Many Christians sincerely seek to know God’s will for their lives. “If only I could know God’s will for my life, I would sacrifice everything for Him.” But even after promising God this, we still may be confused about what His will is. The reason for this confusion may be found in Romans 12:1-2. Paul is … Continue reading –>
Read Philippians 2:5-9. What important message is there for us in these verses? Contemporary culture urges us all to demand and assert our rights. And all this is good and is often the way it should be. But as with Jesus, the will of God may ask us to give up our rights freely in order … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Lesson: Philippians 2:5-9; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Samuel 2:12-3:18; 1 Samuel 13:1-14; Zechariah 4:1-14. Memory Text: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24, NKJV). Jesus’ picture of a kernel of wheat dying is a … Continue reading –>
Part 11: The Final Attack By Andrew McChesney Two weeks before Father’s baptism, he inexplicably grew angry after guests left the house following a small group Bible study in Manaus, Brazil, on Friday evening. He announced that he would sleep in the living room. The night was darker than usual. Electricity went out in the … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Anointing of David,” Pages 637-642, in Patriarchs and Prophets. God’s plan for us may require that we do a lot of waiting, and this really can feel like a crucible. Learning patience during this time can happen as we focus on the person of God and trust that He is … Continue reading –>
“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4, NRSV). Psalm 37:4 is a wonderful promise. Imagine getting what you have always wanted. But getting the desires of our hearts hinges on having a heart that takes delight in the Lord. So what does it mean to “take delight … Continue reading –>
The showdown on top of Mount Carmel had ended (1 Kings 18:1-46). Fire had come out of heaven, all the people had acknowledged the true God, and the false prophets had been put to death. God had been vindicated. You would have thought that Elijah had been growing in spiritual strength as the day went … Continue reading –>
In 1 Samuel 16:1-13, we see the young lad David anointed by Samuel as king. However, it was a long journey from the fields of his father, Jesse, to the throne in Jerusalem. No doubt, at times he felt in the midst of a crucible. First, the lad is called to play music to soothe Saul’s … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 5:6 and Galatians 4:4. What do they tell us about God’s timing? In these verses, Paul tells us that Jesus came to die for us at exactly the right time. But Paul does not tell us why it was the right time. It is very easy to read these verses and wonder, Why did Jesus wait for thousands … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 15:4-5. What is found in these verses for us? We are normally impatient about things that we really want or have been promised but don’t have yet. We are often satisfied only when we get what we are longing for. And because we rarely get what we want when we want it, it means … Continue reading –>
