The Glory of God

[Sean James]

What is most valuable? Life--but the life we now have, apart from Christ, will inevitably perish. That is why living for this life only is only a path to death, for we are sinful and cannot save ourselves. But there is hope. We can look to Christ and receive "life...and [life] more abundantly" (John 10:10). Only in complete surrender to the love of Christ will we experience the unique crucifixion to self and resurrection to His righteousness by faith! Only in Him can we become what we really are meant to be, and apart from Him, we are but ebbing out a short earthly existence that will perish. Choose to look to Christ by a living faith surrender and be motivated by the loveliness of His character to become like Him, for in union and communion with Christ all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be manifest, so we can gladly do God's will from the heart!

Love for souls for whom Christ died means crucifixion of self. He who is a child of God should henceforth look upon himself as a link in the chain let down to save the world, one with Christ in His plan of mercy, going forth with Him to seek and save the lost. The Christian is ever to realize that he has consecrated himself to God, and that in character he is to reveal Christ to the world. The self-sacrifice, the sympathy, the love, manifested in the life of Christ are to reappear in the life of the worker for God.
     "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." Selfishness is death. No organ of the body could live should it confine its service to itself. The heart, failing to send its lifeblood to the hand and the head, would quickly lose its power. As our lifeblood, so is the love of Christ diffused through every part of His mystical body. We are members one of another, and the soul that refuses to impart will perish. And "what is a man profited," said Jesus, "if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" 

When we value souls as Jesus does, our entire priority in life shifts from selfish goals that are "what I want" to the greater joy of seeing souls redeemed and realizing that this is what we REALLY want to do (in a truly converted experience)--for nothing else even makes sense this close to the second coming of Jesus! Jesus is coming! Let us die to self through complete surrender to Him and let Him live out His life in us by the Holy Spirit! What a miracle!!

[Sean James]

What did Jesus first need to go through, in order to save us?

But before the crown must come the cross. Not the inauguration of Christ as king, but the decease to be accomplished at Jerusalem, is the subject of their conference with Jesus. Bearing the weakness of humanity, and burdened with its sorrow and sin, Jesus walked alone in the midst of men. As the darkness of the coming trial pressed upon Him, He was in loneliness of spirit, in a world that knew Him not. Even His loved disciples, absorbed in their own doubt and sorrow and ambitious hopes, had not comprehended the mystery of His mission. He had dwelt amid the love and fellowship of heaven; but in the world that He had created, He was in solitude. Now heaven had sent its messengers to Jesus; not angels, but men who had endured suffering and sorrow, and who could sympathize with the Saviour in the trial of His earthly life. Moses and Elijah had been colaborers with Christ. They had shared His longing for the salvation of men. Moses had pleaded for Israel: “Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.” Exodus 32:32. Elijah had known loneliness of spirit, as for three years and a half of famine he had borne the burden of the nation’s hatred and its woe. Alone he had stood for God upon Mount Carmel. Alone he had fled to the desert in anguish and despair. These men, chosen above every angel around the throne, had come to commune with Jesus concerning the scenes of His suffering, and to comfort Him with the assurance of the sympathy of heaven. The hope of the world, the salvation of every human being, was the burden of their interview. 

Christ offers us His kingdom today to be established in our hearts as we surrender fully to Him; all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be manifest in our lives as we are strengthened by grace through faith to obey God out of an intelligent appreciation of His loveliness of character! Let us appreciate all that Jesus did for us on earth and all He is doing for us now as our High Priest in the sanctuary in heaven, for He is SOON to return as our King!!

[Sean James]

Is it possible? Can you be saved? Have you ever felt like God couldn't save you--yes, YOU? Maybe the devil has so tempted you to try to give up on life or not to believe that God can really forgive YOUR SIN. But God's love pierces through the darkness of the lies we have been influenced by, and Christ offers us His faith so we can overcome and have His faith! The key is simply acknowledging our need!! Let us yield fully to Christ and cry out to Him for the faith that DOES TRUST even when everything else seems to discourage us. Let us look to Christ as the One who CAN SAVE ALL WHO COME TO HIM--and that includes YOU!!!

