Friday: Further Thought – Signs That Point the Way
Daily Lesson for Friday 4th of October 2024
“Jesus had given him [the disabled man] no assurance of divine help.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
The man might have stopped to doubt, and lost his one chance of healing. But he believed Christ’s word, and in acting upon it he received strength.
“Through the same faith we may receive spiritual healing. By sin we have been severed from the life of God. Our souls are palsied. Of ourselves we are no more capable of living a holy life than was the impotent man capable of walking. . . . Let these desponding, struggling ones look up. The Saviour is bending over the purchase of His blood, saying with inexpressible tenderness and pity, ‘Wilt thou be made whole?’ He bids you arise in health and peace. Do not wait to feel that you are made whole. Believe His word, and it will be fulfilled. Put your will on the side of Christ. Will to serve Him, and in acting upon His word you will receive strength. Whatever may be the evil practice, the master passion which through long indulgence binds both soul and body, Christ is able and longs to deliver. He will impart life to the soul that is ‘dead in trespasses.’ Ephesians 2:1. He will set free the captive that is held by weakness and misfortune and the chains of sin.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 203.
“Jesus repelled the charge of blasphemy. My authority, He said, for doing the work of which you accuse Me, is that I am the Son of God, one with Him in nature, in will, and in purpose.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 208.
Discussion Questions
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2. Why must we be careful. 1st of all Thursdays question is inherently a dificult question, though I will try to answer it. 2nd Maurice has answered this question over and over again. Briefly we live out our life with Jesus within us and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. Yes, it is also good to let the rich current of Christ love flow through our
arteries and let the light from that rich current flow to illuminate others. It is possible that we have harmless EMF's emanating from the circulation within us. My wife has a device that detects harmful EMF's but not harmless EMF's. She has to look and listen to detect harmless EMF's. I am sorry if I may have offended anyone for being a little light today. It is another good day to be joyful unto the Lord.
Why must we be careful? First and foremost, since we bear the name of Christ, we represent the Godhead in all our actions. What we say and do can be planting seeds. What sort of gardener are you?
The first question posed today regarding doubt and unbelief suggests that those two could be tied up.
In my opinion, if I doubt about a certain biblical truth, automatically it leads to unbelief ( or at least a partial unbelief). And when the word doubt is replaced by lack of understanding, I still have a chance to explore and research the real interpretation.
An example: in one bible study group of free evangelicals which I’ve been attending since a couple of years ( being the only Adventist), when I once mentioned that no soul as an entity on its own exists apart from the body, then they all fell on me with heavy opposition. They doubted this truth insisting on there own interpretation and the subject was closed. Same issue about an everlasting hell fire, the antichrist - preterism & futurism etc…
I had hoped to see their willingness in digging together in the Bible to arrive at a better understanding.
Any similar experience on your part and how you deal with it?
When I was a kid the Seventh-day Adventist minister decided to run a mission program. One of the big drawcards was the use of black light (UV) light to highlight the images of Daniel. The locals turned up and were amazed as the images showed up in brilliant colour in the darkened theatre. As a kid I was much more impressed by the technology than the message. It took a little while to work out what black light and fluorescence was (We did not have Google in those days).
It has taken me a lifetime to work out the difference between appearance and deep seated, meaningful Christianity. Reading about the miracles of Jesus has been a big help. He was not big-noting himself to show that he was God; rather he was working compassionately as God.
Seventh-day Adventists sometimes take pride in our success. We like to point out how the church has grown and how fine are our educational and medical institutions. All of these things are a statisticians delight. They are measurable and we can draw graphs of our growth and successes. But sometimes these things are just the black light illustrations rather that a true measure of where we are.
Are we a compassionate people? I don’t just mean; Do we support ADRA? I mean do we live the compassionate love of God in our interactions with others. I pray for a miracle in our own lives that we share the compassion with one another. That may not be measurable in the statistical way, but it has a reach far beyond the things we measure.
Thank you.
Good story. May I share one of my true stories with you?
When I was in college, the Seventh-day Adventist higher-ups decided we needed to exercise our faith. They made a plan for us. Early in the morning on the Sabbath, they had us hop into VW busses. Mind you, there were no flowers painted on the outside of our buses. When we arrived near San Francisco they broke us up into three groups, 1st group was dropped off at the Golden gate Bridge with posters held high that said Prophecy meeting at the top of the hill, near Coit Tower. The 2nd group stopped at Ghiredelli Square and handed out pamphlets with the same message. The 3rd group mingled with people at Fisherman's Wharf and told those who they met of the Prophecy meeting near Coit Tower, yes writing the address down for those interested. About 6pm the VW busses came around and picked us up. And we all met at the meeting place by the tower. I went with the 1st group because I had long legs and did not get winded, as we left the meeting hall we sang Praise Him Praise Him Jesus our wounderful Redeemer. We arrived back at our respective dorms and crashed.
This weeks lesson was very interesting. This question is not leaving my mind.
Of all the people at the pool, why did Jesus choose that lame man?
Disclaimer I will be starting to read the Desire of Ages, but can some give a thought. Thanks much!
I have to think that like other people that were healed, the Holy Spirit drew him to them. If you read the story of the woman at the well, Jesus said that he needed to go there. It wasn’t some mystical thing, it was his connection with his Heavenly Father, his time in prayer and his willingness to follow where he was led.
I think the man's physical condition of impotency represented everyone's spiritual hopeless condition before regeneration by Christ.
In response to question 3:
Israel’s history is well documented in the Old Testament, and the books of Moses form the religious foundation from the time the children of Israel were led by God out of Egypt. They studied their Scriptures, they worshiped God in their temple, they believed their nation’s history was true - but still could not believe Jesus. Why? John 5:37-39.
John 5:37-47 – I see, in response to the religious leader’s accusations regarding His authority, Jesus stating profound truths. His revealing statements show what was the obstacle preventing them from believing Him. Regarding their ignorance about Him He states: v.41-42 - ”I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.”
I understand this statement to lay bare the root cause for the unbelieve then and now. All the evidence - their long history, their ancestral relationship, miracles nor their religious laws were sufficient to establish faith in the Word of God. It does not matter signs or wonders, if the Love of God does not abide in man, he cannot know or love God.
What is the Love of God? I see this to be the Holy Spirit which He gives man as he is still a sinner. It is His Light in us that we may have life - His Love and Light are interchangeable. Once received with an open/receptive heart, His Light will dispel the spiritual darkness within. Then our love for Him can spring forth in gratitude for having received His Love. There is no need to debate the ‘history’ of the world by counting all the 'evidence'. All that becomes important is to live the Word of Love and Light by our life. Let us pray that He will refresh His Holy Spirit in all the world that man can believe!
Happy Sabbath