... and would bring you into close relation to our Redeemer, whose advent to the world was for the purpose of doing good, and whose life we are to copy.—Testimonies for the Church 3:527.
The love and interest of Christ’s followers must be as broad as the world. Those who live merely for “me and mine” will fail of Heaven.—Testimonies for the Church 3:530.
We should have words and deeds of tender consideration for others. We can manifest a thousand little attentions in friendly words and pleasant looks, which will be reflected upon us again. Thoughtless Christians manifest by their neglect of others that they are not in union with Christ. It is impossible to be in union with Christ and yet be unkind to others and forgetful of their rights. Many long intensely for friendly sympathy. God has given each of us an identity of our own, which cannot be merged in that of another; but our individual characteristics will be much less prominent if we are indeed Christ’s and His will is ours. Our lives should be consecrated to the good and happiness of others, as was our Saviour’s. We should be self-forgetful, ever looking out for opportunities, even in little things, to show gratitude for the favors we have received of others, and watching for opportunities to cheer others, and lighten and relieve their sorrows and burdens by acts of tender kindness and little deeds of love. These thoughtful courtesies, that, commencing in our families, extend outside the family circle, help make up the sum of life’s happiness, and the neglect of these little things makes up the sum of life’s bitterness and sorrow.—Testimonies for the Church 3:539.
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Rejoicing Together, June 15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Romans 12:15.
God has so constituted us that even the strongest desire sympathy.—Gospel Workers, 209.
Men cannot love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, and be as cold as icebergs. Not only do they rob God of the love due Him, but they rob their neighbor as well. Love is a plant of heavenly growth, and it must be fostered and nourished. Affectionate hearts, truthful, loving words, will make happy families and exert an elevating influence upon all who come within the sphere of their influence.—Testimonies for the Church 4:548.
The wonderful example of Christ, the matchless tenderness with which He entered into the feelings of others, weeping with those who wept, rejoicing with those who rejoiced, must have a deep influence upon the character of all who follow Him in sincerity. By kindly words and acts they will try to make the path easy for weary feet....
All around us are afflicted souls. Here and there, everywhere, we may find them. Let us search out these suffering ones, and speak a word in season to comfort their hearts. Let us ever be channels through which shall flow the refreshing waters of compassion.—The Ministry of Healing, 157, 158.
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Jonathan’s Unselfish Love an Example, June 14
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 2 Samuel 1:26.
The friendship of Jonathan for David was ... of God’s providence, to preserve the life of the future ruler of Israel.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 649.
Jonathan, by birth heir to the throne, yet knowing himself set aside by the divine decree; to his rival the most tender and faithful of friends, shielding David’s life at the peril of his own; steadfast at his father’s side through the dark days of his declining power, and at his side falling at the last,—the name of Jonathan is treasured in heaven, and it stands on earth a witness to the existence and the power of unselfish love.—Education, 157.
“Jonathan slain in the field of battle,
my heart is sore for you,
O Jonathan, my brother!
You were my dear delight,
your love for me was a wonder, far
beyond a woman’s love.”
Moffatt.
Monday, June 13, 2022
In Working Together for God, June 13
The anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He, said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. Exodus 4:14.
The desire for love and sympathy is implanted in the heart by God Himself. Christ, in His hour of agony in Gethsemane, longed for the sympathy of His disciples.... Paul, though apparently indifferent to hardship and suffering, yearned for sympathy and companionship.—The Acts of the Apostles, 491.
“Aaron the Levite thy brother ... when he seeth thee, ... will be glad in his heart.” Exodus 4:14.
While we should cultivate sociability, let it not be merely for amusement, but for a higher purpose.—Gospel Workers, 125.
All our associations with our fellow-mortals should be with reference to their eternal interest and to our own.—Testimonies for the Church 4:236.
We may associate together ... and do all to the glory of God.... From all these pleasant associations, we want to be gathering new strength to become better men and women. From every source possible we want to gather new courage, new strength, new power, that we may elevate our lives to purity and holiness, and not come down upon the low level of this world.—Testimonies for the Church 2:586, 587.