 "'If Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.' How many a sin-burdened soul has echoed that prayer. And to all, the pitying Saviour's answer is, 'If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.' It is faith that connects us with heaven, and brings us strength for coping with the powers of darkness. In Christ, God has provided means for subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong. But many feel that they lack faith, and therefore they remain away from Christ. Let these souls, in their helpless unworthiness, cast themselves upon the mercy of their compassionate Saviour. Look not to self, but to Christ. He who healed the sick and cast out demons when He walked among men is the same mighty Redeemer today. Faith comes by the word of God. Then grasp His promise, 'Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.' John 6:37. Cast yourself at His feet with the cry, 'Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.' You can never perish while you do this--never."

God did not plan to lose you when He created you. He is working out all things for your highest good and the blessing of the world. Look to Christ in simple faith and let Him heal you, save you, and recreate in you a new heart! When Christ does come into your heart, all of the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in the life--not one will be missing! One of the fruits of the Spirit is faith, and that faith is a gift from God!! "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). May this be your experience today and always!! God will not fail His promises to you!!

[Sean James]

What makes us truly happy? Becoming like Jesus by becoming like selfless children!

It was not enough for the disciples of Jesus to be instructed as to the nature of His kingdom. What they needed was a change of heart that would bring them into harmony with its principles. Calling a little child to Him, Jesus set him in the midst of them; then tenderly folding the little one in His arms He said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The simplicity, the self-forgetfulness, and the confiding love of a little child are the attributes that Heaven values. These are the characteristics of real greatness.

As Jesus lives in our hearts as we surrender fully to Him, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing (Galatians 5:22-23) will be in our lives as we are empowered to obey God from the heart, glad to embrace the present truth for this time (Revelation 14:1-12) and go forth as missionaries for God (Matthew 28:18-20)!

[Sean James]

Happy Sabbath!!

What do you really want? The One who created you and died to redeem you really knows!!

Jesus knew the wants of the soul. Pomp, riches, and honor cannot satisfy the heart. "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me." The rich, the poor, the high, the low, are alike welcome. He promises to relieve the burdened mind, to comfort the sorrowing, and to give hope to the despondent. Many of those who heard Jesus were mourners over disappointed hopes, many were nourishing a secret grief, many were seeking to satisfy their restless longing with the things of the world and the praise of men; but when all was gained, they found that they had toiled only to reach a broken cistern, from which they could not quench their thirst. Amid the glitter of the joyous scene they stood, dissatisfied and sad. That sudden cry, "If any man thirst," startled them from their sorrowful meditation, and as they listened to the words that followed, their minds kindled with a new hope. The Holy Spirit presented the symbol before them until they saw in it the offer of the priceless gift of salvation.

Let us look above the pull of this world's deceptions and the fallen nature that we are all compassed with and trust Jesus who, by His word, can truly satisfy us and make us partakers of His divine nature!! The devil cannot overcome one soul who trusts fully in Jesus with the whole heart, for such a true conversion will bring all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing as we are empowered to obey God from the new heart He gives us!

[Sean James]

Are you willing to obey the truth, whatever it reveals?

Many are deceived today in the same way as were the Jews. Religious teachers read the Bible in the light of their own understanding and traditions; and the people do not search the Scriptures for themselves, and judge for themselves as to what is truth; but they yield up their judgment, and commit their souls to their leaders. The preaching and teaching of His word is one of the means that God has ordained for diffusing light; but we must bring every man's teaching to the test of Scripture. Whoever will prayerfully study the Bible, desiring to know the truth, that he may obey it, will receive divine enlightenment. He will understand the Scriptures. "If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching." John 7:17, R. V.   

Let us not allow what others do influence our perception of the truth as it is in Jesus! As we look to His sinless life, His sacrificial death, and His supernatural resurrection, let us appreciate all that Christ has done for us and walk by faith that works by love (accompanied by all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing), and in true obedience to God's changeless law of love experience the highest freedom! God bless you as you let the word of God define reality, morality and the path God has for you this day and each day in the journey to heaven!

