Sabbath: Preparing for Change
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Cor. 10:1-13, Gen. 2:24, 1 Cor. 13:4-8, 1 Sam. 1:27, Psalms 71:1-24, 1 Cor. 15:24-26.
Memory Text: “Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway” (Psalm 85:13, NKJV).
Life is full of changes. Things change all the time. The only thing that does not change is the reality of change itself. Change, in fact, is a part of our very existence. Even the laws of physics seem to teach that change exists in the most basic fabric of reality. Often, changes come unexpectedly. We are going along in a routine when, suddenly, instantly, everything changes, and we are caught completely off guard.
On the other hand, sometimes we can see changes coming. We are given forewarning, signs, indicators that let us know things are going to be different. When this happens, it’s wise to start preparing, to whatever degree possible, for what we can see coming. Many of these changes are big: marriage, children, old age, even death.
And yes, we do not live in isolation. Which means, then, that the changes that come to us can impact our families, and in big ways, as well. At the same time, changes in our families can also impact each family member, too.
This week, let’s look at some of the changes that sooner or later, in one way or another, most of us face and how these changes can impact family life.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 20.
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At the tender age of 17, I left home, school, and country (New Zealand) to continue my education in Australia at Avondale College. That was not my original plan. I wanted to stay at home in New Zealand and continue my education there. But my father decided that Avondale was the place to be, and it was an exciting adventure for me. The change was not without its cost and it took me about 2 years and a lot of experiences to really adapt to the change. Looking back, I am glad I made the change. I needed to mature and develop my independence, and secondly, I was able to use my experience when I became a lecturer at Avondale to encourage other young people in their own journey.
This week we are revisiting some of the major changes that occur in nearly everyone's lives. Perhaps we need to be practical in our thinking. We all know that we should pray and be led by the Holy Spirit, but we should go beyond that sort of comment to share experiences that encourage one another.
Story! Story!
Once upon a time the man, the donkey, the dog and the cat went to the lord to be given years to live.
First came the man and he was offered 20 years to live on earth. Then came the donkey and was given 60 years but the donkey complained and 20 years were deducted from its life.
Man asked the lord to add him the 20 years deducted from the donkey's life and the lord did so.
The dog and cat were both offered 40 years each but they complained and ended up with 20 years each.
The man on the other hand asked the lord to add him the 40 years deducted from the dog and the cat.
That's the first 20 years of man's life, he lives without much struggle under the guidance of the parents.
From 20 to 40 (the donkey's years) life changes to a hard working one.
From 40 to 60(dog's years) life changes to parenting life. Where you have to give instructions and watch your kids. The watching and barking life of the friend of man.
From 60 to 80 (Cat's life) life changes to old age where you start depending on others. The meowing time, mostly spent indoors.
But in all this situations, remember we change but Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
On 9th of February this year my husband got an accident,,This has so much affected our family,two months and we have never gone back home,we haven't been able to see our children, since we are both not working we are facing a financial crisis,,All in all i thank God he has been there for us,,May his name be glorified,,I pray that i should learn much from this experience,,Keep us in your prayers
God will see you through.
Hi Moureen
What you have said is the very best way to face your situation. Keep holding on to it no matter what happens.
You are being upheld in prayer.
I have been through many changes in my life. I was raised in the Adventist church, my family left the church when I was about 15. I left home at 16 and went to work at the horse race track with my stepdad. I got pregnant and left my daughter with my mother at the ranch while I went back to the track to work. I stayed there for almost 2 years before going back home to my daughter.I work rd at waitresses jobs and lived with various men for about 6 years. My mom had been taking my daughter to Sabbath school since birth, but I never went. I came back to church, became very involved with children's ministry,Sabbath school and Pathfinders,then I met my husband. We dated for 2years and took marriage counseling from my pastor. Because my husband was Catholic we couldn't be married in the church,so we went to the justice of the peace. For the next few years I went to church sometimes and Rob went with me sometimes. We had a baby boy and when my daughter was 18 she left home and church. We moved to a different state in 1992. I found the local church and started going again for my son. When he got to be a teenager he stopped going and so did I. We all moved to another city and my granddaughters were born. So I found the local church and started taking them. I became very involved with children's ministry again. I still did not have a good relationship with the Lord.My daughter and granddaughter moved away and we got a pastor who ran half the people away. he killed the children's ministry! I went to church once in a while. Then my health failed. I had open heart surgery. I came back to church as I realized I needed to get right with the Lord. After 34years of marriage we started having problems to the point I was going to leave. My husband and I talked about his going to church with me and he decided that was worth a try. It's been 2 years now and I think he's missed 2 times. He even goes when I can't. He has started observing Sabbath most of the time. Iam on Dialysis now and am sharing the good news there. My relationship with God and Jesus is growing every day.You have to grow where you're planted.
What a testimony, lots of change and lots of learning for me at least. May God bless you Sylivia
Thank you. I’m hopefully on the right track now. God willing I will see you in heaven.
How do we prepare for change? Take nothing for granted because change is the flux in which life exists. Preparation comes in learning that what we have today can be gone tomorrow, or what we don't have we might be the possessors of. Fortunes turn on change. Julian Assange of Wikileaks fame was once protected by an embassy willing to grant him asylum only to find political change in the country expelled him just the same. He didn't appear to be ready for that change.
Experience provides opportunity to learn to roll with the punches, and even discernment in looming changes for which we can begin adjustments to meet the new norms that the change will bring about. It is those sudden, surprises that are so difficult on us.
This is why a God that changes not is so important in our lives. He is the constant that keeps us stable in those twists and turns of change.
Growth happens during the changes, or interruptions, in our lives, thank God for the interruptions…Royce
Despite encouragement from friends and family, I withstood all the recommendations to move to Australia from New Zealand. None of the advantages, the improved living conditions, the better work opportunities, the bigger surf, could deter me from declaring to all and sundry, that I would never as much as set a big toe on Australian soil.
Yet here I am, a resident of Melbourne the past 2 and half years, and loving every moment of my new adventure. What changed my mind? My adult children and their children, had made no such declarations and came here 5 or more years prior. Their invitation made the difference, and I have no regrets. Sometimes the changes we fear, or simply resist for all manner of reasons, can turn out to be our greatest blessings.