Sunday, June 12, 2022
In Refreshing Others Through Christ, June 12
That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. Romans 15:32.
All who profess to be children of God should bear in mind that as missionaries they will be brought into contact with all classes of minds. There are the refined and the coarse, the humble and the proud, the religious and the skeptical, the educated and the ignorant, the rich and the poor. These varied minds cannot be treated alike; yet all need kindness and sympathy. By mutual contact our minds should receive polish and refinement. We are dependent upon one another, closely bound together by the ties of human brotherhood.
“Heaven forming each on other to depend,
A master or a servant or a friend,
Bids each on other for assistance call,
Till one man’s weakness grows the strength of all.”
It is through the social relations that Christianity comes in contact with the world. Every man or woman who has received the divine illumination is to shed light on the dark pathway of those who are unacquainted with the better way. Social power, sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, must be improved in bringing souls to the Saviour. Christ is not to be hid away in the heart as a coveted treasure, sacred and sweet, to be enjoyed solely by the possessor. We are to have Christ in us as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, refreshing all who come in contact with us.—The Ministry of Healing, 495.
Saturday, June 11, 2022
Sabbath, June 18th 2022 at 4:00 pm USA Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Dear Friends,
Please join us for our next KTFLive event!
Theme: The Collapse of Civilization
The descent of America and all of western civilization into decay and chaos is but a symptom of a larger problem. The engineered collapse of society is the agenda of globalist merchant men of the earth. In its place will arise a society that is completely foreign to millions of us. Join us as we reveal the prophetic destiny of our civilization and culture. Beware, it's not pretty and it's already in progress.
Date and time: Sabbath, June 18th 2022 at 4:00 pm USA Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Platforms to join:
KTF website: https://ktfnews.com/live/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Ktfnews/live
Zoom meeting (max 100 participants): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2968160092
Please visit our event page on Facebook and share with family and friends:
https://www.facebook.com/events/606566710445289/
We look forward to seeing you there!
In Promoting the Welfare of Others, June 11
Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 2 Corinthians 7:13.
“Over and above my personal comfort, I was especially delighted at the delight of Titus.” Moffatt.
The warmth of true friendship, the love that binds heart to heart, is a foretaste of the joys of heaven.—The Ministry of Healing, 360.
Every soul is surrounded by an atmosphere of its own,—an atmosphere, it may be, charged with the life-giving power of faith, courage, and hope, and sweet with the fragrance of love. Or it may be heavy and chill with the gloom of discontent and selfishness, or poisonous with the deadly taint of cherished sin. By the atmosphere surrounding us, every person with whom we come in contact is consciously or unconsciously affected.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 339.
The life of Christ was an ever-widening, shoreless influence, an influence that bound Him to God and to the whole human family. Through Christ, God has invested man with an influence that makes it impossible for him to live to himself. Individually we are connected with our fellow-men, a part of God’s great whole, and we stand under mutual obligations. No man can be independent of his fellow-men; for the well-being of each affects others. It is God’s purpose that each shall feel himself necessary to others’ welfare, and seek to promote their happiness.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 339.
Friday, June 10, 2022
In Having Confidence in Our Fellow Men, June 10
I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. 2 Corinthians 7:16.
When men will show confidence in their fellow men, they will come much nearer to possessing the mind of Christ.... Jesus found access to minds by the pathway of their most familiar associations.... He honored man with His confidence, and thus placed him on his honor.... Jesus assumed humanity that He might meet humanity. He brings men under the transforming power of truth by meeting them where they are. He gains access to the heart by securing sympathy and confidence, making all feel that His identification with their nature and interest is complete.—Testimonies to Ministers, 189, 190.
