OUR SHEET ANCHOR!

that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— (Ephesians 4:14-15 NKJV)

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:3 NKJV)

Our destiny is the highest possible one, "We shall be like Him." For this we were created, redeemed, and sanctified, that we should be conformed to the image of God's Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29).

The Apostle says that those who have this hope will purify themselves. A young man once asked if a friend would try to see his lover, as the train stopped at a wayside station in a distant western State. It was a dark night when the train arrived, and a hurried conversation took place on the steps of the great Pullman car. The friend found that amid the many temptations of a rancher's life, this young fellow was holding on to purity and truth. He said that he didn't have many opportunities to attend any religious services, but that the letters which came from the old country had been his "sheet anchor". The friend understood what he meant. He realized the strong temptation of circumstances, but to be loved by a sweet pure girl, who made him the object of her incessant prayer, and to receive her inspiring letters, kept him from yielding to the evil temptations which surrounded him in the new country; the thought that before long he might claim her as his bride helped to purify and steady his life. So the expectation of being with, and like Christ, should be to us as a “sheet anchor", if we bear His Name.

To see Christ face to face, to be with Him in unbroken fellowship, and to be like Him, this is the threefold destiny of every Christian individual. But how little can we imagine our future life! We strive to penetrate the dense veil of mist in vain, what the resurrection body will be like; what the conversation with holy beings will be; what ministry may be assigned to us. We know not what we shall be, but "we know that we shall be like Him", and it is enough! All that we have ever dreamed and hoped for will find its flower and fruitage in that glad summer time.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, it is my earnest desire that I may not only live, but grow: grow in grace, and in the knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May I grow in patience and fortitude of soul, in humility and zeal, in spirituality and a heavenly disposition of mind. I pray in Jesus' name, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #263:
If you help the poor, your light will shine like the dawn.

Isaiah 58:7-8 (WEB)
7 Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth as the morning, and your healing shall spring forth speedily; and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of Yahweh shall be your rear guard.