[Sean James]

Are you truly free? True freedom can only be found in complete surrender to Christ, and He does not force any of us to yield to Him. But by His infinite love He reveals His loveliness of character as manifest in the gift of Himself in Christ, and God invites us to surrender fully to Him, and as we do and confess and forsake sin by the power He gives us in the free exercise of our will, He gives us a new heart and fills us with all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing! Gladly we are empowered to obey God and walk in the highest freedom found in union and communion with God!

In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan's control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God. 

God will work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure, and we can be so thankful that His grace is sufficient for us and that He knows what we need before we even ask! Look to Him continually and abide in His love, for the greatest freedom found is in knowing and loving Him which enables us to do His will!

[Sean James]

Are you going through trials? Who can you always turn to? Jesus, our loving Savior, is ever-present to help just when we need Him most!! In surrender of all we have and are to Him, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will flow forth from our hearts and lives as we gladly are empowered to obey God's law, the definition of true happiness!

Through all our trials we have a never-failing Helper. He does not leave us alone to struggle with temptation, to battle with evil, and be finally crushed with burdens and sorrow. Though now He is hidden from mortal sight, the ear of faith can hear His voice saying, Fear not; I am with you. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore." Revelation 1:18. I have endured your sorrows, experienced your struggles, encountered your temptations. I know your tears; I also have wept. The griefs that lie too deep to be breathed into any human ear, I know. Think not that you are desolate and forsaken. Though your pain touch no responsive chord in any heart on earth, look unto Me, and live. "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." Isaiah 54:10. 

Jesus "gets you." He understands you better than you yourself understand your own character and experience. Let Him lead you this day one step closer to heaven's glory as you let Him live in you, diffusing the light of His loveliness of character as you continually behold Him who died for you and is now risen to intercede for us as our High Priest in heaven! He is soon to return as our King!! Hallelujah!!

[Sean James]

How can we know Christ in a saving way?

The only way in which we can gain a more perfect apprehension of truth is by keeping the heart tender and subdued by the Spirit of Christ. The soul must be cleansed from vanity and pride, and vacated of all that has held it in possession, and Christ must be enthroned within. Human science is too limited to comprehend the atonement. The plan of redemption is so far-reaching that philosophy cannot explain it. It will ever remain a mystery that the most profound reasoning cannot fathom. The science of salvation cannot be explained; but it can be known by experience. Only he who sees his own sinfulness can discern the preciousness of the Saviour.   

As we see our sinfulness, we can rejoice that God makes it possible for us to partake of the divine nature and overcome sin by receiving a new heart, mind and will that transforms the character by a revelation of all of the fruits of the Spirit in the life without one missing as we are empowered to obey God up to the light Christ has revealed to us!

[Sean James]

How can the light of truth best be shared?

The way to dispel darkness is to admit light. The best way to deal with error is to present truth. It is the revelation of God's love that makes manifest the deformity and sin of the heart centered in self.   

Only by abiding in Christ in complete surrender is it possible to be centered in God's love rather than in self. When we see Jesus and all He has done for us, self will no longer clamor to be recognized and we shall consider it a joy to surrender all to Him who died to redeem us at infinite cost to Himself. As we behold the loveliness of Jesus, we shall be changed into His glorious image and He will manifest through us in true conversion all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing. What a blessing to go forth in God's light of truth to allow Him through us to reach hearts for heaven!

[Sean James]

What do we need to understand and experience the kingdom of God?

Because of their selfishness and earthliness, even the disciples of Jesus could not comprehend the spiritual glory which He sought to reveal unto them. It was not until after Christ's ascension to His Father, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the believers, that the disciples fully appreciated the Saviour's character and mission. After they had received the baptism of the Spirit, they began to realize that they had been in the very presence of the Lord of glory. As the sayings of Christ were brought to their remembrance, their minds were opened to comprehend the prophecies, and to understand the miracles which He had wrought. The wonders of His life passed before them, and they were as men awakened from a dream. They realized that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14. Christ had actually come from God to a sinful world to save the fallen sons and daughters of Adam. The disciples now seemed, to themselves, of much less importance than before they realized this. They never wearied of rehearsing His words and works. His lessons, which they had but dimly understood, now came to them as a fresh revelation. The Scriptures became to them a new book.