Let us cherish a spirit of confidence in the wisdom of our brethren.... Connected with the service of God, we must individually realize that we are parts of a great whole.... Workers for Christ are to strive for unity. We are the children of the same family, and have one heavenly Father. Let us not put on the garments of heaviness, and cherish doubts and a lack of confidence in our brethren. We should not hurt our souls by gathering the thistles and the thorns, but instead, we should gather the roses and the lilies and the pinks, and express their fragrance in our words and acts.—Testimonies to Ministers, 500, 502.
When there is harmonious action among the individual members of the church, when there is love and confidence manifested by brother to brother, there will be proportionate force and power in our work for the salvation of men.—Testimonies to Ministers, 188.
“I am glad to have full confidence in you.” 2 Corinthians 7:16, Moffatt.
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Found in Sharing Our Homes with the Homeless, June 9
Thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Deuteronomy 16:14.
The Israelites, in all their festivities, included the poor, the stranger, and the Levite, who was both the assistant of the priest in the sanctuary, and a religious teacher and missionary. These were regarded as the guests of the people, to share their hospitality on all occasions of social and religious rejoicing, and to be tenderly cared for in sickness or in need. It is such as these whom we should make welcome to our homes.
How much such a welcome might do to cheer and encourage the missionary nurse or the teacher, the care-burdened, hard-working mother, or the feeble and aged, so often without a home, and struggling with poverty and many discouragements.... The warmth of a genial welcome, a place at your fireside, a seat at your home table, the privilege of sharing the blessing of the hour of prayer, would to many of these be like a glimpse of heaven.
Our sympathies are to overflow the boundaries of self and the enclosure of family walls. There are precious opportunities for those who will make their homes a blessing to others.... If we would show an interest in the youth, invite them to our homes, and surround them with cheering, helpful influences, there are many who would gladly turn their steps into the upward path.—The Ministry of Healing, 353-355.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Pleasant Associations Are Pleasing to Heaven, June 8
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1.
There are mysterious links that bind souls together, so that the heart of one answers to the heart of another. One catches the ideas, the sentiments, the spirit, of another. This association may be a blessing or a curse.—Messages to Young People, 411.
Christian sociability is altogether too little cultivated by God’s people.... Those who shut themselves up within themselves, who are unwilling to be drawn upon to bless others by friendly associations, lose many blessings; for by mutual contact minds receive polish and refinement; by social intercourse acquaintances are formed and friendships contracted which result in a unity of heart and an atmosphere of love which is pleasing in the sight of heaven.—Messages to Young People, 405.
“How rare and lovely, is it,
This fellowship of those who meet together!—
Sweet as the sacred oil poured on the head, ...
Vital as dew of Hermon, ...
For in this fellowship has the Eternal fixed
The blessing of an endless life.”
Psalm 133:1-3, Moffatt.
Monday, June 6, 2022
In Praying for Souls, June 6
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:4, 5.
Prayer is communion with God, the Fountain of wisdom, the Source of strength, and peace, and happiness.... Paul exhorts believers to “pray without ceasing,” in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, making known their requests to God. “Pray one for another,” James says.—Testimonies for the Church 7:42.
Learn to exercise faith in presenting your neighbors before the throne of grace, and pleading with God to touch their hearts.—Testimonies for the Church 8:245.
Souls are to be sought for, prayed for, labored for. Earnest appeals are to be made. Fervent prayers are to be offered. Our tame, spiritless petitions are to be changed into petitions of intense earnestness. God’s word declares, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:12.
“In all my prayers for you all I always pray with a sense of joy.” Philippians 1:4, Moffatt.
The minister is not to rule imperiously over the flock intrusted to his care, but to be their ensample, and to show them the way to Heaven. Following the example of Christ, he should intercede with God for the people of his care till he sees that his prayers are answered.—Testimonies for the Church 4:267.
“Always in every prayer ... making request with joy.”
Sunday, June 5, 2022
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Let Them Make Me A Sanctuary (Fast&Pray)
Join us LIVE for PRAYER & Fasting JUNE 5th 3,6,9AM, 12,3,6PM each session 1Hour
Livestream on Youtube.com/prophesyagaintv
Imparts Joy to Others, June 4
Having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith. Philippians 1:25.
