Friday: Further Thought ~ Longing for More
Further Thought:
“We are not always willing to come to Jesus with our trials and difficulties. Sometimes we pour our troubles into human ears, and tell our afflictions to those who cannot help us, and neglect to confide all to Jesus, who is able to change the sorrowful way to paths of joy and peace.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Self-denying, self-sacrificing gives glory and victory to the cross. The promises of God are very precious. We must study his word if we would know his will. The words of inspiration, carefully studied and practically obeyed, will lead our feet in a plain path, where we may walk without stumbling. Oh, that all, ministers and people, would take their burdens and perplexities to Jesus, who is waiting to receive them, and to give them peace and rest! He will never forsake those who put their trust in him.” — Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, March 17, 1887, p. 161.
“Can you, dear youth, look forward with joyful hope and expectation to the time when the Lord, your righteous Judge, shall confess your name before the Father and before the holy angels? The very best preparation you can have for Christ’s second appearing is to rest with firm faith in the great salvation brought to us at His first coming. You must believe in Christ as a personal Saviour.” — Ellen G. White, Our High Calling, p. 368.
Discussion Questions:
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I went to a movie once in one of those special wrap-around super cinemas. (No this is not a chance to debate the issue of going to the cinema). The movie started off with a small black and white movie of a vintage biplane flying over the countryside. It was like what we used to watch in primary school back in the 1950s. Then the music became more grand and slowly the screen expanded and became coloured and the jittery ancient biplane morphed into a bright red Pitt Special acrobatic plane doing a barrel roll over the Grand Canyon. The whole picture wrapped around us and you felt completely immersed in the excitement of the moment. There was a collective gasp from the audience at the change as we flew over the magnificent scenery, rolling and diving, then soaring among the cliffs.
Hebrews 4 provides us with a morph from the symbolism of the sacrificial system to the reality of Jesus and the plan of salvation. It is a broad expansive view of the meaning of rest and restoration.
Paul, quoting Isaiah says:
God has given us a "wrap around" picture; an immersive reality in which we may participate.
Thank you Maurice. That verse really caught my attention as well. We can not even imagine what He is preparing for us. I think the lyrics to the song, “I Can Only Imagine”, says it all.
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall?
Ellen White: "Self-denying, self-sacrificing gives glory and victory to the cross." "He will never forsake those who put their trust in him." What profound statements!
We elevate/exemplify the power of Christ's faith over the flesh when we live our own life in His spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice.
Christ Jesus overcame His suffering by Faith in the Father's promise of Life and so could claim the victory of Life over death; we demonstrate the power of the resurrected Christ's Faith when we believe and follow Him.
Oh, if we could just believe the power contained in His unfathomable Love for us - it is our true Rest!
Question 4 asks about the common principles we are confronted with today compared to those who wandered in the wilderness on their way to Canaan from Egypt.
There is a God who has given us His truth, and we face the choice of exercising faith or unbelief. Our works will reveal the choice we make. Through faith, we will find Rest today, and soon the Eternal Rest that remains for all who "repent and believe the gospel".