Friday: Further Thought – Families of Faith
Friday Further Thought:
Ellen G. White, “In the Court of Babylon”, pages 479-490, in Prophets and Kings; “Words of Caution”, pages 324, 329; “No Respect of Persons With God”, pages 330, 331, in Gospel Workers; “Rejoicing in the Lord”, pages 115-126, in Steps to Christ.No respect of persons with God. “The religion of Christ uplifts the receiver to a higher plane of thought and action, while at the same time it presents the whole human race as alike the objects of the love of God, being purchased by the sacrifice of His Son.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
At the feet of Jesus, the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, meet together, with no thought of caste or worldly preeminence. All earthly distinctions are forgotten as we look upon Him whom our sins have pierced. The self-denial, the condescension, the infinite compassion of Him who was highly exalted in heaven, puts to shame human pride, self-esteem, and social caste. Pure, undefiled religion manifests its heaven-born principles in bringing into oneness all who are sanctified through the truth. All meet as blood-bought souls, alike dependent upon Him who has redeemed them to God”. – Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 330.
Discussion Questions:
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I cannot leave this week´s discussion about "Families of Faith" without mentioning the role of grandparents, mainly because it is the role I now find myself in. Grandparents have the potential to play a significant role in the life and faith of a family, but it must be done with careful subtleness. It is all too easy to step into the condemnatory mode of criticizing the way your children are bringing up their kids. Parenthood is hard enough without Dad and/or Mum standing over you telling you what you are doing wrong.
A good relationship between grandparents and their grandkids is particularly useful in the turbulent teenage years where teens are rebellious and believe that their parents are the worst people of the face of the earth. We are experiencing that right now and seeing we also have the role of after-school carers for our grandchildren, we have many opportunities to practice what we preach.
The relationship is all about supportive love, just being a significant person in the life of young people as they grow up. I have a cousin who was a rebellious teenager and youth. Now in his 80s, he has written down his experience of growing up. I never realized, until now, the role that my quiet, unassuming grandfather played in influencing my cousin. The fact that my grandfather was simply there and shared with him, his love of driving tractors, provided a bond that has been an influence through my cousin's life.
Those of us who are grandparents have a special work to do.
Christ religion lifts us to a higher thought and action, not as we would think(better then you attitude), rather humbled at the feet of Jesus. Do we have a better then you attitude when He lifts us into a holy atmosphere where the rich love of Christ shines out to others? Christ Object Lessons page 159. No, but we could get that impression initially until we think about the portion of the paragraph the authors quoted, and continue to sit at the feet of Jesus.
Welcome back Maurice, excuse me, I am a week late. I appreciate your posts. Yes we as grandparents are blessed. What good time to reflect the past, mother’s honored last month, and fathers soon to be honored Sunday. We put aside our sorrows of the past and reflect how He has lead us in the past, how He has blessed us in the past, and how we are promised He will continue to bless. I am reminded of Psalms 103:17: “But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His precepts.”
Psalms 103:17-18 CSB.
We pray, for our children, and grandchildren, and us, to keep His covenant.
Happy Sabbath,
Happy Father’s Day, June 16. (Phil van der Klift, we invite you to accept a 24 hour honorary U.S. citizenship June 16)
John