From the anointed ones that stand in God’s presence the fullness of divine light and love and power is imparted to His people, that they may impart to others light and joy and refreshing. Those who are thus enriched are to enrich others with the treasure of God’s love.—Prophets and Kings, 594.
Religion is founded upon love to God, which also leads us to love one another. It is full of gratitude, humility, long-suffering. It is self-sacrificing, forbearing, merciful, and forgiving. It sanctifies the whole life, and extends its influence over others.
Those who love God cannot harbor hatred or envy. When the heavenly principle of eternal love fills the heart, it will flow out to others, not merely because favors are received of them, but because love is the principle of action, and modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, subdues enmity, and elevates and ennobles the affections. This love is not contracted so as merely to include “me and mine,” but is as broad as the world, and as high as heaven, and is in harmony with that of the angel workers. This love cherished in the soul sweetens the entire life, and sheds a refining influence on all around. Possessing it, we cannot but be happy, let fortune smile or frown.—Testimonies for the Church 4:223.
Friday, June 3, 2022
In the Happiness of Others, June 3
Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:26.
Christianity is a system, which, received and obeyed, would spread peace, harmony, and happiness throughout the earth. The religion of Christ will unite in close brotherhood all who accept its teachings. It was the mission of Jesus to reconcile men to God, and thus to one another.—The Great Controversy, 47.
Let your hearts be true to Jesus. Although you may feel that you are the least of all saints, yet you are members of Christ’s body, and through Him you are identified with all His human agencies, and with the excellence and power of the heavenly intelligences. None of us liveth to himself. To each is assigned a post of duty, not for his own narrow, selfish interests, but that the influence of each may be a strength to all.—Testimonies for the Church 7:296.
God’s church is the court of holy life, filled with varied gifts, and endowed with the Holy Spirit. The members are to find their happiness in the happiness of those whom they help and bless.—The Acts of the Apostles, 12.
Thursday, June 2, 2022
In Living in Harmony with Our Brethren, June 2
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Philippians 2:2.
God designs that His people shall be a unit; that they shall see eye to eye, and be of the same mind and of the same judgment.—Testimonies for the Church 3:361.
The religion of Christ does not require us to lose our identity of character, but merely to adapt ourselves, in some measure, to the feelings and ways of others. Many people may be brought together in a unity of religious faith whose opinions, habits, and tastes in temporal matters are not in harmony; but if they have the love of Christ glowing in their bosoms, and are looking forward to the same Heaven as their eternal home, they may have the sweetest and most intelligent communion together, and a unity the most wonderful.—Testimonies for the Church 4:65.
Let us be determined to be in unity with our brethren. This duty God has placed upon us. We shall make their hearts glad by following their counsel, and make ourselves strong through the influence that this will give us.—Testimonies to Ministers, 500.
“So by all the stimulus of Christ, by every incentive of love, by all your participation in the Spirit, by all your affectionate tenderness, I pray you to give me the utter joy of knowing you are living in harmony.” Philippians 2:1, 2, Moffatt.
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Christian Fellowship Found in Loving One Another, June 1
June—Social Enjoyment
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. Philippians 4:1.
Christ had bidden the first disciples love one another as He had loved them. Thus they were to bear testimony to the world that Christ was formed within, the hope of glory. “A new commandment I give unto you,” He had said, “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” At the time when these words were spoken, the disciples could not understand them; but after they had witnessed the sufferings of Christ, after His crucifixion and resurrection, and ascension to heaven, and after the Holy Spirit had rested on them at Pentecost, they had a clearer conception of the love of God, and of the nature of that love which they must have for one another....
They rejoiced in the sweetness of communion with saints. They were tender, thoughtful, self-denying, willing to make any sacrifice for the truth’s sake. In their daily association with one another, they revealed the love that Christ had enjoined upon them. By unselfish words and deeds, they strove to kindle this love in other hearts.—The Acts of the Apostles, 547.
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