Dear Brothers and Sisters:
In the ZOOM Sabbath School lesson today, we discussed how if we humbly surrender and submit to the will of God, our minds will be enlightened, we read this in My Life Today, 108 “No one can search the Scriptures in the Spirit of Christ without being rewarded. When a man is willing to be instructed as a little child, when he submits wholly to Christ, he will find the truth in His Word. If men would be obedient, they would understand the plan of God's government. The heavenly world would open its treasures of grace and glory for exploration. Human beings would be altogether different from what they are now; for by exploring the mines of truth, men would be ennobled. The mystery of redemption, the incarnation of Christ, His atoning sacrifice, would not be, as they are now, vague in our minds. They would be, not only better understood, but altogether more highly appreciated.”
“A faithful, steady obedience to the words of Christ makes men pure in mind, resolute in purpose, and faithful in every station of life.” {The Upward Look, 129} How this brings home the need of our being more and more determined to seek to know the Lord and His will more than we ever did before! Don’t we sense that during this time of COVID 19 that we are being tested in ways that we have never been tested before? Will we stubbornly hold on to Christ’s robe and trust Him, no matter what? As the song says, “If you ever needed the Lord before, you’re sure to need Him now.
“The Lord has determined that every soul who obeys His word shall have His joy, His peace, His continual keeping power. Such men and women are brought near Him always, not only when they kneel before Him in prayer, but when they take up the duties of life. He has prepared for them an abiding place with Himself, where the life is purified from all grossness, all unloveliness. By this unbroken communion with Him, they are made colaborers with Him in their lifework.” {In Heavenly Places, 53}
“All His gifts are promised on condition of obedience. God has a heaven full of blessings for those who will co-operate with Him. All who obey Him may with confidence claim the fulfillment of His promises.” {Christ’s Object Lessons, 145}
“As the Lord co-operated with Daniel and his fellows, so He will co-operate with all who strive to do His will. And by the impartation of His Spirit He will strengthen every true purpose, every noble resolution. Those who walk in the path of obedience will encounter many hindrances. Strong, subtle influences may bind them to the world; but the Lord is able to render futile every agency that works for the defeat of His chosen ones; in His strength they may overcome every temptation, conquer every difficulty.” {Prophets and Kings, 487}
“Do not dishonor Jesus by doubting His precious promises. He wants us to believe in Him with unwavering faith. There is a class who say, "I believe, I believe," and claim all the promises which are given on condition of obedience. While they claim everything in the promises of God, they do not the works of Christ. God is not honored by any such faith, it is a spurious faith. Then we see a people trying to keep all of God's commandments, but there are many of these who do not come up to their exalted privileges and claim nothing. God's promises are to those who keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” {This Day with God, 9}
Sir Leonard Wood once visited the King of France and the King was so pleased with him he was invited for dinner the next day.
Sir Leonard went to the palace and the King meeting him in one of the halls, said, "Why, Sir Leonard, I did not expect to see you. How is it that you are here?"
"Did not your majesty invite me to dine with you?" said the astonished guest.
"Yes," replied the King, "but you did not answer my invitation."
Then it was that Sir Leonard Wood uttered one of the choicest sentences of his life. He replied, "A king's invitation is never to be answered, but to be obeyed."
Ye call me Master and obey me not,
Ye call me Light and see me not;
Ye call me Way and walk not;
Ye call me Life and desire me not;
Ye call me Wise and follow me not;
Ye call me Fair and love me not;
Ye call me Rich and ask me not;
Ye call me Eternal and seek me not;
Ye call me Gracious and trust me not;
Ye call me Noble and serve me not;
Ye call me Mighty and honor me not;
Ye call me Just and fear me not;
If I condemn you BLAME ME not!
W. B. Riley used to tell the story of a man who had walked the streets of Philadelphia searching for employment. One day he happened to go into the office of a well-known businessman by the name of Girard. When he asked for a job, Mr. Girard answered, "Yes, I can give you work. See that pile of bricks out there? Carry them over to the other end of the yard and stack them up."
By nightfall the man reported that the project was completed and received his pay. When asked if there would be more work the next day, his employer said, "Yes, come in tomorrow and carry those same bricks back to where you found them." The following morning he came in early and got busy without a word. For more than a week he was instructed to carry bricks back and forth until it was evident that he could be trusted to do exactly what he was told.
Then he was given a new and bigger responsibility—to go downtown and bid on a large quantity of sugar. Not recognizing him, the people at the auction were surprised by the bid of this total stranger. When it was accepted, the auctioneer asked who would pay the bill. "Mr. Girard," the man replied. "I am his agent." He had earned this position by being faithful in a menial task.
Doesn’t that story remind you of something Jesus said?
A missionary translator was endeavoring to find a word for "obedience" in the native language. This was a virtue seldom practiced among the people into whose language he wanted to translate the New Testament. As he returned home from the village one day, he whistled for his dog and it came running at full speed. An old native, seeing this, said admiringly in the native tongue. "Your dog is all ear." Immediately the missionary knew he had his word for obedience.
How we need to learn to follow orders! The Premier of Australia said that, when the Great War broke out, the Australian Commonwealth at once offered to do what they could to back Great Britain. They asked what was the most useful thing that they could do, and the reply came—"Build us ships: we want ships."
