Just sharing.

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“And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.”

Genesis 29:26

We do not excuse Laban for his dishonesty, but we scruple not to learn from the custom which he quoted as his excuse. There are some things which must be taken in order, and if we would win the second we must secure the first. The second may be the more lovely in our eyes, but the rule of the heavenly country must stand, and the elder must be married first. For instance, many men desire the beautiful and well-favoured Rachel of joy and peace in believing, but they must first be wedded to the tender-eyed Leah of repentance.

Every one falls in love with happiness, and many would cheerfully serve twice seven years to enjoy it, but according to the rule of the Lord's kingdom, the Leah of real holiness must be beloved of our soul before the Rachel of true happiness can be attained. Heaven stands not first but second, and only by persevering to the end can we win a portion in it. The cross must be carried before the crown can be worn. We must follow our Lord in his humiliation, or we shall never rest with him in glory.




My soul, what sayest thou, art thou so vain as to hope to break through the heavenly rule? Dost thou hope for reward without labour, or honour without toil? Dismiss the idle expectation, and be content to take the ill-favoured things for the sake of the sweet love of Jesus, which will recompense thee for all. In such a spirit, labouring and suffering, thou wilt find bitters grow sweet, and hard things easy. Like Jacob, thy years of service will seem unto thee but a few days for the love thou hast to Jesus; and when the dear hour of the wedding feast shall come, all thy toils shall be as though they had never been—an hour with Jesus will make up for ages of pain and labour.

Jesus, to win thyself so fair,
Thy cross I will with gladness bear:
Since so the rules of heaven ordain,
The first I'll wed the next to gain.

 

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“The Lord's portion is his people.”

Deuteronomy 32:9

How are they his? By his own sovereign choice. He chose them, and set his love upon them. This he did altogether apart from any goodness in them at the time, or any goodness which he foresaw in them. He had mercy on whom he would have mercy, and ordained a chosen company unto eternal life; thus, therefore, are they his by his unconstrained election.




They are not only his by choice, but by purchase. He has bought and paid for them to the utmost farthing, hence about his title there can be no dispute. Not with corruptible things, as with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord's portion has been fully redeemed. There is no mortgage on his estate; no suits can be raised by opposing claimants, the price was paid in open court, and the Church is the Lord's freehold for ever. See the blood-mark upon all the chosen, invisible to human eye, but known to Christ, for “the Lord knoweth them that are his”; he forgetteth none of those whom he has redeemed from among men; he counts the sheep for whom he laid down his life, and remembers well the Church for which he gave himself.

They are also his by conquest. What a battle he had in us before we would be won! How long he laid siege to our hearts! How often he sent us terms of capitulation! but we barred our gates, and fenced our walls against him. Do we not remember that glorious hour when he carried our hearts by storm? When he placed his cross against the wall, and scaled our ramparts, planting on our strongholds the blood-red flag of his omnipotent mercy? Yes, we are, indeed, the conquered captives of his omnipotent love. Thus chosen, purchased, and subdued, the rights of our divine possessor are inalienable: we rejoice that we never can be our own; and we desire, day by day, to do his will, and to show forth his glory.

 

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Deadly Quake​

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A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar (Burma) Friday, killing at least 1,600 people and causing widespread devastation.​

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The quake hit near Mandalay—the country’s second-largest city—collapsing bridges, buildings, and power lines. Myanmar’s ruling military junta, which has restricted foreign aid and internet access since a 2021 coup, issued a rare plea for international help. Rescue teams are using drones, sniffer dogs, and heavy machinery to search for survivors as aftershocks continue; at least 130 remain missing, but rescue efforts are being hampered by damaged roads and the country’s ongoing civil war.​

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The impact was felt over 800 miles away in neighboring Thailand. At least 17 people died and 100+ remain missing, and multiple construction sites collapsed in Thailand’s capital of Bangkok, including a high-rise caught on a dash cam (see here).​

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Christians can look forward to an eternity where there’s redemption not just for people, but for creation itself.​

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“For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.”
Romans 8:20-21 (CSB) (read full passage)​

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Proceedings with Caution​

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The Judicial Branch has been swingin’ gavels. ​

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Last week, district and appeals courts issued a number of rulings on challenges to recent Trump admin activity, including: ​

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• Allowing the Trump admin to fire Biden-appointed members of labor and workforce protection boards
• Continuing to deny President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to quickly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members
• Blocking the admin from firing all employees at Voice of America, a government-funded international broadcast network
• Allowing DOGE to continue overseeing foreign-aid distributor USAID

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Meanwhile, Wisconsin will elect a new state Supreme Court justice tomorrow, which could flip the bench’s ideological majority. Elon Musk caused a stir by giving away three $1M checks to Wisconsinites who signed a petition against “activist” judges; the Badger State’s attorney general unsuccessfully sued to block the giveaways.​

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CHOOSE HUMILITY
Whether we support or oppose a judge’s ruling, followers of Christ have an opportunity to show that our ultimate allegiance is to him. Imitating our just and merciful Father, root for justice while retaining love for all parties—both the accused and the accusers—desiring restoration, not revenge.​

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“Therefore the LORD is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. All who wait patiently for him are happy.”
Isaiah 30:18 (CSB) (read full passage)​

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