Keep fast hold on Jesus

After a week of trials and victories, our gathering in God’s house of worship is a testimony of God’s goodness toward us. Let us therefore continue to trust in God and keep our eyes on our heavenly home as we face the new week. E.G. White encourages us to, “Keep fast hold on Jesus. Look up to the haven of rest and the home of the blest. Keep your soul in the love of God whatever may betide and you will grow spiritually strong. Jesus is your loving Friend; He will take your hand and help you over every hard and trying place. A grateful, trustful, habitual recognition of God lies at the very foundation of all right conduct, all true character. You must never lose confidence in God.”--Letter 22, {UL 276.5}

Recommit Your Life!

We gather in the house of the Lord in remembrance of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ; and with the spirit of thanksgiving for the gift of salvation. Let us through the power of the Holy Spirit sincerely worship and recommit our lives to the Lord. E.G. White says, “The service of Jesus does not consist in outward show simply. It is not a matter of form and ceremonies, of parade, exclamation, gestures, noise, and a display of the commonplace passions. Pure religion consists in keeping the heart and mind in communion with the great Leader, Jesus Christ. It consists in having the inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit will give life and tone and style that will not be after the inventions of men, not in imitation of any earthly, human leader, but after the Pattern, Christ. {ST, August 27, 1894 par. 8},

Working To Remove The Stumbling Blocks

Brothers and sisters, God has been continually gracious to us. Let us strive to serve him by faith and honor him by living holy and consecrated lives. E.G. White states, “The great deceiver has prepared his wiles for every soul that is not braced for trial and guarded by constant prayer and living faith. As ministers, as Christians, we must work to take the stumbling blocks out of the way. We must remove every obstacle. Let us confess and forsake every sin, that the way of the Lord may be prepared, that He may come into our assemblies and impart His rich grace. The world, the flesh, and the devil must be overcome. We cannot prepare the way by gaining the friendship of the world, which is enmity with God; but by His help we can break its seductive influence upon ourselves and upon others. We cannot individually or as a body secure ourselves from the constant temptations of a relentless and determined foe; but in the strength of Jesus we can resist them”. {1SM 123.4} Amen!