The Australians did not build ships, so they smiled and began to till the fields, sow seed, and reap harvests to send food to the motherland. Grain was gathered, put into sacks, and brought down to the water's edge to wait for the ships. But the ships never came. The mice got in, and then found their way into towns and villages and cities, carrying disease with them—a disease that attacked the eyes of many and blinded some.
And all the time Great Britain said, "Ships! ships! ships!"
John Wesley put on his private seal the three words: "Believe—Obey—Love." These words not only summarize Wesley's experience, but really indicate the secret of the victorious life. To truly believe in the Cross of Christ marks the beginning. Love is the climax. But Obey holds the others together through life. There can be no progress in faith without obedience.
But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. (Exodus 23:22 KJV)
Pero si en verdad oyeres su voz, é hicieres todo lo que yo te dijere, seré enemigo á tus enemigos, y afligiré á los que te afligieren. (Exodo 23:22 SRV)
And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you. (Leviticus 20:8 KJV)
Y guardad mis estatutos, y ponedlos por obra: Yo Jehová que os santifico. (Levítico 20:8 SRV)
Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. (Leviticus 20:22 KJV)
Guardad, pues, todos mis estatutos y todos mis derechos, y ponedlos por obra: y no os vomitará la tierra, en la cual yo os introduzco para que habitéis en ella. (Levítico 20:22 SRV)
If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright. (Leviticus 26:3-13 KJV)
Si anduviereis en mis decretos, y guardareis mis mandamientos, y los pusiereis por obra; Yo daré vuestra lluvia en su tiempo, cy la tierra rendirá sus producciones, y el árbol del campo dará su fruto; Y la trilla os alcanzará á la vendimia, y la vendimia alcanzará á la sementera, y comeréis vuestro pan en hartura y habitaréis seguros en vuestra tierra: Y yo daré paz en la tierra, y dormiréis, y no habrá quien os espante: y haré quitar las malas bestias de vuestra tierra, y no pasará por vuestro país la espada: Y perseguiréis á vuestros enemigos, y caerán á cuchillo delante de vosotros: Y cinco de vosotros perseguirán á ciento, y ciento de vosotros perseguirán á diez mil, y vuestros enemigos caerán á cuchillo delante de vosotros. Porque yo me volveré á vosotros, y os haré crecer, y os multiplicaré, y afirmaré mi pacto con vosotros: Y comeréis lo añejo de mucho tiempo, y sacareis fuera lo añejo á causa de lo nuevo: Y pondré mi morada en medio de vosotros, y mi alma no os abominará: Y andaré entre vosotros, y yo seré vuestro Dios, y vosotros seréis mi pueblo. Yo Jehová vuestro Dios, que os saqué de la tierra de Egipto, para que no fueseis sus siervos; y rompí las coyundas de vuestro yugo, y os he hecho andar el rostro alto. (Levítico 26:3-13 SRV)
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day. Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. (Deuteronomy 4:1-11 KJV)
AHORA pues, oh Israel, oye los estatutos y derechos que yo os enseño, para que los ejecutéis, y viváis, y entréis, y poseáis la tierra que Jehová el Dios de vuestros padres te da. No añadiréis á la palabra que yo os mando, ni disminuiréis de ella, para que guardéis los mandamientos de Jehová vuestro Dios que yo os ordeno. Vuestros ojos vieron lo que hizo Jehová con motivo de Baal-peor; que á todo hombre que fué en pos de Baal-peor destruyó Jehová tu Dios de en medio de ti. Mas vosotros que os allegasteis á Jehová vuestro Dios, todos estáis vivos hoy. Mirad, yo os he enseñado estatutos y derechos, como Jehová mi Dios me mandó, para que hagáis así en medio de la tierra en la cual entráis para poseerla. Guardadlos, pues, y ponedlos por obra: porque esta es vuestra sabiduría y vuestra inteligencia en ojos de los pueblos, los cuales oirán todos estos estatutos, y dirán: Ciertamente pueblo sabio y entendido, gente grande es ésta. Porque ¿qué gente grande hay que tenga los dioses cercanos á sí, como lo está Jehová nuestro Dios en todo cuanto le pedimos? Y ¿qué gente grande hay que tenga estatutos y derechos justos, como es toda esta ley que yo pongo hoy delante de vosotros? Por tanto, guárdate, y guarda tu alma con diligencia, que no te olvides de las cosas que tus ojos han visto, ni se aparten de tu corazón todos los días de tu vida: y enseñarlas has á tus hijos, y á los hijos de tus hijos; El día que estuviste delante de Jehová tu Dios en Horeb, cuando Jehová me dijo: Júntame el pueblo, para que yo les haga oir mis palabras, las cuales aprenderán, para temerme todos los días que vivieren sobre la tierra: y las enseñarán á sus hijos; Y os llegasteis, y os pusisteis al pie del monte; y el monte ardía en fuego hasta en medio de los cielos con tinieblas, nube, y oscuridad. (Deuteronomio 4:1-11 SRV)
So much more could be said, but I will close with this passage:
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12 KJV)
Por tanto, amados míos, como siempre habéis obedecido, no como en mi presencia solamente, sino mucho más ahora en mi ausencia, ocupaos en vuestra salvación con temor y temblor; (Filipenses 2:12 SRV)
Let us continue to be faithful during these trying times. Please stay safe, and may God continue to watch over you, dear brothers and sisters.
Pastor Richard Parent