We need the Holy Spirit to fill the soul fully surrendered to Him and cleansed from sin. Christ living in us can accomplish the great miracle of our lives being a living outflow of His life, manifesting all of the fruits of His Spirit without one missing as we are empowered to obey God from the heart of love! What a joy it is to experience the kingdom of heaven now and forevermore as long as we choose to abide in Christ!

[Sean James]

How can we become like Jesus? Let us allow Jesus to fill us with the childlike love and faith that He offers us freely by the Holy Spirit!

Encourage the expression of love toward God and toward one another. The reason why there are so many hardhearted men and women in the world is that true affection has been regarded as weakness, and has been discouraged and repressed. The better nature of these persons was stifled in childhood; and unless the light of divine love shall melt away their cold selfishness, their happiness will be forever ruined. If we wish our children to possess the tender spirit of Jesus, and the sympathy that angels manifest for us, we must encourage the generous, loving impulses of childhood. 

When we have Jesus in our hearts, all of the fruits of the Spirit will be revealed in the life accompanied by affectionate obedience to God's law of love!

[Sean James]

What is our greatest need? Let us look at how Christ dealt with the rich young ruler to understand we need love in the heart that leads to obedience--and Christ can give this to us as we surrender fully to Him! Only by having Christ abiding in us will all of the fruits of the Spirit be manifest without one missing as we are empowered to obey God from the heart! Jesus is the answer to our soul's great need! Let Him in and grow in the atmosphere of His loveliness this day!

 To those who, like the young ruler, are in high positions of trust and have great possessions, it may seem too great a sacrifice to give up all in order to follow Christ. But this is the rule of conduct for all who would become His disciples. Nothing short of obedience can be accepted. Self-surrender is the substance of the teachings of Christ. Often it is presented and enjoined in language that seems authoritative, because there is no other way to save man than to cut away those things which, if entertained, will demoralize the whole being. 

Christ has the power to change us. When we let go of the things that will demoralize us, we are really appreciating the One who is of greatest value--Jesus--and all else is seen to be worthless in comparison. Then all that God gives us, whether it be possessions, talents or responsibilities, are never allowed to eclipse the greatest Gift of all--Christ in the heart, Christ in the life. Only by having a living union and communion with Jesus is it possible to rightly appreciate all the things of this life and even in the life to come. A true conversion by having Christ in us is such a miracle, but He freely offers it to each of us now so we can overcome sin by His grace. Let's yield to the Holy Spirit who makes us new creatures in Christ Jesus.

[Sean James]

Why does God allow trials and difficulties, and even times when we may feel discouraged?

"For your sakes," "to the intent ye may believe." To all who are reaching out to feel the guiding hand of God, the moment of greatest discouragement is the time when divine help is nearest. They will look back with thankfulness upon the darkest part of their way. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly," 2 Peter 2:9. From every temptation and every trial He will bring them forth with firmer faith and a richer experience.   

Let us accept cheerfully the way God leads us knowing that it will be for our highest good as we look back and see what He has done, trusting Him also to lead in the future day by day. By His grace we can go forward and learn from every trial, abiding in Christ in complete surrender as He manifests through us all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing. Gladly we are empowered to obey God from the new heart He gives us!

[Sean James]

What effect did Jesus' unselfish, sinless life and ministry have on the world?

Jesus had now given three years of public labor to the world. His example of self-denial and disinterested benevolence was before them. His life of purity, of suffering and devotion, was known to all. Yet this short period of three years was as long as the world could endure the presence of its Redeemer. 

Jesus had a short time of public ministry. The priests and rulers plotted His death, and He went to the cross as He laid down His life to save us. As we behold the infinite loveliness of Jesus, we each have a choice. Will we yield to Him the whole heart? If we do, Christ will recreate our hearts in the image of His love with all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing, giving us power to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. Let us abide in Jesus and let the light of His character shine to the whole world!